Hoops

Game 1 - Boomers vs USA

As a young man growing up I dreamed of being able to watch a national game between Australia and America. Tonight my dream became a nightmare, luckily I guessed that the superstars wouldn't come out so I didn't go to the event live. But even watching it on tv,I had to change the channel repeatedly to see what else was on and go on Facebook etc because the crap churned out tonight was unbelievable. Most of the above complaints I totally agree with, a joke of a selected team with about as much excitement as a div 3 under 14 game. I wish I had not even paid for the electricity to watch even a part of it let alone going to it live. Can't even use the excuse of flooding youngsters to prepare for Olympics.

Be interesting if both NZ and Australia go out in the first round. What would happen there. NZ no certainty to get out there group either.

It's okay mate, Mitch Creek is now a deadeye three point shooter according to some around here now.. We'll be right.

Also Baynes and Bogut only played the first 4 minutes of each half together in Rio. It wasn't so much time together. They were +4 in 92 possessions (excluding vs China, Venezuela), so not bad considering they were playing against starting units. The game has evolved even in the last 3 years, so it's questionable whether 2 relatively slow bigs will work well in getting out to shooters, especially against North American teams that rely so much on perimeter shots. It seems to be USA's shooting 4s that destroy us.

Baynes and Bogut worked in Rio, but both are three years older and slower now. I think its a step to far to play them together now. Plus I think they're better served rotating for each other giving us 40 minutes of quality C play (assuming Baynes finds his form). If you get both guys starting and both pick up early fouls we're left with Landale the only other person with a hope of playing the C spot.

Australia need to finish higher than NZ to automatically qualify. If they don't they will need to win one of four 6 team Olympic qualifying tournaments to get in which i cannot see being easy with some of the European teams who will likely not automatically qualify.

If nz are ahead of Australia after the WC are Australia out or are there other qualifying games for losers????

"To the two above, I'm pretty confident in preparation games we are running only one on ball defense (ie: big dropping, guard going over), and we'll have different looks in the tournament."

This is something the Tall Blacks have been known for too. It's not smart to give away your variations at either end before the tournament.

"Am told promoters played the game on a raised court as they believed this would give spectators better viewing as opposed to playing on flat ground.

Not kidding."

It actually does give a better view, they're basically up on a stage like a play or music concert. Those at the back of the ground floor would have had an even worse view if it wasn't raised.

Idk why people are suddenly so shocked that the court was raised, they literally said a year ago when they announced the venue that thats what they were doing for it.

Honest thought as a spectacle it was pretty good. The stadium looked very good indeed from my side of the tv screen. Sorry about the floor seats, but honestly what was the expectation?

Bogut looked great, and I would be very tempted to run him at the 5 and have him dish out of the high post all night long.

I really don't think starting Bogut and Baynes together is the answer. We would be way too slow.

I think Bogut should probably start although he basically runs point centre with so maybe it is better for him to come off the bench. Otherwise you have a bench unit of Goulding, Baynes, Kay & Creek and who is doing any sort of passing in that unit...

I think you seriously have to run this sort of rotation for the best chance although it wont happen.

C Bogut/Baynes (match up based or who is playing better)
PF Landale 30 / Creek or Baynes 10
SF Ingles 30 / Creek 10
SG Mills 20 / Goulding 20
PG Delly 30 / Mills 10

I think the PF minutes really depend on the match ups. A big team you could easily run Bogut and Baynes, a small team you could go micro and put creek in as PF potentially.

Or start Bogut and Baynes.

We might lack foot speed on D. But it worked well in Rio.

The game was good, but a lot of the stuff around the game was not great - a/v stuff, MCs, DJ, Music, sight lines etc. While I don't really care about a lot of that other stuff, many will.

[It all missed the mark for me, I’m sorry to say]

OK perhaps not ALL- some of the dancing stuff got the crowd involved.

But I do grade the overall game night presentation a fail. Start by replacing the MC, the court announcer, and better pre game entertainment and then go from there.

Atmosphere in the venue was lacking, but that was expected.

What was disappointing was the game night “entertainment” and the overall presentation, including the constant noise in between breaks, the overbearing MC’s, and zero attempt to get the crowd involved during the actual play. It all missed the mark for me, I’m sorry to say.

With the media focusing on the seating issues, it makes me wonder whether they would’ve been better hosting this at Rod Laver Arena. Or even AAMI Park- where some of the same issues would’ve occurred but to a much lesser degree.

This whole thing feels like a terrible missed opportunity- and whilst there were factors outside the control of the promoters, some things could’ve been done better.

In the actual game Australia played reasonably well, except for the pick and roll D where Team USA picked them apart from midrange. Bogut and Baynes are scared of showing too hard at the ball, lest they be blown by. But regardless, they should’ve been more aggressive.

This team lacks scoring fire power, and they lack anyone with athleticism who can attack the hoop. This makes the absences of Simmons and Bolden very noticeable. Motum should’ve been in ahead of Kay.

Good to see Goulding has found a role as a spark plug off the bench- he’s well suited to that and the team needs him to keep doing it.

