Hoops

Your Boomers world cup team?

Swap Exum out for Martin or Greenwood? That has to be a joke right?

No way Baynes is left out for Knight either.

Health and form being equal, I'd give Goulding the nod ahead of Madgen. I just think Goulding is more capable of getting his shot off at international level.

Pledger has been playing great and I would have started him if Adams had not made such great strides so quickly.
It is in NZ's interests for Tai to develop into a PG as opposed to SG, Corey will have that position on lock when Penney retires from International basketball.

Australiasia's 6'2 would be close to 6'0 and America's 6'2 is about 6'4

Be pissed if come world champs our countries don't kick some arse as we have quality teams that are only getting better.

As for Pledger, becoming a big fan over the past couple of seasons and don't want to see him wasted on the bench... Whilst I don't think he has earned his 'chief' nickname, he sure wont be the worst 7 footer in the tournament!

Btw, don't mean to hijack the thread..

But Webster has just grown 2 inches in 2 or so months.

He was 6"2ish when he left now Nebraska and ESPN have him listed at 6"4. I know they probably overexaggerate height a little but given his age he might end up at 6"5ish.

That could allow him to move to the SG position for the future.

Yes Fotu's numbers are good all be it against some weaker opponents. Fotu needs to spend some time learning the Dillon Boucher art of niggle, hustle and dropping discreet dimes. He is improving in Hawaii but gets marked down for looking like Side Show Bob.
Rob Loe gives NZ some different looks at PF with his 7ft frame and ability to shoot the 3ball while Mika Vukona is more of a PointForward.
Mika Vukona is still #1 "Kiwi" PF in NZ/Aus by a bit with BJ Anthony next in line but Loe's International & NCAA experience, size and skillset get him the job with Fotu getting the nod over Anthony for the 3rd string spot based on potential alone IMO.

Nebraska have started to see what Tai Webster is about after a couple of quiet -ish outings as he found his feet against the Georgia Bulldogs

Fotu is a legit NBA chance.

Have a look at the numbers he is putting up.

I know he is playing for a mid-major but he is only in his second year.

Only concern is that he is a bit of a tweener (bit similar to Bennet)

No I would play Pledger off the bench behind Adams.
Vukona has been super effective at international level in the past and will be even better with his improved mid range jumper. 7ft St Louis Billiken Rob Loe can play PF so I would back Vukona with him.

Any half decent american PG that we can naturalize and claim as our own/Tai Webster
Kirk Penney/Corey Webster
Tom Abercrombie/Rueban TeRangi
Mika Vukona/Rob Loe/Isaac Fotu
Steven Adams/Alex Pledger

First Tall Blacks squad to have the luxury of 3x 7ft players?

Rely heavily on Tai Webster/Rob Loe/Isaac Fotu developing into the players their potential suggests and Penney and Adams being available. Penney I think will realize this is one of the most talented TallBlacks squads in a long time if not ever and will be keen as long as he's fit & healthy and OKC already release Ibaka, Durant & Westbrook for national duties and have said to Adams reportedly that they see International Basketball as a huge honor for them and the player concerned.

As for Tall blacks can you play Adams and Pledger on the court at the same time?

I still think Vukona is vulnerable being the undersized power forward that he's playing

Would twin towers be an option?

Stupid question but who pays for travel and accommodation in training camp?

Hold with me for a second here, if we have say a camp of like 14 players then I think players like Nevill, Madgen, Damo, Ogilvy, Petrie, Gliddon and absolutely anyone else worth their weight in salt should get their arse down to training camp and absolutely bust their guts and if 40 players turn up then would that really be that awful?

Andrej can run plays and show his defensive structures to a greater number, the camp would be ruthless with so much competition, Luc gets to work with heaps of quality big men (as he loves doing) and if someone with their massive ego gets shown up by Madgen/Damo or Petrie... Then who do you select?

Lucky that is Andrej's decision and not mine, but I just want to be excited by every player that wears a Boomers jersey that comes onto court (kinda like how I feel with our next batsman coming out to bat gets me excited)

Actually, they are the same height.

Madgen is in fact listed at 1cm taller.

Goulding looks a lot taller though..id say he has superior wingspan.
Really long arms.

I would take Goulding.

He has shown plenty of ways to score this year and just looks like he would be a tougher cover internationally

GuesswhosBACK, based on the Boomers' recent history I believe there's just about no chance of Jawai AND Bogut suiting up for the World Championships and/or Olympics. Essentially I consider those two interchangeable.

Re bench scoring: Goulding fits the zone-buster role that Crawford played in the '12 Olympics, but I could see him playing a larger role at the World Championships given his improvement over the past few years. While obviously not as quick and talented, I could see him backing up Mills in an identical role playing off-ball.

Until now I had no idea he was such a prolific scorer, and based on his college statistics Drmic could snag a backup guard position from the likes of Exum/Martin/Gibson etc.

Penney is playing in Turkey and scoring around 17ppg i think from memory.
Yeah he still has mad game.

Delly / Martin / Exum
Mills / Goulding
Ingles / Newley
Andersen / Ogilvy / Bairstow
Bogut / Baynes

Funny seeing Worthington and Creek's names come up in this post. I never really saw Worthington play much before this season but at the moment he looks like a racehorse who has entered pre-retirement to a nice green paddock of grass. Hands down the most over-rated player in the league at the moment.

I'd love to see Ogilvy get chosen in the squad and have his return here been enough to get him there and whether he makes final cut I'll leave in the hands of Lemanis, Longley and co.

I won't name a squad but I'll ask this semi-important question; is there any naturalized Australian worthy of a Boomers call up? In the past we have had Loggins, Fisher, Grace, Redhage etc... I can't think of anyone around that would be worth a spot in the training squad.

I'd love to see Madgen, Goulding, Damo and Gliddon at the very least be included in the training squad

> How do you know Bogut won't play?

He has all but said it himself already.
Next Olympics are the only chance we have of seeing him in green & gold IMO, and even then only if his health & contractual situations align.