Hoops

Boomers World Cup Team announced

Word is that only one of the warm up games is not being being broadcast via ESPN in Australia.

Livebasketball.tv may be broadcasting live online.

Andersen will go between 4 and 5 depending on who the Boomers are playing.

Some countries will go with a traditional 4 man. (i.e. Spain). Others will go with a more mobile, quicker PF i.e. they will play their SF at the PF position (e.g. USA with Durant, France with Batum)

Yes. Thats where I think Spain can really exploit the US bigs.

Their starting bigs will be Gasol and Ibaka. I cant wait to see these two play. You could argue both are the # 1 and 2 defensive bigs in the NBA. But can't wait to watch them complement each other offensively - Ibaka's power and athletic game with Gasol's fundamental and finesse game/ability to pass.

420YET?, yes I believe Navarro and Rubio can compete with the US guards. At the end of the day Navarro can fill it up just as good as any NBA guard (he is pretty damn consistent). And Rubio won't score but he will run the show and get great looks for his teammates.

You're right the US are on a different level. Doesn't mean they will win. They have firepower. But i can see Spain been a more efficient team with the consistent scorers they have (especially inside).

Surely as a head coach during an international game....you look to your bench for an edge....or just looking for something/someone that might change-up/lock down....and there's A.Gibson???

Oh Dear!!!

US team looks a little light on in the experience department, but I'm pretty sure Anthony Davis and Boogie Cousins qualify as 'dominant big men'!!!

Wall, George, Durant, Davis, Cousins looks like a pretty tough matchup. I suppose Spain could get em due to lack of preparation for intl competition though. I don't think many of those guys have played much intl ball.

Gibson.....really?

D.Martin should be in that team,especially on the international stage where lock down defenders are worth their weight in gold...

I'm calling it now. Spain to beat USA at the WC.

I think Spain will get them.

But not putting money on them as they are only paying $3.25 over here to win.

I loved watching the Delly to Baynes highlight package from the London Olympics but that was two years ago and our opponents at the World Cup will better prepared this time.

Is Exum to Bairstow/Motum too much to expect?

Yeah Baynes was one of our best players at the last Olympics. Definitely an important player for the Boomers. The only reason I like Andersen starting over him is for offensive balance in the starting lineup.

My mind could easily be changed once I see the Boomers in action too. But if Baynes starts I hope Motum starts alongside him to give a bit of an outside threat. I reckon teams would pack the paint too much with a Baynes/ Bairstow combo and Baynes/ Andersen would be too slow against many sides.

Love the squad but cannot agree with Baynes starting. At least Jawai and Andersen look aggressive on offense, whereas Baynes looked like a deer in headlights most of the time with the Spurs - too scared to take people on, easily blocked out on the boards, and too many easy misses. I don't see him as an offensive 1 on 1 threat.

And, no, I'm not a hater - I made a point of watching most Spurs games, and got behind Delly and Baynes every time.

Yeah I think we agree RJD. I definitely think it'll be preferable not to use Ingles and Newley too much at the same time because of their limited 3pt shooting.

I too want to see more of Newley's slashing game. He's the most athletic guy on the team bar maybe Exum and we haven't seen that asset utilised as much as I would like in past tournaments. Hopefully if he's out there with Delly, Broekhoff, Motum and Andersen we will be able to create some more lanes to attack the basket than we have in the past.

Defensively I think Ingles and Newley are interchangeable, but I think a number of people are listing Ingles at SG because he has better ball-handling skills than Newley does.

Good that Newley had a good season LC, but I'm afraid that 33% from 3 is abominable! Just on that stat right there I'm dropping him from my starting lineup!

For team balance I think Goulding has to start really, because Andersen (if he starts) would be the only other reliable perimeter threat. Delly and Ingles will make one here and there, but that's about it.

In the lead-up games, offensively I would love to see Goulding, Broekhoff and Motum spacing the floor and Delly or Exum running pick and pop with Andersen or pick and roll with Baynes.

Probably Delly with Baynes because they already have a nice connection and Baynes is a threat at the rim, whilst with Exum and Andersen it would be the opposite.

I think Exum would find some nice driving lanes with Andersen drawing the opposing centre out of the key and Motum has shown he is a very sneaky scorer when the focus is on someone else.

