Hoops

What are our Medal chances at the WC?

@D2.0 - I believe our chances are very good for a medal, can't say much beyond that but what I will say is that we need to be positive in every game we play and not look too far ahead, perhaps tank a game just to avoid a particular opponent like we did once and it was disgraceful!

Take them on and just beat them, no matter who we play, the Aussie way..........

China will not get out of there group. They struggled with the NBL select team. Team China was only missing a couple of players. They will stink at the World Cup. No Chinese refs to bail them out. It will be very ugly for them

All I'm saying is that China will not be embarrassed.

It's the World Cup, there won't be Chinese refs.

"we would smack China by 40"

Really?
You think China have spent billions on this, to allow themselves to be embarrassed??

Their games against Poland and Venezuela will be interesting. I will be very surprised if they don't make it through.
Hard to see them getting past Russia and Argentina, but who knows.

Either way, I will be utterly shocked if the Refs allow any shellackings, or for that matter if any coaches are dumb enough to attempt it.

Without broekhofff, our chances decrease by about 15 percent.

Wow, love the fact that nobody bothered to answer the question...
(Apart from the nong claiming we're the 2nd best team.)

Perhaps what I should have asked is
"without resorting to the usual drivel about how we have the best team ever and could even beat the USA for Gold, is anyone able to give a realistic indication of our Medal chances?".

Nowhere did I say I was worried about China. They're on the other side of the draw, so I think meeting them is practically impossible.
The only issue with China, is that if they do win through to the QFs, you wouldn't want to be the team facing them, in a knockout final, on a Chinese court.

Unless I am mistaken, the USA will finish top of group K, meaning they will play the 2nd placed team from our group L in the 3rd QF.
So to avoid them, we need to finish top of the 2nd round group.

As always, you can drop a game and still finish top, but ideally you're aiming to win all 5.
So that would mean beating Canada, Senegal, and Lithuania in the 1st round, then France and maybe the Dominicans in the 2nd round.
I don't know enough about any of those teams, to rate our chances.

Also does anyone else think that Simmons will be more easily covered by opposition coaches in international FIBA ball than in the NBA? FIBA doesn't have as restrictive defensive rules compared with NBA, and the spacing is more congested, which will make it more difficult for Simmons to penetrate. Simmons lineups need to be run-and-gun and/or full of shooters.

Re: starting Bogut + Baynes starting together, notice that in 2016 Lemanis played Bogut and Baynes together for just the first ~4 mins of each half, otherwise playing one of them at the 5. I wouldn't be surprised if he did the same this year. Outside of the first 4 minutes of each half, he played primarily Andersen (ave 20 mins), Bairstow (ave 13 mins) and Motum (ave 9 mins) at the 4. I think Bogut and Baynes don't have the capacity to play any more than in 2016. Bogut was on 20 minutes per game (with one rest game) and Baynes was approaching the mid-20s per game. The question is how Lemanis will cover the absence on Andersen, who was very useful as a stretch 4 in Rio. This is where I expect to see Lemanis go with either Maker or Bolden or Motum to get those minutes. There will be minutes available for these guys to step up.

But if Simmons plays the 4 defensively, ideally he should either play alongside Baynes, who has become at least a threat from range, or a smallball lineup with Maker or Bolden at the 5. Simmons inclusion changes the team because his lack of jumpshot really needs to be covered.

Squad of 16 to be announced next week

How many are going to be picked for training camp, like to see a reasonable squad so everyone earns their spot.

2016 starters were:

Delly
Mills
Bogut
Baynes
Ingles

Who do you think he will start then?

Lemanis will be head coach.... but he will make mistakes.

Lemanis will start:

Cadee

make no mistake about that

Lemanis will start:

Simmons
Mills
Bogut
Baynes
Ingles

Make no mistake about that

“Probably second best team there”

“The worst acceptable spot we can finish is 8th”

Lofty standards

Very difficult draw. Think canada have got us but we should beat Lithuania.
Lithuania still have a great frontcourt and good sfs but guard play not what it used to be.

You think we are favs against Canada but wouldn’t want to face China?

I’d be a lot more concerned by Canada than Spain let alone China who shouldn’t be that much of a challenger

From Boti's article about the Crocs import cull.

SEABLer from Tasmania coming up to replace Withers? Obviously fancying the improvement in Allen. Wouldn't be surprised if Holmes & co have convinced Woolpert that he, Allen and Hinder can handle the frontcourt without an import. Hawks frontcourt were keen to do the same after having more success the year before they brought in Catron.

Gary Ervin is one target to replace Forte but they are still shopping.

David Pennisi mentioned as another option besides Osborn. Blast from the past. Reminds me of that sign at the Powerhouse: "You might have a Pennisi, but we have a Stiffy." (Or something along those lines!)