The Boomers have started pretty well with two wins from two games.
It was hard to take much from the game against Nigeria. My Nigerian former colleague, now an Aussie, said, "We had a good win over the Butterfingers" and that pretty well summed it up; lots of turnovers and very average shooting from the field and the foul line.
The win over the Italians was much better and our dominance on the boards was a telling factor. The brilliance of young Nico Mannion kept the Italians in the contest and I think that he is going to be around for some time to come.
Is this the Olympics where we finally break through for a medal? Promising signs so far with good performances from most of our very even squad. Patty Mills is a key player for us but others seem to be able to step up when necessary.
Andrew Bogut's insights from the commentary box have been good and a little more critical than Andrew Gaze's.
Big chance for a medal and to play off IMO, Aussies are relying heavily on Patty Mills and being a Spurs fan its a pleasure to watch him play and do well. IMHO Australia can win Gold given the USA are a team of champion individuals rather than a champion team and I cant see then getting their act together. Coach Popovich another fav of mine being the Spurs boss has been heavily criticized for his demeanor and he is being setup to be the fall guy if the USA fail.
Only other teams I can see doing ok are finals regular Spain and maybe a smokey like Slovenia who are never easy and have some scoring firepower.
Want to see more of Nigeria and Italy to make a judgment on how they are travelling....
Aaron Baynes suffered a neck injury in an off court incident during the game against Italy and will miss the rest of the tournament.
That really hurts our chances but it’s an opportunity for others to step up.
Aaron Baynes suffered a neck injury in an off court incident during the game against Italy and will miss the rest of the tournament.
That really hurts our chances but it’s an opportunity for others to step up.
Off court?
From the HS
Australian big man Aron Baynes has been ruled out of the rest of the Olympic Games with a neck injury in a cruel blow to the Boomers’ Tokyo medal hopes.
Dr. David Hughes confirmed Baynes suffered an injury on-court against Italy, before slipping in the bathroom in a freak accident that has seen his Games campaign come to an end.
“It was a complicated series of events,” Hughes told reporters. “He did suffer an injury during the match on the court, and then he had a slip in the bathroom and suffered further injury.
“It became apparent to the medical staff that this was a bit more serious than just an average injury.”
Baynes was taken to hospital, where he has undergone further testing.
“I am really disappointed that I can’t continue in the Olympics,” said Baynes.
Patty world class. Ingles very solid at international level. Delly serviceable. Thybull has been a revolution, he is so much better and a better fit than I expected. Landale and Kay are going to earn themselves NBA contracts off the back of this. Exum is the wildcard, he can get past anyone, but then has struggled to score at the rim or make good decisions, if he can just step up a little, he could be a real difference maker.
Team is lacking one more scorer - if patty is off, they need someone to make a play and score. In a perfect world Goulding could do this, but not likely. Now wit baynes out, could be thin up front as well
Defence is the key to a medal. Goorj has them playing flat out and is rotating them quickly enough to keep them fresh. The length and hustle of this team will scare a lot of teams
Baynes will be a loss against certain teams (ie Spain with the gasol bros), but wasn’t actually being played at critical times against smaller teams.
A medal is a real chance. As long as we have a solution to any teams holding patty late in key games
Addition of Simmons would have been huge for this group, Delly has his struggles now offers little offensively. Swap those two at point and move Landale to five, watch the pic'n'roll action stretch teams, what a pitty. Still think they will medal.
Patty world class. Ingles very solid at international level. Delly serviceable. Thybull has been a revolution, he is so much better and a better fit than I expected. Landale and Kay are going to earn themselves NBA contracts off the back of this. Exum is the wildcard, he can get past anyone, but then has struggled to score at the rim or make good decisions, if he can just step up a little, he could be a real difference maker.
Team is lacking one more scorer - if patty is off, they need someone to make a play and score. In a perfect world Goulding could do this, but not likely. Now wit baynes out, could be thin up front as well
Defence is the key to a medal. Goorj has them playing flat out and is rotating them quickly enough to keep them fresh. The length and hustle of this team will scare a lot of teams
Baynes will be a loss against certain teams (ie Spain with the gasol bros), but wasn’t actually being played at critical times against smaller teams.
A medal is a real chance. As long as we have a solution to any teams holding patty late in key games
I'd be resting Patty vs the minnows more and having him play most of the game vs the heavyweight teams.....dont want to see too much of Sobey, Goulding etc.
Popovich will know Pattys game better than anyone and I'd expect him to receive a lot more attention next time around...
Addition of Simmons would have been huge for this group, Delly has his struggles now offers little offensively. Swap those two at point and move Landale to five, watch the pic'n'roll action stretch teams, what a pitty. Still think they will medal.