Newley's recent form over the past season with Gran Canaria has been very good. He averaged 11.3ppg on 59% shooting from the field and 32.9% from 3PT land. He had some very good shooting nights from beyond the arc, but also some very average ones.

God enough with Simmons, he needs to be in school, which is where he should be at his age!!. The team is picked by coaches who have a dam sight more experience than you lot all whinging about a 17 yr old boy. His time will come. Move on

Adding to that, the Boomers program has considerably more coin than the NZ program.

If anything, I would have thought it would be the other way round, with Aus taking 14 and NZ taking only 12.

As paul mentioned somewhere, NZ take 14 guys on tour. Australia only takes 12.

Why not take 14 and just bring along Simmons and someone else.

And tell them, 'hey we are bringing you two in but you won't make the final WC team, but we want to give you some gametime here and there in the warm up games to keep the main 12 fresh".

Playing 9/10 games over 17 or so days with 12 guys plus travel, training etc will be difficult.

Lemanis' management of game time will be crucial.

Some players have had big seasons (Dellavedova and Baynes), some have had big summers with NBA teams (Goulding and Motum). Someone like Andersen isn't a spring chicken and Jawai isn't fully fit.

Hopefully for your guys sake he doesn't overdo the minutes.

I think we're on the same page regarding the foot speed of our bigs Mick. I'm not sold on Jawai personally, so could perhaps have replaced him with Walker for that extra mobile 4 should Motum struggle.

Disagree with u about Andersen tho. I think he should start at centre for his offence, with Bairstow at PF providing the defensive presence. If Bairstows opponent is too quick then we will have to go to Motum. I'd be more inclined to pair Baynes with Motum than Bairstow, so we still have some shooting from the bigs at all times.

Andersen, Baynes, Jawai
Bairstow, Motum
Newley, Broekhoff
Ingles,Goulding, Exum
Dellavedova, Gibson

Looking at the team selections above shows the coaches have an eye to the future without going too crazy by picking too many teenagers, they had no choice on that.

Defensively Gibson will have huge impact here, especially with his hustle in the back court, I expect him to lead that charge and the others to support him.

We have size, maybe we don't need to guard Shack, but if we can present inside dominance that can win us games, so be it...

Flexibility is the key, I don't think we are short of players who can cross over and switch positions.

Bairstow and Motum are interesting and potentially exciting choices at the power forward posiiton, both can flat out shoot it and they offer differnt looks inside, can't wait to see how they work out.

Plenty of outside shooting options from several players in the 2-3-4 spots, hopefully to be complimented with the confidence to take it to the rim!

Guys, be positive, it is a new team in a lot of ways, without some stars who are injured an unavailable, so we go in with what we have, I don't have any great issues, we can analyse the results as they transpire and be genisses in hindsight I guess...

I really think that with this team, it potentially sets us up for Rio and beyond brilliantly.

The only guys that will definitely not get to the next Olympics in 2 years are Gibson and Andersen from this team.

Those in contention would also include Bogut, Mills, Simmons, Drmic, Maker plus more!

Good times ahead for the Boomers.

I don't think either exum or Simmons are mature enough to be getting a berth in a worlds team, neither have experience or body to go up against what is an experienced men's competition. They both are extremely talented against their own age groups but neither are ready for major contributions in a worlds team. The fact you all get hyped up about the exclusion of a 17 yr old is ridiculous, he has years ahead of him, and with every post he seems to get an inch taller !!! Get real guys the coaching staff of the boomers are all experienced been their done that players/coaches at a senior level. They know what they need and what it takes to play against the best in the world, this isn't u 18 nationals.

Have you seen Broekhoff play? He is not just a great shooter, but also able to defend bigger players and is an exceptional rebounder for his size.

Good point Paul - interesting decision. I guess they can always call someone up but if they have not been training with the team then they would struggle to fit in with the program.

You'd think last chance for Andersen and Newley to make an impact internationally after not really doing anything the last handful of campaigns...

At least they didn't chuck Wortho in there again...

Yep - happy with the team too. Hopefully will press to be at the business end of the tournament. Plenty of games to gel together as a team in the lead up too.

Here is our summary on the final 12 Boomers for Spain.

2014 FIBA World Cup: Lemanis names Boomers for Spain