Hoops

WC: Boomers v Lithuania

Oh FFS.
If you weren't nervous about yesterday's game, then you're an idiot.

We came very close to losing, so those predictions were almost correct.

It is also entirely accurate to point out that early against Senegal we looked asleep and Baynes was hopeless, whereas against Lithuania we were focussed and he was razor-sharp.

As for all those making pseudo-wise cracks about the NBL...
We have 7 NBL players in the team, and that seems like a lot.
Bogut doesn't count.
Kay has been in stella form for a year now, leading his team to an NBL ship, winning the NZNBL MVP, and dominating at training camp.
Goulding is not only a Boomers stalwart and former Euro player, but he has been in exceptional form for this WC. This is literally not the same player that was coming off the MU bench last season. If he carries this into the NBL season, then MU are going to be ripping new ones across Australia.
Creek's intensity has never been in question, and he did spend last season in the USA on the NBA fringe.
And to be fair, nobody has seriously questioned the inclusion of any of those (except Kay, but that was before Bolden shot thru)

The other 3, and those people have actually complained about, are literally contributing nothing.

Yes!!!

Where are you Makur and Dave.

Hopefully progress to the final eight but has been a successful WC and great work by all including the nbl guys.

The rules on FIBA website are as paul has posted, and the rest of his post is spot on.

Kay submitting his application for more minutes, again. Also making a statement for the now silent no-NBL-players critics in this forum. Kay is going to be exposed against athletes. This is most obvious against North American and African teams, exactly all the teams we have gone up against before Lithuania. He should be better suited going up against the less athletic Euros.

Our 2 main 4-men combining for 21 points on 8/13 (including 3/5 from 3pt) and 6 boards in 38 minutes. A bit light in the rebounding department, but you can't complain about the offensive production and efficiency. Several baskets came from the offensive system putting pressure on the Lithuanian defense to create defensive breakdowns. There it is again, the importance of being able to play within the system.

The two times I can recall Boomers going under the screens rather than over Lithuania comfortably splashed a three. I think it was a case of picking your poison.

Agree with above post, Andrej's game style is to disrupt teams and push them away from where they want to go. Going under the screens would have worked in their favour and so the Boomers pushed the Lithuanians into taking two point baskets given this was the lesser of the two poisons (i.e. 5, 2 point baskets being taken instead of 5, 3 point baskets)

Lithuania need more NBL players

Kay was important in that win.

It aint fantasy basketball haters.

"We move into round 2 with far poorer points % than France and Lithuania."

Unless FIBA have made a massive change, overall points differential only comes into play if the head-to-head and points differential between the tied teams is even.

Under the usual FIBA rules, in case of a tiebreaker with France and Lithuania, we are currently +5 and Lithos are -5. As such, if Lithuania beat France and we lost to Les Bleus, if our loss is by a small margin we would be top 2 in that tiebreak and go through.

We've seen Baynes show off his perimeter shot in the NBA for a while now, but I still can't believe that *that* jumpshot is now so effective. It looks so mechanical and awkward. You see someone shoot with that kind of motion at any social league level and you are going to think the shot was a fluke if it goes in, let him try again.

Now Baynes is drawing some serious defensive attention, not to be left open.

Mills is carrying this team, +45 over 3 games
Ingles quieter tonight, but still +33
Baynes +31
Delly +30
Nic Kay +34

Landale -4

"I wouldnt count on baynes, landale and kay combining for 6? 3s again."
... and I wouldn't count on Ingles and Goulding not scoring freely, again. Some-one always stepping up for the Boomers. Also like the way we have been finding the hot hand repeatedly.

Thought the reffing in this one surprisingly un-good/sloppy.

"Mills is probably the best we have but if he gets shut down the scoring really dries up."

This reflects Mills +16 for this game. The team was -11 in 5 minutes while Mills rested.

This Boomers team just does a lot of things right. Tremendous defence, hustle and grit by Delly, Ingles and Baynes and great poise down the stretch from a number of players.

Baynes was an absolute beast today and his three point shooting was an added bonus. I'd like to see Ingles score more as his only score tonight came from his final free throws but he's like a conductor out there orchestrating every play.

The only thing that concerns me is when things get tough we don't have an out an out scorer to create their own shot consistently. Mills is probably the best we have but if he gets shut down the scoring really dries up.

Boomers addressed some of the main concerns from recent games. Intensity was far, far better. We out-rebounded Lithuania 40-32, giving up 9 o-boards. Although 21/30 baskets were assisted, we still had 15 turnovers. We also had another lengthy offensive lapse to start a quarter.

After starting 9/14 for 3s in the first half, then went 2/12 in the 2nd half.

I'm feeling pretty smug. Now the doubters can buggar off for a few days and go troll a whitegoods forum

Group of death hey.
Trash NBL players hey.

Our next two:

7th vs. DOM
9th vs. FRA

Good to see Creek do well. 9 men roster now. Lemanis pulling all the right strings now. Where is Makur and Dave. The World Cup better than nba, true basketball.

NZL only down by 5pts. #Olympics

Nothing better than international hoops

Creek and Kay both with huge clutch free-throws.

Kay goes 2/2 FT down the stretch. #NBLpoise

Couple of shaky moments but held their ground. Creek is not always a confident FT shooter but solid in this one when it counted. Man, Patty and Delly work hard for the Boomers - just run and run. Their and Ingles’ NBA confidence is invaluable on this stage.

What a game! 1st half Boomers couldn't miss. 2nd half all grit. Never, ever change this team.

Finally i have seen a boomers side beat lithuania

Can we swap out Patty at the defensive end each play?

We did at Olympics already.

Now you can call it.

You bloody beauty!!!!

FT AUS 87-82 LTU

Stop calling us as home.

Can we get Heal to sack him?

USF on LTU

yessssssssssssssssssss

How was that not a foul on the Mills three?

Still Creek hits these we win. Possible USF review.

OMG it's happening!

MILLS BEAST MODE

4pt play

Yessssssssssss

Nick motherf'ckin Kay.

Nick Kay 11pts.

OMG what a miss by Sabonis.

Mills has balls.

I love this team. They fight all the way.

Great D by Delly. There's hope yet.

Baynes with our first FG in this quarter. Only took 7mins.

Wow LTU keeping us in it.

We will have to do this from the line as we are unable to score from the field!

Finally a score!

Play Ingles at the 4

Correct.

We still haven't scored?

3pts

Plenty of time

Shots will drop eventually just lock down defensively.