Brazil in search of his glorious past

The Seleçao has the talent needed to succeed at the top world level. But team chemistry is still to be found - a true challenge for new coach Moncho Monsalve.

What has happened to Brazil since the end of the Oscar Schmidt-era? During the eighties and nineties, the 'Seleçao' were among the world's elite National Teams. Although Brazil failed to win an Olympic medal, they were regulars in the prestigious competition, finishing in the top six in four of the five Summer Games between 1980 and 1996. The South American giants also consistently played at FIBA World Championships, finishing as high as fourth in 1986. Since the retirement of the legendary Oscar in 1996, the team has not qualified for the Olympic Games. The country has also had poor results at World Championships. In 2006, Brazil travelled to Japan loaded with talent but after narrow defeats to Australia, Turkey, Greece and Lithuania, they did not progress beyond the preliminary round.

Indeed, a shortage of talent would not appear to be Brazil's problem. They are full of players with NBA connections. There are the current: Leandro Barbosa of Phoenix, Anderson Varejao of Cleveland and Nene of Denver. There are the former: Rafael Araujo and Marquinhos. And there is the future: Tiago Splitter and 'Paulo' Prestes. Brazil also boast players in its top domestic league, the BNL, like Marcelinho, the Spanish ACB guard Marcelo Huertas and Maccabi Tel Aviv star Alex Garcia. Above all, Brazil have great athletes with the ability to play tough-as-nails defence, quite the opposite to the old generation which was best known for its offence. This great athleticism has yet to turn in good results. The team, missing only Anderson Varejao, finished only fourth at the last FIBA Americas Championship.

In Las Vegas last summer, Brazil depended too much on the Barbosa-Machado duo. The two accounted for 63% of the three-pointers attempted in Las Vegas. While Barbaosa can create his own shot, this sometimes hurts the collective work of a team. Marcelinho is prolific behind the arc but his overall percentages are up and down. Consequently, opponents have been able to stop the Brazilian offence by focusing on these two players. Moncho Monsalve wants centers to be more involved. The inside potential is there. Splitter has moved from strength to strength at Tau Ceramica in Spain's ACB the past several years and can play facing the basket or with his back to the basket. Voted all-EuroLeague in 2007-08, Splitter rarely takes a bad shot. There are the NBA players Anderson of Cleveland and Nene of Denver, the ex-Jazz big man Baby Araujo and the big prospect Paulo Prestes.

Monsalve's first aim in Athens will be to emphasize the defence, something previous coach Lula Ferreira started to do. A strong defence is the basis of a quality game. In Brazil's case, they have so much quickness that it is often a case of their best offence being a good defence because the pressure helps them run the floor. Alex and Huertas are particularly good in the pressure/transition game. In the past, Brazil suffered from the absence of a high-level point guard. However, things are changing with Huertas coming into his own. The 25-year-old playmaker was one of the great attractions in this season's ACB. He was voted to the Ideal Quintet.

Also to explain the disappointing results in Vegas, one can also advance another cause and that was the bad atmosphere inside the team. Bitter statements made in the press from Marquinhos were only the tip of the iceberg. The team didn't live well together. Knowing that, the mission of Monsalve, who was appointed coach in January, appears difficult but exciting. The Spanish coach says he has no doubt that Brazil have the potential to reach the Olympics.

How did they qualify

2007 FIBA Americas Championship, Final Round
4th place (5 W - 5 L)

Results
1st round

Aug-22th 2007   
Brazil b. Canada    75-67

Aug-24th 2007   
Brazil b. Venezuela    101-75

Aug-25th 2007   
Brazil b. Virgin Islands    93-89

Aug-26th 2007   
USA b. Brazil    113-76

Aug-27th 2007   
Puerto Rico b. Brazil    97-75

Aug-28th 2007   
Brazil b. Mexico    104-90

Aug-29th 2007   
Argentina b. Brazil    86-79

Aug-30th 2007   
Brazil b. Uruguay    96-62

Semi-final
Sept-1st 2007   
Argentina b. Brazil    91-80

Third-place
Sept-2nd 2007   
Puerto Rico b. Brazil    111-107