Hoops

Canada v Boomers

Kay is doing exactly what he’s supposed to be doing, dogged defence and 1%ers, let’s hope his lack of length and athleticism doesn’t hurt us against some of the fancied rivals. Germany and France have some monsters.

I love Kay, I just hope he improves. Simple.
He's had some good games, but this is the real deal. And, apart from Senegal tomorrow, each game just gets tougher.
We've got Lithuanian, then France & Germany. We probably need to win all 3, to avoid USA in the QF.
Landale's performance at the 4 has saved this team from ignominy. All we need is an injury to B1 or B2, and Kay will be playing starter minutes

I don't know what game most of you were watching but Nick Kay played great. 8 pts, 3 rebounds and a whole lot of hustle in only 17 min.

Good win. Was cursing up a storm during that third quarter. Absolute stinker of a patch. Goulding really kept us in it there - the guy is playing some great basketball at the moment. Delly's shooting was gold. Hopefully we don't need him to hit 6 threes to play well again, but it was fun to watch.

We definitely look better with Ingles running the show. He still throws the odd loose pass, but just gets us into our offense well. Thought everyone who hit the floor contributed well.

Need to take care of business in the next game and set up a big one against Lithuania in the final game.

Not sure why people want Canada to beat Lithuania. That would set up a potential 3 way tie and a desperate Lithuania. I'd much rather us and LTU go in 2-0 and assured of progressing and play for top spot and the advantage in the second round.

This is why there is excitement for next year with Olympics if Boomers have a full team.

We know other countries have NBA/Euro outs, but Australia has the most to gain from a full roster.

The major risk is how these players age one year on, if they get a step slower. If they don’t, imagine adding that critical three point shooting in with Broekoff, Cooks etc

Gotta love Bogut, just casually wandering over to the medico, with his nose pointing at his right ear.

Goulding on fire, really saved our bacon, hope he can keep that up. That's the thing with him, when on song he can win an NBL game off his own bat.

But our lack of depth at the 3 is a worry. Ingles had an absolute blinder, but God help us if he goes down.

I hope Kay improves. Looked overawed at times.

Both our new 4-men had a solid start to the tournament. Good to see.

Landale took a lot of physical punishment but still kept his cool and played well. Such a find for Australia!

Heal and Gaze talked about Delly working on his shot in the off season during the warm up games. It still isn't pretty but isn't as ugly as before where he shot it off his shoulder.

Thought Bogut was great, might not be quite athletic enough for the nba anymore but still a good bench player. Great to have him in the nbl, he could earn millions at a top euro club still but chooses the nbl, worth every penny what kings paying him.

Commentary did say he had worked on his shot with a new coach this off season.

It was an ugly and scrappy game but here are the pros and cons as I see them:

Pros:

* Goulding is a gun. No one could have imagined last NBL season that he would give us what he is giving us in this campaign.

* Dellavedova has found his shot.

* Ingles as a play maker

* We managed to pull out by 20 at the end despite playing a pretty ugly and generally poor game given our comparative talent.

Cons:

* Pick and roll coverage leaving three-point shooters open. Some teams out here will murder you for that.

* Giving up a 17 point lead within a single quarter. More defensive lapses that need to be addressed coming into tougher games against Lithuania and likely France and Germany.

* Moments of lacksadaisical effort. I don't think the "favorites" tag in any game does the Boomers any good. They always play better with their backs to the wall and nothing to lose, al a the win over Team USA.

* Mills was completely taken out of the game by the Canadian defense (although this probably opened things up for Delly and Goulding)

-

Some improvements to be made but still early in the competition. I think we're on the right track but still have work to do.

What a turnaround from the mid-3rd period.

I had lost faith in Delly as a shooter, then he goes 6/9 for set 3s. Delly's game doesn't look pretty, but he continues to find ways to be effective.

Goulding was brilliant at the offensive end. Kept us in the game. He looks to be in great form. A vital counter to a defense aimed at minimising Mills.

Ingles was the cool headed general that brought the lead back out. 10 assists (possibly later amended to 9 assists).

You've got to be happy with 108 points.

^^^ If Delly didn't hit 24 points then they would be -8

Feel free to beat Lithuania, Canada.

Boomers should have won by 30 - those turnovers were shocking. Good stuff getting back into it, hopefully Aussies will be more diligent with the ball going into next games

I wonder if in the modern world of commenting while watching, we’re prone to rushed judgements. Intra-game or even game by game. Read the comments here and you’d think Delly would be unemployed by tomorrow. Finished with 24/4/5!

If AL didn't empty his bench would have been a +26 differential and we'd be laughing.

Good composure by the boys to steady in that third quarter and step up the D. The points differential could come in handy too

Meanwhile NZL are getting blown out. #Olympics

seen*

Pay back for 2000. Only took 19 years but still nice.

Yet you were no where to been during the third. Aftertimer.

Massive 4th quarter by the Boomers. Golding huge in keeping us afloat and the vets sealing the deal

The woman is too busy being talkative to correct him.

Dellaveshoveitupyahaters

Over 100 points in a 40 minute FIBA game. Very nice.

Jinglin

Exactly. Still worrying what happened in that third quarter.

Handy period of Canadian sloppiness here

Funny how it goes so quiet in here when the Boomers build a lead yet everyone piles on after a few minutes of poor play. Big response this quarter boys, well done.

Get that Scrubb trash outta here

Only one Aussie with a negative plus minus.. not surprised on who it is. Thank God AL saw the light and limited his minutes.

Deladova threes have been ugly but they go in.

Delly the man, the myth, the legend.

Delly's shot doesn't look ugly as before.

Delly turning this game. Lemanis great work not taking the advice of some on here and sticking with the great man.

Great few minutes by the Boomers! Back out to 13.

Clutch Delly

Can we go into the Australian huddle? Thanks

... shooting 6/7

CG4 is coming up BIG this game

Turn overs, F..king turnovers

or the fragility of Bogut

or the choke of Lemanis.

Never underestimate the heart of Delly.

What a quarter, pissed away everything in three minutes. Amateur hour.

Ugly by Kay - never going in.

We've done pretty well to fight back while Pangos has been sitting.