Hoops

Boomers vs USA ***Spoiler***

How much does St Mary's love our Patty Mills???

Check it out: http://linky.com.au/zbf92

How much does St Mary's love our Patty Mills???

Check it out: http://linky.com.au/zbf92

Cat15, I was just watching some of the 1st quarter again and that was Anderson getting fouled under the basket by Kidd. Difficult to tell exactly what contact there was because of the poor quality video, but it looked like a foul to me and its hard to imagine how Kidd could have cleanly blocked Anderson in that position.

Just before that play, Anderson was also fouled when he tried to receive the ball in the post, but because we retained possession they let it go. Never mind the fact that our offense was disrupted and Anderson was prevented from posting up the shorter Lebron!

No - it was just the 'Random name suggestion for anonymous posters'

cheers for the link.

Flinders 24

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/basketball/men/boxscore?gameId=729

You studying at Flinders Uni by any chance?

SVD, totally agree with you about the coverage in terms of visuals. There were a lot of iffy calls I would have liked to see again on replay. And there was amateur stuff like running an extreme closeup on Mills when they were talking him up and then the director failing to cut back to the main court shot when the action started again! All we got was an out of focus Mills sprinting off camera! Nice one boys!

To The Doctor: I'd add Rajon Rondo to the players you mentioned as quick NBA guards. He, TJ Ford and Parker would be the quickest guys in the league I reckon and Mills is right there with them.

Mills isn't quite at the same skill level yet, but with good coaching and hard work I see no reason why he can't get to the same level within a couple of years.

If our core guys keep improving over the next few years, how good could we be for the next Olympics?!
Starting five of Bogut, Jawai, Barlow, Newley, Mills with Ingles, Ogilvy and Anderson key players off the bench. We may just grab our first senior mens medal in the next few years!

can anyone find a link to a box score. Espn & Foxsports don't have one.

"Maybe that's what they learned Tuesday on an evening when they entered the arena feeling bold and self-assured and left it pondering why they were made to look only slightly above-average against a mediocre team missing its only NBA player."

Hahaha, what an ignorant ass comment. For multiple reason:

1: How can the 9th best team (according to the last olympics) in the world be mediocre? Mediocre would be the 20th best, 30th best etc.

2: "Slightly above average" - they didn't look above average at all. Aside from a couple of nice dunks, they were leaving our players open, throwing up bricks, missing foul shots and they couldn't even keep up with Patty Mills. Their performance was average at best.

3: "Only NBA player" - Currently, yes; but Newley got drafted, Andersen is being courted by Atlanta, Anstey played 3 seasons. Andersen plays with one of the best Euroleague teams. Patty Mills was an impressive college freshman.

Exciting stuff. But no media about it here yet?

Man... Reading a "playa" post is liking trying to interpret a Kevin Garnett post finals interview.

Kent; I agree with you mate. I think we need to get Patty Mills practicing the classic Campese Goose-step maneuver on the court. Despite his height, he overtook Paul, Kidd and Williams with no troubles at all; and his height made him deceptive when he went for the layup. Noticed Mills threw up a couple of nice teardrops too.

By all accounts, Mills would make a top notch starting guard for any team. The game last night took me back to the days of Isaih Thomas.

(Mod: Nice work re KG comment.)

Well, end result was brilliant; another game however where poor passing and incorrect team selection cost the game.

I don't know how the likes of Glen Saville get into the national teams when they produced anything viable in the time they've been selected.

Andersen was a defensive boon only; didn't see anything that says he played in europe. Got double-teamed more often then I would have liked but he appeared to have been fumbling etc. more often than none. Hopefully he hops back to the level he normally plays.

Commentating in the game was interesting; I was actually interested the fluctuation of comments that were passing by: one minute you have Kobe getting fouled at the 3 line (followed by the usual buttering about how physical we are etc.) then an immediate "choking" as Patty Mills goes coast to coast. Probably the first game I've seen the commentary not butter up the US team and picking out every flaw of the opposition.

Despite the loss, probably one of the best performances the boomers have shown in a long time. Proof to me that even Australia can beat the US.

Link to stats, interviews and more: http://linky.com.au/1zage

Ando was solid but certainly had the fumles a bit int his game

You're right on about 2nd qtr Cavolo. That was where we lost it and it was because Goorj decided to run some odd lineups. Disappointing from my point of view. I would have preferred us to play to win. But not critical of Goorj overall after tonight. The guys are really starting to play with some purpose and look like a team out there, so good work Boy Goorj!

I didn't think Anderson was too bad. He is still our second best rebounder and post defender IMO. He has been copping a lot of soft fouls though, so he clearly needs to adjust to the way the intl game is being called. I really like it when he is able to face up for mid range jumpers, because he is absolutely automatic in that situation. Like Anstey though, he has to resist being goaded into putting the ball on the floor unless it is a one on one in the post.

What's everyone's thoughts on Andersen?

I thought he looked a class above (more so in the first) than the rest of the aussies. The fouls he got, that kept him out were IMO soft and won't be whistled during the olympics.

I read above that people didn't rate his game, and my mates i watched the game with said the same.

