hoopie
Years ago

Boomers' depth?

I know there have been threads on the boomers in 2014 - 2016 lately, but ...

The injury to Bogut and seeing how the guys performed at the Olympics makes me feel that after our starting five there's a big drop-off in standard. We won't be able to fix that drop-off for the next 2 - 3 years until youngsters like Exum and Drmic and Simmonds mature.

In other words, we can't afford any injuries or unavailability if we want to stay competitive.

Now that the Olympics are over, it's time for Brett Brown to start blooding the new guys.

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Mick  
Years ago

I think you can solve it a little in the selection process by having a couple of "specialists" in the lower tier roster spots -- and then actually using them in short bursts in critical game situations.

Too many guys are fine all-round players except don't do any one thing particularly well.

For example: what is the point of having Adam Gibson on the team? He doesn't really add anything. We already had enough guards, and he doesn't add anything in the "specialist" area.

Also our depth at these Olympics was greatly reduced by Aleks Maric's decision to start sucking.

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Hurls  
Years ago

Not true... theres plenty of guys just waiting to bust through.. as for Exum.. could very well be in there in 2 years...hes already made a boomers camp

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Vart  
Years ago

To use hoopie's quote 'In other words, we can't afford any injuries or unavailability if we want to stay competitive.'

I don't disagree with this entirely, though we did finish 7th in Beijing with Bogut, and 7th in London without him.

Overall though, outside perhaps Spain and the USA, I don't think many teams could afford to lose their best player(s) to injury or unavailability, and continue to complete for top 5 finishes at international tournaments.

Personally, I don't think the Boomers have ever enjoyed depth like we have at the moment. There are a bunch of talented juniors from the past four years waiting for an opportunity to impress at senior level. Delly has already cracked a regular spot, whilst Hugh Greenwood has seen some regular action too. Then you've got guys like Ryan Broekoff, Brock Motum, Jason Cadee, Anthony Drmic, Mitch Creek, Igor Hadziomerovic, and most recently Dante Exum, Ben Simmons and Nick Duncan.

The key will be getting these guys to a level where they are ready to compete at senior level whilst we've still got a big stock of big men (Bogut, Baynes, Maric, Andersen, Jawai, Nevill, Schenscher, Khazzouh etc.) as for all the talented juniors we have coming through, there doesn't appear to be a lot of great big guys under 25, so this is an area we may struggle in the future.

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Hurls  
Years ago

I was never a fan of OPgilvy til I saw a recent tape of him looks likes he put on some size and learned a bit of toughness!

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Mick  
Years ago

I think just the fact that we finished the same this year as with Bogut four years ago speaks volumes about how much better the program is at the moment.

We beat the bronze medallists, FFS. Add Bogut to this team and we ARE the bronze medallists.

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Anonymous  
Years ago

In a dead rubber. In 2008 we beat the fourth team in a dead rubber. We still lost the two games that counted against Spain and Brazil. We were a long way off bronze.

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skull  
Years ago

what mick said !

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LC  
Years ago

Mick - I'm with you too. Right on the money!

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LC  
Years ago

Out: Nielsen & Crawford

Way too early to call a team, but here is my preliminary camp/Boomers extended squad (30 players):

- Bogut
- Andersen
- Maric
- Baynes
- Khazzouh
- Jawai
- Nevill
- Ogilvy
- Worthington
- Kickert
- Majok
- Motum
- Knight
- Simmons

Guards/Swingmen
- Mills
- Dellavedova
- Ingles
- Newley
- Bruce
- Bose
- Martin
- Gibson
- Barlow
- Wagstaff
- Broekhoff
- Greenwood
- Cadee
- Drmic
- Hadziomerovic
- Exum

My only locks for 2014 pending fitness and availability are:

- Bogut
- Ingles
- Mills
- Dellavedova
- Andersen

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DB5  
Years ago

You would have to lock in Newley and Baynes as well hey LC?

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Hurls  
Years ago

Thon Maker needs to be in that depth chart somewhere... other then that you have covered most everyone worthwhile that I am aware of... Maybe Nick Duncan and Ben simmons in there as well?

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Anonymous  
Years ago

Isnt Thon Maker 14?

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Vart  
Years ago

Nice squad LC. You've covered it.

Though, I agree with DB5, I would also have Baynes and Newley as locks.

Five spots up for grabs from our London squad, those belonging to Maric, Nielsen, Worthington, Gibson and Crawford.

