Hoops

Olympics: Boomers v Spain

I think we showed in this game that at best, we can compete and maybe upset a team such as Spain on our day. Our defense is right up there, although we seemed to drop off in the 3rd...

As others have said, prior to the games nobody really expected us to beat Spain, and we managed to keep the margin respectable in the end.

Where we are really struggling is on offence, where at times we are impotent. The 3-ball continues to hurt badly.

I echo the sentiments of many others,someone liek PC could have helped in both games to date. Why include him in the team for 3 point shooting and not use him when we need him?

We also seem to not use David Andersen effectively. In the game against Brazil we went to him in the second half and he delivered. We have really not gone to him again since.

Mills and Ingles look like our man most capable to contribute offensively, but both have really yet to break a game open but will have a few more chances yet.

Delly continues to get more minutes as he is the only guy on this team that knows how to run a team and get others involved. Some of his creativity on offence has been great - but we need to run more pick and rolls with him and Baynes in particular as they seem to have clicked.

So much to say, but in essence, we all new the Brazil game was going to be 50/50. We all knew the Spain game was unlikely, so now we move into the games we SHOULD be expected to win against China and GB, and then the 50/50 against Russia.

I'm not counting my chickens just yet as we have yet to win a game in these Olympics, but a win against China and GB will mean we finish 4th in our group at worst, and a follow up win against Russia will see us 3rd and avoid USA.

I just want to make sure we finish in the top 4 in our group first and foremost. A game against USA I can live with if we finish 4th, as at least we finish top 8 which many people would have accepted prior to the games and a chance to still finish 5th. But a game against the USA is also a chance for guys like Delly, Ingles, Baynes, Andersen and Maric to show their worth against NBA stars and increase their chances of gaining interest from NBA teams.

But we need to win our next two games...lets just focus on China.

I'm not going to discuss coaching just yet and will leave that to after the games.

Don't complain about Casey - I remember when Brian Taylor (AFL great and sometime basketballer)commentated NBL with Drewey.

All Taylor could say was that he wanted to see more biffo, and that was the only thing that ever got him excited about the game.

User friendly roll.....runs out of real estate HAHA

We seem to have quarters in which the offense stalls.

Ok, two warm up games out the way, now time for the serious stuff. But seriously...no real surprises yet, prior to the games most thought the Boomers were a 50/50 chance against the boys from Brazil and expected a loss to the Spainards. Have China and Great Britain as wins and Russia as 50/50.

Lets hope Brazil drop their games against Russia, Spain and Great Britian (emphasis on hope).

Sorry Anonymous have to disagree with your comment "Nothing about the Boomers spain were on another level". Yes spain lifted their intensity in the 3rd quarter and yes they are superior players then us in many ways, however if you shoot 4 from 25 odd from outside with most being open good shots, then YES it is something about the boomers. Can it be fixed with these current players, i have my doubts. We played well in many areas but 4 from 25 or whatever it ended up being. this is putting so much pressure on our bigs inside. Obviously people are expressing their frustration with our team and 1 fundamental area of the game that we are so terrible at.

Kickz 101 is offering the Boomers 3 point % off all basketballs tomorrow. Roughly 16.5% off

Has our coaching in Australia changed in the last 2 decades. our strength right through the 80's, 90's and even most of the 2000's was our outside shooting. what has changed, where have things gone wrong. have we forgot how important good shooting is.

Has our coaching in Australia changed in the last 2 decades. our strength right through the 80's, 90's and even most of the 2000's was our outside shooting. what has changed, where have things gone wrong. have we forgot how important good shooting is.

They say we need to beat Russia to avoid the U.S. We gotta beat GB & China 1st. It can only get better not any worst. Fingers crossed!!!

I praise Mills for how he's playing, his shots just are not falling. and boy are they not falling. Mills should actually be playing faster, they all should be playing faster, F*** ME!

