Hoops

Boomers Olympic team named

Articles from the Saint Mary's College and Washington State University websites...

Saint Mary's Duo Named To Aussie Olympic Team

Former Coug Aron Baynes Named to Australian Olympic Team

I hope Brown sticks with a core group for London and not share the minutes around unless foul trouble presents who someone is having a particularly off night.

Delly and Mills were both a pleasure to watch - Delly for his decision making and service delivery, and Mills for his now beautiful stroke!

Ingles also impressed for mine, as did Baynes and Maric.

Coach Breatt Brown on Dellevedova after game 1 of the Farewell Games:

"He is one of those dilemma-type situations, rotations-wise, because he deserves to be on the floor," Brown said. "Then when you look over you have Patty, so somewhere something has to got to give with Patty going to two-guard and Matty goes to one and they can play together."

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/olympics/news-london-2012/mills-magic-guides-boomers-to-win-20120624-20ws3.html#ixzz1ylem0XdS

This is what we want to see - a Delly & Mills back court combo!

An undermanned Great Britain fell to Lithuania by just 2 points in other warm up games.

Well I remember the last World Champs differently where Martin looked a step slow most of the time.

I'll allow that he has looked hesitant at times playing for the Boomers, but even if he played with confidence, it doesn't change the lack of speed.

The other thing is that Martin gets away with a lot of very physical play in the NBL that just won't be allowed at international level. He'll just rack up fouls and send the other team to the line.

With regard to the Chinese team, pretty much every guard we played had them crapping themselves! They just aren't very good compared to the talent we will face in the Olympics.

Simo, I'm sorry but I remember watching Martin at the last WC's and his lack of speed for a guard was badly exposed. I kept waiting for his trademark harassing style to cause some turnovers or frustration, but it didn't.

I also disagree that this team has enough scoring power. Unfortunately, we have very little in the way of outside shooting and Andersen and Maric, for all their success in Europe, have yet to show they can consistently score for the Boomers.

Mills is our best threat and yet if his jumper is off, there is little he can do unless the other team decides to start giving us fastbreak layups.

Our best hope is that Newley or Ingles finally step up and fulfil the scoring potential their athleticism gives them.

As for Barlow, he has got great size and pretty good handles, but I have rarely seen him use those gifts to dominate his opponent. Ingles is the same player, but has more athleticism and more skill and is four years younger. I just don't really see the point in him being in the side. I still think Khazzouh could offer more if he was given the chance

I a??m very disappointed that Damian Martin has missed out for Dellavedova. As good as Dellavedova is he is not ready for an international tournament like this. Martin has a much bigger body to handle the contact at that level & is a much better defender & smarter player. Dellavedova will get his opportunity over the next 10 years but I just don'??t think he's quite ready at the moment. Martin's offensive output would have worked against him but really there's enough scoring power on this team. He would be great to come in for a few minutes here n there & do a lock down job on an opposition guard.

Because Joker its the Olympics and we need a guy who can play defence and shoot the three. Broekhoff might be a promising player, but he showed nothing against China that said to me he is ready to compete at the highest level. Sure, if he came in against China and had an instant 'gonna be the next A Gaze' impact, then you take him. He didn't though, so we go with the best guy available in Crawford.

There aren't that many games at the Olympics, so I would hope Brown and co have scouted all our opposition and will adjust their lineups to the suit the matchups.

Eg, against a weaker team we might try to overpower them with size by starting both Maric and Andersen. But on the other hand, against a lot of teams, a Maric and Andersen combo probably wouldn't be the best, because it would make for a very slow frontcourt.

Generally, I would have thought a Maric/ Nielsen combo and an Andersen/ Baynes combo would be best. In the first combo, Maric is your offensive target and Nielsen is there to play D, rebound and perhaps hit the odd mid-range shot if he gets open. With the second combo, you're looking to get Andersen some shots with Baynes on the offensive glass and stiffening the D down the other end.

Depending on your opposition, or who is playing well, you might use one combo a lot more than the other. At times, we might also need to go small and fast with Wortho if the opposing PF proves to agile for our primary bigs.

I don't think Newley has done enough over the past couple of years to warrant a starting spot at these Olympics. If he starts playing to the level we were all expecting of him by now, then I'll be the first to say start him, but until then, he needs to come off the bench.

I think Ingles and Mills will almost certainly start in every game, in which case I'd actually like to see Dellavedova play PG on offence and SG on defence. I think we will get the best out of Mills that way and that our offence will run much more effectively too.

I'd give Newley and Crawford good mins off the bench and use Gibson situationally - honestly I don't think his D is that much better than Crawford's and Crawford can actually shoot!

Barlow - I don't even know why he's on the team. Wouldn't play him at all.

Patrick Mills
Matt Nielsen
David Andersen
Matthew Dellavedova
Joe Ingles
Adam Gibson
Peter Crawford
Brad Newley
David Barlow
Aron Baynes
Mark Worthington
Aleks Maric

In a 40 minute game I'd like to see a depth chart like this:

C Maric(20)/Baynes(5)/Andersen(5)
PF Andersen(20)/Nielsen(20)/Worthington(0)
SF Newley(25)/Barlow(15)/Worthington(0)
SG Ingles(25)/Gibson(5)/Crawford(0)
PG Dellavedova(25)/Mills(25)

Pretty much as expected. Glad Crawford has been picked. Would have been a surprise if he wasn't tho IMO. Agree we have one too many wings. If Newley and Ingles can't cut it I can't see what Barlow would do to change a game. Would have liked to have seen Khazzouh in instead as I think he could provide an offensive spark our other bigs often fail to.

And where is the link to this info?

Although that is probably the team most people were expecting...PC & AG chosen over DM.