Hoops

Boomers 2010 team?

Some injury worries have now surfaced on in form Aussie big man Aleks Maric.

In Partizan's Euroleague game against Aron Bayne's Lietuvos Rytas, Maric suffered a knee injury that will require him to sit out of action for the next month. Thankfully Doctors have determined that the 2.11m Maric's left knee ligaments are intact.

Australian centre Aleks Maric is the 4th leading scorer in Euroleague this season, averaging 16.9 points and of 9.1 rebounds per game before his injury.

Link: http://linky.com.au/i8iul

Maric would be an ideal backup to Bogut at the World Champs when fit and I hope he come back strongly from this injury.

FIBA.com article on Matt Nielsen...

Link: http://linky.com.au/zf5i4

Gaze is well passed his prime I'm afraid....he would be most useful right now...

I like Duds LC - more of a SF - but we could use one of those too! Especially a hustle guy like him!

Jared Dudley from Phoenix perhaps?

We need to head hunt someone!

Wanted: One shooting guard, 6'5, athletic, no older than 26, must have played at least 100 NBA games and hold 3pt average of .400 or more. No chance of representing current country, but wants to play intl ball and prefers to be a big fish in a little pond. Must like beaches, sunshine, a good health system, laid back people and be satisfied with about $750k (plus endorsements) per season!

Hmmm... JJ Redick anyone? Only 6'4 and not real athletic, but he can shoot and he did play at Duke!

Can anyone do better? Hit me with your best shot! :-)

I'd be surprised if there is room for Balls or Redhage. I don't think either brings anything that Worthington doesn't already cover in the 'mobile big man who shoots the 3' role.

I question whether Nielsen still brings much to the table as well. His numbers are pretty poor in Europe, he doesn't seem to have many scoring moves internationally, and doesn't rebound or defend especially well. I just think his day has passed.

I agree with you LC that we have a real shortage of true shooting guards. I was hoping that Harvey would be the answer, but he has done nothing this season to make me think he can do the job for the Boomers.

In reality, Newley and Ingles should soak up most of the minutes at SG and both have decent size, so I'd actually be tempted to give Harvey's spot to Dellavedova at this stage.

He was tenacious on D, had a level head and stuck plenty of outside shots for the Boomers last year. Now he is starring for St Mary's in his rookie college season. If that were to happen, I'd envisage a mosquito fleet of four small 'point guards' - Mills, Bruton, Gibson and Dellavedova.

Obviously Mills and Bruton would soak up most time at PG, but I think there could be occasions where we need to junk it up a bit and try to get under an opposing team's skin to get back in a game. Guys like Gibson and Dellavedova would be perfect for that.

Throw a Gibson/ Dellavedova backcourt in with Ingles, Wortho and Bogut and I think you could really cause opposing teams some grief running their offence! It might just qualify as the Boomers most charismatic team of all time! ;P LOL

If you go back to some of my previous posts in other threads, I actuially had Redhage in the calculations. however after much comtemplation I really do not think either Redhage of Ballinger will make the final cut or be considered as one of the unlucky few to just miss out. The previous post outlines quite well a few reasons why they will probably miss out on being considered. Although Baynes plays as a centre or power forward and could not be a considered a small forward at all and therefore not competing for a spot with Harvey. However also factor in that neither Redhage or Balls were in the "development Boomers" team last year and IMO are therefore off coach Brown's radar altogether.

For the sake of team balance, I just cannot see either naturalised Australian making the final cut or squad. I may yet be proven wrong, but that is how I see it.

I just wish we had an out and out pure-shooting guard to choose from. I really hope our guards can nail the open look after first pumping the ball inside to Bogut as Bogut will get all the attention...

Always love talking about a potential Boomer's lineup. And whilst there could be quite a few possibilities and changes depending on injuries, this is how I see Australia's lineup given that everyone is fit, healthy and basedon their form today.

Andrew Bogut
Aleks Maric
David Andersen
Nathan Jawai
Matt Nielsen
Joe Ingles
David Barlow
Mark Worthington
Brad Newley
Patrick Mills
CJ Bruton
Adam Gibson

Those on the cusp of making the team:

AJ Ogilvy
Luke Nevill
James Harvey
Anthony Petrie
Matt Dellavedova
Aron Baynes

Nielson played well for us at the olympics.
Coach wasn't sure how to use Bogut. Underplayed Mills.
Can we play both Redhage and Ballinger ? X ?
(or is that only olympics I'm thinking of ?)

Agree with you donkeykong, I watched a few of Dellavedovas college games. He struggles to play defence to be honest against faster american guards. Doesn't keep his cushion and tries to body up.

I don't think we should get carried away with Delly; Wait until 2012 Olympics. Remember he is only playing at a mid-major school, with an ok but not great schedule ( St Marys only play one ranked opponent on their schedule--Gonzaga)
Furthermore, lets not forget he is up against European Guards who have been playing professionally since Delly was a toddler e.g. Spanoulis, Calderon, Navvarro, CP3/D-Will, Tony Parker, Prigioni etc..These guys have the experience and superior skill.

That is why Harvey should go. Shooter, freak scorer, could play the 2 and maybe pinch hit at the 3 if we play small ball.