I reckon they are better off not having Simmons. Bloke would have gone for a holiday. He is a classy player, but he is very pick and choosy.
Boomers eventually got the points vs a tenacious and physical German team.
Mills again leading the way with 24 points and I was impressed with Landale who played a consistent game.
Ingles and Delly had forgettable games and it was Kay coming on who gave us a lift.
Got a bit of a problem when we start Mills and Delly together as they have trouble defending the bigger guards and might need to change that up vs some teams.
Mills threw up a load of rubbish early in the game and Ingles couldn't get clear to get a shot up and we looked in trouble but the Germans didn't have any real stars and lacked depth and I thought our bench players gave us some handy minutes.
I thought I should add the Opals and make this an Olympic basketball thread.
The Opals started the competition poorly, no doubt unsettled by Cambage's absence, but they seem to have found form at the sharp end of the tournament.
They had to beat Puerto Rico by at least 25 points to make the play offs and they won 96-69. Puerto Rico weren't really in the contest in the second half but their objective was to lose by less than 25 points and keep the Opals out of the finals - a very strange way to go ::)
If the Opals can maintain the form they showed in the second half, they could progress to the medal rounds.
I thought I should add the Opals and make this an Olympic basketball thread.
The Opals started the competition poorly, no doubt unsettled by Cambage's absence, but they seem to have found form at the sharp end of the tournament.
They had to beat Puerto Rico by at least 25 points to make the play offs and they won 96-69. Puerto Rico weren't really in the contest in the second half but their objective was to lose by less than 25 points and keep the Opals out of the finals - a very strange way to go ::)
If the Opals can maintain the form they showed in the second half, they could progress to the medal rounds.
who do they play in the QFs David?
who do they play in the QFs David?
The Opals drew the short straw and will play gold medal favourites USA on Wednesday at 1440 our time.
While no team is invincible, the USA is not far off. Too many early losses for us!
Impressive win by the Boomers over Argentina, one of the most successful national teams. Goorjian was able to give his bench players court time and they ramped up the scoring.
The tribute to Scola from both teams was a nice touch.
Impressive win by the Boomers over Argentina, one of the most successful national teams. Goorjian was able to give his bench players court time and they ramped up the scoring.
The tribute to Scola from both teams was a nice touch.
I just saw the final score.
That was a flogging.
Argentina top 5 in the world?
I just saw the final score.
That was a flogging.
Argentina top 5 in the world?
Silver medalists at the 2019 World Cup!
Patty Mills to the Nets which is a bit sad for me but teammate Jock Landale has been picked up by the Spurs so its not all bad news for us Spurs supporters. Must be an interesting dynamic in the Aus camp with Spurs coach Poppy and the two players I am talking about. For those who dont follow the NBA there has been a theme of recruiting older players given the success of veteran guard Chris Paul and Patty Mills while not old old is getting to the veteran stage. Interesting too how he combines with gun point guard Kyrie Irving who was eligible to play for Australia but chose the USA. Presuming Mills will come off the bench and be part of the second five....got some talent at the Nets including Kevin Durant and James Harden and its going to be a scoring festival.
Opals getting a smashing from the US 68 to 39 with 9min to go in the 4th
I thought we had Team USA midway through the second quarter but Kevin Durant stepped up and brought his team with him.
Let's see if we can finally medal against France or Slovenia.
The Opals really weren't in the contest against USA. Sadly for us, we don't produce players like Penny Taylor and Lauren Jackson very often.
I thought we had Team USA midway through the second quarter but Kevin Durant stepped up and brought his team with him.
Let's see if we can finally medal against France or Slovenia.
The Opals really weren't in the contest against USA. Sadly for us, we don't produce players like Penny Taylor and Lauren Jackson very often.
They were playing with us, once we starting turning it over, game over red rover.
another 4th place for Boomers coming up.
another 4th place for Boomers coming up.
Looks that way.
They were playing with us, once we starting turning it over, game over red rover.
Booker had 20 points on Patty Mills and kept Mills to 15...game over....
USA are a team of shooters and got on a roll in the 2nd half nailing everything and we didnt have the firepower with Mills held.
Good effort though and I still think we can grab that Bronze with Patty leading us to victory.
Loved seeing Patty Mills singing the anthem with passion during this olympic campaign. Other indigenous sportspeople please take note.
Boomers look like they are gonna do a Carlton and throw away a big lead with 7.5 min to go in the 4th.
Boomers get it done, bronze medal.
