Let’s talk about the Playoffs. How is San Antonio doing to face the series and how well is Tim Duncan to play in the post-season?
Duncan ’s injury set us back a bit. But he’s back now and while he’s had limited playing minutes, he’s recovering his game and I think we have a good chance. There’s still a lot to play and we have a lot to work for.

Would you like to face your fellow Argentine players in the post-season?
Of course, that would mean that we made it to the finals. That would be great and I was convinced from a while back that at some point I wouldn’t be the only Argentine in the NBA. I think it was just a matter of time and I still think that next year and in the next few seasons, there’ll be many more.

Manu Ginobili (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images)

How much have the injuries affected the team?
The good side of it was that many of the players that weren’t getting a lot of minutes were able to accumulate time as a result of some of starters being injured. So they’ve been able to gain confidence and rhythm. Now Duncan, Nesterovich and Brown are back but we have players that have gained time and experience and are ready to play when the coach needs them.

What do you think about your upcoming participation in Basketball without Borders in Argentine and your visit to your hometown of Bahía Blanca?
I love all of this. The idea is great. I know that this has been done in several countries and continents around the world. I really wanted it to be done in Argentina, not only for the opportunity that young players will have, but for all the great social causes that this NBA program encompasses. I think that it is more important socially than it is athletically. I’m really excited about having it in my country and that the NBA has paid attention to my city as well. I hope basketball continues to grow and that we can leave a nice imprint from our visit to Argentina during the winter.

How much can this NBA visit affect the growth of basketball in Argentina?
Probably a lot. It’s not often that the NBA lands in Argentina and does an event of this magnitude. You also have to take into consideration that 50 of the best players from Latin America and the Caribbean will be there. We will also have the social aspect that supports communities. It will definitely give our basketball a big push and who’s to say that in the near future we won’t be able to organize an NBA game or other type of event in Argentina. It will certainly be a first step that will be very important.

We know that you’re taking a breather from the national team during the summer. But you’re coming back and we’d like to know – what is your motivation to keep up with your achievements?
I think that every player wants to continue winning. When you win and live the sensation of forming a part of the best team in the world – there’s no turning back. It feels so good that you want it again. You want to repeat those sensations and demonstrate that it was not by chance, but an achievement.

What do you think about the Eastern Conference rivalry?
Detroit and Miami have been the teams with the most regularity during the regular season and with the most chances of reaching the finals. Detroit is the champion, so they know what they need to win at the right moment. They also have a good team play, solid and greased. In Miami’s case, it’s different because it’s a new team, with less experience in the post-season, but with two very important players like Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade who can achieve a lot. I think the finalist in the East will be one of these two teams and whichever one it is, it will be a fearful rival for the Western finalist.

What do you think about your possible rivals in the first round of the playoffs?
I think that Denver is one of the teams with the highest playing levels in all of the NBA right now. Ever since George Karl assumed his position, the team has improved its rhythm, confidence, speed and several other aspects of their game. They are dangerous and also have the advantage of playing in Denver – a city that affects many teams due to the altitude. They do well against us and have an aggressive defense that complicates our game. I think any team would be difficult to face not only in the first round but for the entire post-season.

How are you making it to the Playoffs in comparison to the previous two seasons?
There is still one week left before the playoffs. I’m a bit more exhausted now, and that’s normal since I’ve been playing more minutes. But I trust that from now until the playoffs start, I’ll be able to rest a bit to recover. But the adrenaline and everything that the playoffs trigger in you make you well-prepared for the competition.

As an Olympic champion how important do you think your contributions are to the young campers participating in BWB Argentina?
I think it will be a great experience for all of us. To be next to these kids with so much potential and share my experiences with them even though I don’t even know them is great. They can learn from someone that has lived situations that may very likely be similar to what they’ll live throughout their careers and this can really help them. I’m really excited about this camp and can’t wait for it to kick off.