Jawai would be perfect for the way we are playing. Half court bullshit where you don't even take a peek at the rim until the shot clock reads about 5 is perfect for a big bastard like Nate. Brett Brown obviously brought Crawford over for bit-the-bullet situations. I have counted at least three bite-the-bullet situations already this olympics.

gotta say ive been a fan of brett brown but looking more closely i dont think so. when we are more then 20 down and cant hit an outside shot PC still cant get in the game. i think gaze was getting frustrated by browns ignorance in not giving PC a go and the lack of 3 point shooting. I am speechless after that performance. seriously these guys are professional basketball players and in 2 games they hit what 8 from 50 odd from beyong the arc. Pathetic

^^ agree^^

Why can we not even try the trapping d earlier in the games? look at what we do when we run and play uptempo. Brown should be ashamed of himself. If it were a higher profile sport in Australia, this guy would be publicly criticised.

Agree that Crawford should be getting a go. I actually think he should be getting good minutes every game on this shooting challenged team.

Two good things to take out of this game are the improvements in TO's and the way Ingles and Newley have attacked the rim. Those were the two things we failed to do in the Brazil game, so at least that has been addressed.

Brad Newley = Classy

We only start scoring when the game is out of reach & nothing to lose. Let's see if we can make some history & win it

Is anyone else getting this annoying, lecturing Englishman commentating on their feed? God I want to ram his smug, half baked 'basketball knowledge' back down his throat!

oops.
Computer just had a Patty moment. Firing away with no control.

I don't mean it Patty, I still love you

Honestly, as much as people are bagging out Mills, he is the only one getting good shots, so I encourage him blazing away. We are not setting good screens, we are not running good offense of any kind. Just go for it Mills

...and Baynes just put Ibaka on his arse

I'll

...and Baynes just put Ibaka on his arse

I'll

...and Baynes just put Ibaka on his arse

I'll

POSTERIZED

Agree about the fouls Skud. Wouldn't make enough difference though. We are just clueless on offence and too few guys can even make open shots.

Contrast that with Spain who pass to draw us out of position and then have guys like Llull and Fernandez who don't look like missing when they get the open shot.

This is absolutely disgusting. We have no offense whatsoever, so push the ball!!!!!! damn it Brown, can you not coach?!? "I want the Boomers to be the fittest team in the olympics". well how about using that fitness mate.

Commentators are basically calling us lazy on D

Lol

All we need is PC to jump on in the 4th, knock down 8 or 10 straight triples and we're back in this thing

something is wrong with these refs. ingles cant get a call and then they call soft ones on us. I agree its time to throw PC in, something needs to be done from a coaching point of view with our 3 point shooting. technique is so bad. Wouldnt matter if Bogut played.

Anybody watching the Equestrian? ;)

Do we even have an offence? And can we buy a foul?

Feel like I'm watching the sixers

Can't hit a 3
Can't get a call when we take it at their bigs

What can you do?

*begrudgingly* Spain are shooting well

Mills needs to let the offense come to him in the half court & like Gaze just said 2 turnovers at the half is a great improvement on last game.

Jingles is playing to his ability. wow i wish i had the natural ability of him and newley. Patty at the moment is a liabiity on offence and defence. Hopefully newley and ingles can keep up their confidence. Delly is playing better and i think its time to throw in PC. we need to start hitting the 3 ball if we are any chance. if not Spain will walk away with this game. Just so proud of Joe. he could definately play a role on an NBA team.

The refs must be rocking espana uni's under their shirts!!!

Someone moron was giving it to Bogut about not wanting to play in the Olympics, his response was do you think I prefer it on the couch than being there. It would be nice to have him though.

Australia have not taken a single foul shot for the entire first half.

Just sayin'

Ibaka is the dirtiest player on the court. All shoves and elbows...and why wouldn't he, if he's not getting called for it?

JINGLES!!!

Jingles STILL can't get a call!!!
The Gasol boys are a protected species

Foul shots
Spain 8
Aus 0

Fuck me Delly gr8 pass and finish knocked over my seat AND spilled my drink!!!

What an amazing shot Delly WOW

link 1 is working ok for me so far...

7:45 Online Stream Of The Game

hope the refs let the Boomers play physical