Patty Mills vs Slovenia with Mills winning Bronze for his country. Slovenia play a physical game with plenty of contact and late in the game even had a press going on our ball handlers which worked well with Mills having a rest. But the one man offence resumed normality when he came back on and propelled us to victory.
Hopefully Ben Simmons was watching and can take over from Patty next Olympics and see how important he could be to our chances of going further.
Well done Boomers, you well and truly deserved it. In the end only one team beat them. The U.S. Also great interview by Patty post game. Real emotion and you could see it meant a lot. Great end to the night after a dismal afternoon of football.
Patty Mills vs Slovenia with Mills winning Bronze for his country. Slovenia play a physical game with plenty of contact and late in the game even had a press going on our ball handlers which worked well with Mills having a rest. But the one man offence resumed normality when he came back on and propelled us to victory.
Hopefully Ben Simmons was watching and can take over from Patty next Olympics and see how important he could be to our chances of going further.
EB did you see the interview Mills did after the game with Mel McLaughlin?
EB did you see the interview Mills did after the game with Mel McLaughlin?
No I missed that GTC.. What was discussed?
No I missed that GTC.. What was discussed?
It was brilliant and I couldn't help but draw parallels to Carlton. He spoke about:
- How they have built a Boomers culture from scratch. It involved setting the highest of standards ( the now)
- Connecting with previous Boomers and understanding what they went through (the past)
- With the culture in mind, looking the the future what that looks like.
- Understanding what representing your country as a Boomer truly means.
- This campaign is now the minimum standard expectation is high.
It was passionate, it was emotional, it was from the heart. I found it brilliant and the frauds running around in the Navy Blue jumper should watch it and learn.
The men who represented the Boomers played the game the way it should be played. I cant seem Ben Simmons fitting into that.
It was brilliant and I couldn't help but draw parallels to Carlton. He spoke about:
- How they have built a Boomers culture from scratch. It involved setting the highest of standards ( the now)
- Connecting with previous Boomers and understanding what they went through (the past)
- With the culture in mind, looking the the future what that looks like.
- Understanding what representing your country as a Boomer truly means.
- This campaign is now the minimum standard expectation is high.
It was passionate, it was emotional, it was from the heart. I found it brilliant and the frauds running around in the Navy Blue jumper should watch it and learn.
The men who represented the Boomers played the game the way it should be played. I cant seem Ben Simmons fitting into that.
Yes, Patty spoke very well - almost as well as he played!
Brian Goorjian must take a lot of credit for the Boomers finally cracking it for a medal.. He is a great coach who understands the game and team culture/dynamics. His teams always have a crack.
It was interesting to hear how the present team embraced past Boomers and were embraced by them in return. I listened to Lindsay Gaze and Shane Heal on the wireless and they couldn't have been any prouder.
Yes, Patty spoke very well - almost as well as he played!
Brian Goorjian must take a lot of credit for the Boomers finally cracking it for a medal.. He is a great coach who understands the game and team culture/dynamics. His teams always have a crack.
It was interesting to hear how the present team embraced past Boomers and were embraced by them in return. I listened to Lindsay Gaze and Shane Heal on the wireless and they couldn't have been any prouder.
Brian Goorjian was on SEN this morning, WOW what a leader. Amazing to listen to, explained his role, how he delegates to all the assistants and only chimes in when he thinks its needed. Talked about giving the guys a bit of a serve after the US game to the effect of "this aint over, we still got work to do (bronze medal), pick your chin up off the ground and get on with it".
Yes, Patty spoke very well - almost as well as he played!
Brian Goorjian must take a lot of credit for the Boomers finally cracking it for a medal.. He is a great coach who understands the game and team culture/dynamics. His teams always have a crack.
It was interesting to hear how the present team embraced past Boomers and were embraced by them in return. I listened to Lindsay Gaze and Shane Heal on the wireless and they couldn't have been any prouder.
Very decent person is Brian Goorjian, lot of loud energy about him but underneath all that he is a caring bloke and I was pleased
he played his part in such a milestone for Aus basketball.
I'm a Spurs fan but I'd like to see Patty get a ring with Brooklyn, been a real ambassador for the game and never put a foot wrong as a Spurs player and deserves the kudos he is getting.
BG on SEN this morning
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/08/09/the-story-behind-patty-mills-historic-bronze-medal-performance/
Well worth the 22 mins or so listening to him speak.
Yes, Patty spoke very well - almost as well as he played!
Brian Goorjian must take a lot of credit for the Boomers finally cracking it for a medal.. He is a great coach who understands the game and team culture/dynamics. His teams always have a crack.