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Vart  
Years ago

I'd probably throw Mitch Creek into the mix as well. And I'm also interested to see Mitch Norton's development over the next two seasons as we search for a back-up point guard.

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AK-47  
Years ago

Newley I'd lock in, Baynes maybe not.

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Mick  
Years ago

At this point, I just want Mitch Norton to make it through a season at any level without breaking something.

Hope this coming season is his coming out party.

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Hurls  
Years ago

yes thons apparently 14 but one hell of a talent, put him in a stankovic cup type of team and see what he can do for 10 minutes a game.. put a stamp on himk before the yanks try to. someone shouldve been onto kyrie irving before he even played
USAjunior level... if we did that he wouldve had no real choice but to represent us unless we let him go

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LC  
Years ago

Now there's is someone I missed - Mitch Creek!

As for Simmons, he is on my list. Maker is not yet on the national teams radar and hence I have left him off for now.

Although promising, Duncan is not on my radar yet as he would be too small at this level unless he has a major growth spurt between now and then.

Norton is not yet at this level of consideration, although within 2 years he could be.

As for Newley, I have him as a borderline lock. It all depends on team style and how well some of the younger guys emerge or not.

As for Baynes, if Bogut plays, will we need him? That's why he is not yet a lock for mine but if Bogut is not available, then Baynes moves into a lock role.

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Mick  
Years ago

Did anyone even know Kyrie Irving was eligible to play for Aus when he was a younger lad?

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paul  
Years ago

It's been a long, steady road since the disappointments in 2001 and 2004, but the program is now in pretty good shape as a result of the work since and we have excellent depth.

Over the years following 04 Worthington, Newley, Barlow, Mills, Ingles, Gibson, Baynes and Dellavedova have been introduced mostly before they were ready, but the extra experience has really helped them develop as players, ala the benefits NZ gets from playing their guys young.

As a result we now have a crew who know the international game and each other very well. They have benefited by being on display for big money clubs from a young age.

I like BA's idea of sending college age players away to tournaments like the Stankovic Cup to keep them in the international loop after their junior days.

Had this been done for the likes of Martin, Bruce, Markovic, Knight, Maric, Nevill etc etc we would be in even better shape now.

The key now is to keep developing those younger guys while sending our best team (including the very best youngsters eg Exum) to try and win medals in 2014 and 2016. There is then a gap from 2016 to 2019 where the next generation can find their way.

We have excellent depth, but we do need to find some good role players in the frontcourt to replace Nielsen and possibly Wortho, and a good back-up PG or even starter if someone can offer a bit more of a scoring threat than Dellavedova.

I think it's clear after the second half of the last two Olympics what style we need to play, and that needs to be a crucial criteria for the coach for the next four years, be that Brown or someone else.

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DB5  
Years ago

Yes Mick, countless posts and topics on here regarding whether he would play for Australia or not. Glad he didn't in the end, our guards were quite good.

I like Baynes as a back up for Bogut, and play Andersen exclusively as a stretch 4. Wasn't a fan of him before the olympics, thought he was too soft. Have changed my opinion now though.
Plus Delly to Baynes is a money play!

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Vart  
Years ago

I agree again with DB5. Right now, Baynes is our back-up centre, regardless of our starter, be it Bogut or anyone else. Baynes is the perfect guy to come in at the centre position and bring energy and hustle off the bench. He's also versatile enough to swing over to the four-spot too if needed. That's why he's a lock for mine.

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Hurls  
Years ago

was anyone from the stankovic cup worth noting? from waht I saw I would say no but the question has to be asked I guess

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hoopie  
Years ago

Only Cadee impressed me at the Stankovic Cup

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Vart  
Years ago

From the Stankovic Cup, definitely Cadee who was named to the all-tournament five. Greenwood didn't play his best, but he's already part of the Boomers squad anyway, and we've all seen what he is capable of at his best. The smoky for mine is Owen Odigie. Has been one of our best juniors the past few years, playing at both U17 and U19 internationally. He really needs to get settled in one place over the next couple of years to continue his development. Does anyone know where he's headed?

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Hurls  
Years ago

Mick./ Know, no one probably did know. However.. its BA's JOB to know!

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Hurls  
Years ago

I have seen Odigie,. seems athletic but doesnt look like he does a whole heap. who knows tho.... could add alot of strings to his bow quickly

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Hurls  
Years ago

Also how far off the mark do you the Mitch Creek is? he looks like a future Sam Mackinnon, probably needs a more reliable three ball tho?

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