Motum would have been really useful. He was getting rotation minutes in a stronger team in Rio and has had a great 3 seasons of club ball since then. Him not being in the team is farcical.

Australia does churn out some great role players but I agree on this team its pretty much Mills and Goulding as our only players who have that full scorers mentality.

I think the trouble with Ingles at the moment is that he has to play such a different role as probably our best all round player in the team compared to him being the 3rd or 4th option in the NBA. I think come the tournament he will be fine though.

Would have much rathered Motum for Kay as he has experience at least. As for Gliddon and Sobey who else really is there at this point with everyone else out.

I think we have to just scrape through to the Olympics and fire Lemanis after this tourney.

Any word on TV ratings?

I wasn't a huge fan of the camera angle, to be honest. Too low and the distance meant it was completely side-on at both ends - like that awful setup they had in Melbourne for the 2007 grand final with a camera on each free-throw line. Got used to it eventually, but it was a bit of an adjustment.

Weird that the US was listed first on the scoreboard and had their branding all over everything.

I thought it looked awesome on TV.

To all those who have been preaching on here that Goulding should not be part of this team, is not up to it, and Creek should be there ahead of him, tonight you should be having a good hard long look at yourselves, because he showed why he is there. This is why he was picked, and he did his country proud.

The issue with this team is always going to be depth, especially when more and more withdrew, both through injury, through 'personal reasons', and through Rich Paul. Our lower half simply are not up to it, meaning we have to rely on our older legs of Delly, Mills, Ingles, Baynes and even Bogut more than we really should. Great to see Goulding step up and be part of the core. Unfortunately while they are solid for their talent levels, the likes of Kay, Glitton and Creek just are not international level and are out of their depth. This will hurt us as the tournament goes on.

Just returned from being at G1.

Aesthetics were unreal for a basketball game. Sound was crisp, lighting was on point and I'm going to remember the 'flash-phone' scene they pulled out in the second half. Some of the pro photos coming from the game capture the scene nicely.

MC's were annoying when they were on, but were quiet during the game, which was nice to see. The only trouble was the atmosphere - crowd was hard to mobilise, especially the ground-level fans weren't contributing to much. There were rumours of 'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie', 'Let's Go Boomers' and 'Defence' but they were small pockets that I doubt the players heard on-court. May have needed some MC encouragement early to get that going.

Lemanis' depth was exposed for this game. Missed Crooks, Motum and Bolden at the forward spots. Sure, you'll be able to play Sobey, Gliddon and Kay for some games but the USA is not the team to do so (maybe you can get away with shorting your rotation in the elims). At least Creek isn't overawed against NBA guys. Kay looked out of place - I have to wonder whether they give Bogut/Baynes a go on Saturday.

Atmosphere was what you expect from a c

Heal commented that he didn't necessarily think Kay fit the team at all.

What was the atmosphere like in the stadium? I think I could hear the disappointment on the TV coverage.

Feel a bit bad for Kay, this is turning into a bit of Kay witchhunt

I'd also like to see Creek at the 4 over Kay against teams like USA and Canada that are going with a lot of bigs shooting 3s.

Don't forget the rarely seen Todd!

Dave/Makur, this is for you:

5 NBAers were -75 in 124 minutes (-24/40min)

5 NBLers were +5 in 53 minutes (+4/40min)

I dont hate goulding but he is a poor mans james harvey who himself was a poor mans gaze

Sobey and Kay looked out there depth, Sobey defence was woeful and Kay not athletic enough at his height. Mills and Inglis got shoot better at WC for us to well.

Even Drewy is openly questioning Kay now.

Yes and they are playing at a high level in the NBA. What your next best argument?

This performance and Lemanis' coaching doesn't seem so bad when reading Makur Maker's repetitiveness.

Greeh and Makur are not ready. You don't get it do you? Bolden ruled himself out.

Dream on!

In fairness, he did pick Bolden.

Lemanis yet again is toying with his opponents in order not to show his hand in anything. Master coach!

This is so embarrassing. Literally, Creeky would play his spot so much better, and is a much better defender, and......well better all round. Lamanis must not listen to his assistant coaches.

We're down 15.
Let's put Kay on

Mmmkay... Lemanis has jumped the shark.

Kay shot that hookshot like all those dudes who don’t play, shooting around before a social comp game.

That training camp must have been spectacular

I just had a Kareem flashback LLOOOOOOOLLLL

Don't get me wrong - Kay shouldn't be here and should've been banned after that infamous performance against Japan.

Nick Kay had a great training camp!

Kryptonite is green, maybe the jersey has the same effect on Kay?

Nick "400" Kay
en-bee-aye

Nick Kay being on court is embarrassing mate, I’m sorry, but he’s not even close. Offers literally zero at this level.

Great NBL player

"Getting fugly again."

It's actually getting worse now.

Kay being on court isn't so painful when you remind yourself how angry that Adel loving dude who is over all of the NBL selections. :)

Not Nick Kay again. Farrrrrrk
Creek offers way more

https://m.twitch.tv/nba