It was interesting to hear how the present team embraced past Boomers and were embraced by them in return. I listened to Lindsay Gaze and Shane Heal on the wireless and they couldn't have been any prouder.
Interestingly, the "Boomers Culture" has been around longer than Goorj. It has always been pretty player-driven, with Andrew inheriting it from those previous to him, and then him passing it on to Hammer, Luc, Vlahof, and then in turn to Patty, Joe and Delly. But then you have had the coaches that have helped nurture that culture (Lindsay, Adrian Hurley, Barry Barnes, Lemanis, Brett Brown and now Goorj).
Drawing parellels to the problems at Carlton - it does show that its not just the players and its not just the coaches - it is the 2 groups working together to set the culture. We need to get BOTH right!!
Interestingly, the "Boomers Culture" has been around longer than Goorj. It has always been pretty player-driven, with Andrew inheriting it from those previous to him, and then him passing it on to Hammer, Luc, Vlahof, and then in turn to Patty, Joe and Delly. But then you have had the coaches that have helped nurture that culture (Lindsay, Adrian Hurley, Barry Barnes, Lemanis, Brett Brown and now Goorj).
Drawing parellels to the problems at Carlton - it does show that its not just the players and its not just the coaches - it is the 2 groups working together to set the culture. We need to get BOTH right!!
Absolutely!
I think that all of the Boomers coaches have been good and Goorjian is probably lucky to have a very talented squad with more depth than we have had before. I thought that losing Baynes would screw our chances but the coach and players made adjustments and got on with the job. Hopefully, our club will learn to do the same.
BG on SEN this morning
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/08/09/the-story-behind-patty-mills-historic-bronze-medal-performance/
Well worth the 22 mins or so listening to him speak.
Jeez that was a good listen!!!! Love Goorj. Love all the senior players. Sounds like they have something really special!!
Jeez that was a good listen!!!! Love Goorj. Love all the senior players. Sounds like they have something really special!!
Glad you enjoyed it, he's a ripper to listen to.
Goorjian is 68 years old, yet in the AFL even 50 year old coaches are supposedly past it.
Goorjian is 68 years old, yet in the AFL even 50 year old coaches are supposedly past it.
I think that is a generalisation, age isn't really the issue, but being willing or unwilling to change in the shadow of altered game tactics and rules can be though!
Have the rules and tactics changed that much in basketball in recent decades? I realise the skills have change dramatically, 3-pts is mundane now, when I played it was a rarity and if you took more than one or two 3-pt shots a game and missed the coach would drag you! Now they will shoot 3-pts at 35% in a qtr, and go at 70% the next qtr and be labelled a star!
Goorjian is 68 years old, yet in the AFL even 50 year old coaches are supposedly past it.
USA Olympic coach Greg Popovich is 72 and both coach and President of the San Antonio Spurs....
I think that is a generalisation, age isn't really the issue, but being willing or unwilling to change in the shadow of altered game tactics and rules can be though!
Have the rules and tactics changed that much in basketball in recent decades? I realise the skills have change dramatically, 3-pts is mundane now, when I played it was a rarity and if you took more than one or two 3-pt shots a game and missed the coach would drag you! Now they will shoot 3-pts at 35% in a qtr, and go at 70% the next qtr and be labelled a star!
NBA is a TV game....its got to look good, have its heroes, big three pointers, dunks are all part of showtime. Individuals with immense one on one skills are whats required along with a few role players.
In Europe they play a different brand ,though even thats changing too, old fashioned defense, running of plays and its can get physical....not temper tantrums like you see in the NBA but hard close down defense.
In the NBA they let the stars travel, get the fouls called their way and it can be frustrating to watch, in Aus they used to teach the European way, emphasis on defense and running plays where the player in the best position took the shot.
But things have changed and you get NBA style shooting from the car park ie Chris Goulding and we have a lot more imports from the USA who want to play as individuals.
I prefer the team based style but every kid wants to be Lebron or Durant now so its a game made for Shooters....
More Star treatment for Lebron......https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic292UEORg8
Didnt like the hard block out on the foul shot from Pistons big man Stewart so clocked him with a backhander and left him with a decent gash that bloodied him up...Stewart went off his nut and tried to get to Lebron which was quite comical watching him mow down anything in his path as he made several attempts including a run around the players entrance tunnel network hoping to come out the other way.
Refs called it a flagrant 2 which got him an ejection but the media said it wasnt deliberate which was complete BS.....Stewart will get a holiday for sure but Lebron the superstar and perpetrator will be playing next Lakers game IMHO unless there is a huge outcry from the public that the NBA cant ignore but I doubt it...like the AFL the marquis players have their own set of rules to play by.