Hoops

Boomers vs Tall Blacks G2, Aug 18

Basketball is a game of Offence and Defence..
Whilst we may have players who could play the 4 offensively (Anderson,Bairstow and even maybe Baynes) They dont have the versitility to defend a 4.

I can see jawai and Baynes working, you just need a different approach, more of a crash and bash with some solid screens and dynamic play rather than what you would see in a Bogut/Anderson combo, which would be slightly more technical in its set up...

that's why I'd play Anderson at the 4 (especially when Delly is running the point), drag the defense out and make more room for Bogut to dominate the paint if the pick and pop isn't on.

Different for Aussie kids at the elite level, especially those selected for the Australian under 17 - 19 squads, also going on various Nike, Adidas and other international tours, then there is year 12 studies factored in and of course AIS camps...

They just don't have time to play NBL mate!

Next thing you know, they are 18 and off to college, in the blink of an eye, so which NBL team can fit them in?

Exum and Simmons have never played against men before whereas Te Rangi has had two nznbl season and 1 year with the Breakers.
Something needs to be done with the nbl teams and players who intend on going to college. Tai had an NZNBL season before going so why not guys like Pineau and Exum in the NBL?

Bairstow and Brock Motum are two guys to consider for the 4 spot moving forward.

36era have a better roster than the Breakers this year IMO.

They would have done just as well if not better than NZ last night if they had played (assuming Gibson and Petrie could be replicated).

Quite a few teams would have done just as well. Perth especially because they have a better PG (Martin), SF (Ennis) and PF (Knight) than NZ (Kenny BJ and Abo)

This is just the nature of basketball.

Im a kiwi fan but i would admit the 13 point margin they won by is quite comfortable. They didnt 'just win'. In my experiences..13 point games are not really close to be honest.

Not in International Basketball anyway.

Australia just beat nz, how do expect an nbl team to win the nbl comp? When u got nearly the same tall blacks playing in the nbl? Just saying

Vart, Ogilvy is slow as hell.

nothing wrong with a Veteran presence especially one with Andersons credentials and with all the talented youth coming through (Exum, Simmons etc).

Anderson is great Mystro, a lock for the 4 at the minute, just getting on a bit in years...

Andersen is prob the only one mobile enough to play at the 4 IMO

Vart I agree with you, I just think Baynes could play 4 if the others were included because you have to play him regardless, either that or we have to drop some of the 5's don't we?

I believe in a few years time there will be some good 4's coming through the ranks, just at the minute the consensus seems to be we are concerned about the 4 spot...

I am not so concerned, I think we can cover this quite well with what he have. For me our depth at the moment is looking quite okay!

Steven Adams has just confirmed to Media while in NZ holding youth coaching clinics with Brooke Lopez that he will be available for the WC's in Spain and has OKC's blessing as they see it as an honour and chance for his development.

Get Kirk Penney, Tai Webster (with some Div.1 NCAA under his belt), Isaac Fotu and Rob Loe back in the program and you have a team looking like.

Tai Webster/Jarrod Kenney or Lindsay Tait
Kirk Penney/Corey Webster
Tom Abercrombie/Reuben TeRangi
Mika Vukona/Issac Fotu/BJ Anthony
Steven Adams/Alex Pledger/Rob Loe

and you have a team that can remain at least competitive over 4 quarters and has scoring options on the bench with Webster especially and Loe/TeRangi/Fotu's improving offensive games.
You have Adams/Pledger/Loe giving NZ a luxury never before afforded with 3x mobile 7ft options in the paint.

I think this Tall Blacks team has a shot at claiming some decent scalps and improving their ranking in Spain.

If we are going to look down the track at Bogut, Jawai at centre, would Baynes go to the 4 spot?

Obviously I am talking about the possibility that Bogut gets fit and plays...

Otherwise we have too many 5's, notwithstanding the guys who just played and waiting in the wings!!

We seem to have a plethora of 4-5's but don't use them as well as I would like to see.

If the players buy into the system and I mean really buy into it, a medal is an acheievable target.

Just thinking in response to the mobile 4 issue.

Could you run Ingles at the 4 the same way USA ran Melo and Lbj in this position. Only problem would be Joe's lack of strength/muscle.

As of now, Bairstows the only feasible option IMO.

How would a small ball lineup go. Say:

Dellavedova
Mills
Newley
Ingles
Baynes

Mick, I think you'll see more pick and roll when Baynes is in the team. Bairstow is the only big guy on this team I'd want to give the ball in a pick and roll and I thought NZ were pretty good at shutting down driving options off picks anyway. (No surprise there with mobile, hard-working bigs like Vukona and Frank!)

LC, I didn't think Ingles had the ball too much. I thought Delly, Gibbo and Mills handled it a lot more. When Ingles had it he did something with it fairly quickly most times and the outcome was often good, with 6 assists and only 1 TO!

My only criticism of Ingles is that he doesn't seek to either attack the basket or use his height to shoot over shorter opponents from mid-range more often.

Former Chicago Bull BJ Armstrong (Derrick rose agent too) was at the game in Canberra

Former Chicago Bull BJ Armstrong (Derrick rose agent too) was at the game in Canberra

Paul; agree re: Mills.

Lemanis' defensive style is conducive for Mills...the same way it was for Ced (great defenders with the ability to strip players)

ABC coverage made many errors was so frustrating. Lemanis coached the NZ Breakers not the 'Breaks', the world cup is in 2014 not 2015 and its quite sad that Heal did not know the name of "that kiwi big that recently got drafted in the first round".

Exum should have got more burn, though its harder to argue this after how Gibson played.

Petrie is a nice NBL player but is out of his depth for international basketball.

Ingles isn't taking it all too seriously is he?

Wow, hip and shoulder on Patty and no retaliation?.

Is this a friendly...?

World Champs!

No free throws for Aussies in a half???

Some momentum in the second half would be nice. Boomers need to start better in the tournament if they want to get into a finals position...

I love the Hakka, it adds something special to the game. Yes, some may be used to it but for those who only see it for the first time, it is nothing to poke fun at trust me...

Haha big tough Kiwis getting in Simmons face with the haka. Didn't even phase the 17yr old.