I thought he would've been amongst our best

Does anyone know if this is the closest loss we have ever had vs the USA?

As I recall it is, can anyone confirm?

Kad - who knows. It may be that USA just weren't focused; but for my money, if they play like that against the real gold medal threats, they look quite vulnerable. Even the commentators pointed out; the USA just overpowers other teams.

Skill wise, yes they are the best. But team wise at an international level? they have to prove it as far as I'm concerned. I think everyone still thinks that Team USA is as good as the original Dream Team. What people don't realise is a lot of European countries have caught up, at an international competition level anyhow.

I'm so proud of the Boomers tonight - and to do it without Bogut as well

An honourable 11-point loss.

Mills was awesome. He repeatedly schooled CP3 and Kidd on his way to 11 points on 5/7 shooting. He got it done by taking it to the rack.

Barlow was very god in the second half, and Newley was great the entire game.

Ando and Neilson played well and CJ was solid.

We are a real medal chance in Beijing, but it won't be easy. We just have to beat Croatia in the first game.

If Mills has a good upcoming season he will probably nominate for the draft. He could even end up a lottery pick in 09 at this rate!

DB5 - agreed. If he keeps improving, I can see him entering the draft before his college career is done, easily.

It's all over. 87-76, good show by the Boomers.

Mills perfect step back, and perfect flop.

NBA contract awaits.


In all seriosness, he has played awesome.

Yeah, this American team is beatable, no doubt. Spain and Greece will give them a run for their money.

Mills has been very good...13 pts, and has been too quick for the defense.

Team OVER-RATED lead by 16 with about a minute to go...

Is this the closest score wise we have ever got to the US?

84-68 USA.

There goes D.Andersen. Solid game from him despite foul trouble.

What the F happened with the Anderson tip in and 1? Call goes against us again

Foul throws are going to haunt us here.

We should run Mills, CJ, Newley, Nielsen, Andersen from now.

Melo brick...
Howard brick...
Kobe brick...
Lebron brick...

Can anyone on Team USA shoot the ball? If it wasn't for D-Wade in the past few minutes, they wouldn't have got close to scoring!

Don't leave the Melo-man, or he'll build you a house!

Anstey hammered under the rim first play in the 4th - no call! Aaargh!

Commentators just talking about how Kidd and Kobe have never lost in intl play again. I have to say that streak will come to a grinding halt pretty soon if this is all the USA got! Nothing impressive about their performance tonight!

Been a good effort from the Boomers so far. The refs seem determined to bail out the NBA stars though - Kobe earlier in the 3rd and D-Wade just then. I don't see our guys getting any of those soft calls!

Mills, Barlow and Anstey playing well in 2nd half.
Boomers within 9 point late in 3rd

Newley showing a lot of effort...Barlow is making some good plays in the second half aswell (even if he is criminally slow)

hahaha...

they were surprised Anstey hit a 3. Obviously never seen a Melbourne Tigers game =D

The commentary is very good. They seem to have a real good knowledge of the Australian players, even those who aren't playing in Europe or college.

Our commentary on here good, theres is poor. Very biased.

USA take their first time out of the tournament.

I'd have to agree with that TR. America is stacked talent wise, no doubt. But as a team, currently they really aren't coping with the pressure Australia is applying. The commentators have even made numerous references to how much of a competitive nature the Boomers have.

When the Boomers were making some sloppy plays, America just waltzed in for easy buckets. When Australia is hitting their shots and applying defensive pressure, the USA's productivity takes a big slide.

44 - 48

Kent Brockman, yeah....Australia started really well with capitalising off turnovers. Nevermind the blowout games leading up to this game; This USA team is good, but is definitely beatable.

And woot! big run by the Boomers to get it back to 40-46...

Boomers doing really well. Missing Bogut a bit but really fording USa into tough contested jump shots. Some TO's alowed them to get a couple of fast break chances that helped them open up a buffer.

The referees have been really bad. And I mean BAD.
Aussies getting hacked and no call, yet you breath on Lebron and a foul gets called.
Go Boomers!

44 - 29 at the half.

Lebron with 14 or 15 already...

Sloppy plays, missed shots, Andersen in foul trouble. They're giving USA a real opening here.

Lebron just blocked Worthington about 8 rows back!

Get him off boy goorj!

ahh thought so with the afternoon comment..
Barlow just thought he was back in '04 on consecutive plays.

USA heating up, Aussies sticking with them though.

Commentators keep refering to the "Ostalian spirit, and never back down attitude. They are known for this" comments again and again.

Mills, Newley, Andersen to an extent all looking solid. Anstey okay, although he had to take a 3 attempt.

USA on 10 - 0 run. Up 37 - 25.

Sigh...they came out looking mean and keen...but starting to look amateurish now.

and the lead goes from 6 to 9...come on lads, stop making silly mistakes.

Yeah Goorj would be steamed right now...and now another f*** turnover! as soon as they let these guys get a run, it's gonna be very hard to get back..

Yeah!

Nice pass from Bruton and Newley got the finish...they're really showing the trying to force turnovers and misses and get the points from the transition.