It is a very hazy issue indeed. If you watched the press conference you would see that Lemanis was vague as to whether he would even go in this direction (Using Mills).

He offered up other possibilities, such as grabbing some (comparative) scrub from the Uni Games team or even just rolling with 11 players.

I think there is a few issues at play here; one being that Lemanis wouldn't want to go back on his word, and another being that there might be more to this issue than simply Patty's availability for the Europe tour.

Boti vaguely alluded that the story isn't as clean cut as has been presented, and Lemanis' demeanour at the press conference further confirms this.

At this point we are 3 days post the Exum injury, and we are suppose to believe that Basketball Australia has not successfully made contact with Patty. We also have this strange situation where they say they have tried to contact Patty, but Lemanis isn't sure whether that is the way he would want to go. It is all very odd.

Interesting times ahead.

It would seem a no-brainer but bigger things are at play. Lemanis has set standards & good on him! No one or there egos are above the team!!

Let's see what happens....

Would have thought Patty was not high maintenance?

Well I can't imagine him being high maintenance, but I have never met the guy to know.

If things are as they appear, then Lemanis' standards shouldn't matter. If he does things simply for the good of the team, then bringing in Patty in light of Exum's injury is a no-brainer.

I am getting the vibe that things aren't rosey between Lemanis and Patty, and that maybe it had been that way before the snub.

GWB, where did Boti make that inference?

On his facebook.

I think most concerning for the Boomers is the preparation leading into the series.

NZ are 10 times more settled and prepared than the Boomers. It at least appears that way.

The Boomers are a level above the Kiwis in terms of skill, talent, depth, size and should progress.

But be wary of this NZ team. This exact same team (if not worse) had LTU on the ropes last year. They have been playing great in their preparation games and mentally they truly believe they can compete.

I can't stand Henare as a coach but in his short time with the team it has created an unbelievably focussed, hard working and thus far successful culture within that TB program.

I am not for a second sitting comfortably and secure about a Boomers series win. I think we are as in danger this time as we have been in our lowest times - despite the talent we have.

The preparation was not good enough, and Lemanis' is still looking like keeping our best player off of the team. We might be favourites on paper, but I am uneasy about this series.

We don't really have great talent. Both teams have six or seven proven international players. We have more size and depth but we have to be able to execute to take advantage of that.

The problem NZ have is the issues they cause European teams through ball and player movement, changing defences and physicality don't bother Aussies who are used to that style.

Can the Kiwis match the Boomers' physicality without turning the ball over? That will be the key to the series.

I don't know NZ well, do we have height mismatch?

Yep, they've only got one true big (Rob Loe) and he's a perimeter player, perhaps NZ's younger version of Dave Andersen. Having said that, Vukona and Fotu are a world-class frontcourt duo who present their own issues even if undersized.

I think we need Millsy, and sometime the rules need to be bent. Still not sure Lemanis is the Coach to take this team forward.

I only managed to watch one of the Lithuania games, and our defense looked disjointed and awkward. Millsy gives us backcourt speed, perimeter offense, and better PG rotation.

Come on BA, throw some money at Goorjian and get the program back on track.

Anonz, we did play much better in our last game against Slovenia. But I agree, I doubt Lemanis is the guy who will give us results internationally.

This Mills thing is turning into a real fiasco. We are meant to believe that after 3 days they haven't been able to get through to Patty, and we have Lemanis talking like bringing patty in is simply an "option" to weigh up between taking a Uni games player, or going with 11. When we're talking about our best available guard (and possibly, best available player) the thought of any other option is laughable to say the least.

But here we are, and we really don't know where we stand. Those saying that Patty will almost definitely play for us are jumping the gun, and we may even be jumping the gun in assuming that the Boomers have given a real honest effort into contacting him. Boti alluded to their being more to this story, but wouldn't give any specifics. His article does mention that Mills arrival in Melbourne coincides with the beginning of Boomers camp, which is heartening. But will Patty be on court come August 15? Hmmm...

I think Lemanis has talked himself into a corner. If he brings Mills in, he will be contradicting his earlier comments about 'needing' to be in the European tour. His little 'synergy' will be disrupted, and he will have to effectively grovel to a player he cut. However, if he doesn't bring Mills in, he will continue to feel public pressure and scorn, his synergy will be fine, but he will probably be less likely to beat New Zealand. In the coming days, we will see which face saving measure was deemed appropriate for Lemanis.

Agreed GWB. Just from a logic perspective, the Australian Basketball public want to see the best players available representing us on the world stage.

This means Millsy suits up. There are a bunch of Coaches who could provide more value than Lemanis is at the moment.

I'm wondering if the lack of work ethic on defense reflects the rumors that the players and Lemanis have a chemistry problem (ie they hate his guts).

A lineup of Mills-Broekhoff-Ingles-Motum-Bogut would deal with most teams they play against and that's with the luxury of Dellavedova-Goulding-Baynes-Bairstow being on the bench. Alternate Mills and Dellavedova depending on who we play, and what we need at any point in time, and everything's fine especially now that Exum is injured.

"I think we could be in trouble this series."

^ Kiwi posting that, presumably ;)

Funny how CJ Bruton, Tony Ronaldson, Dillon Boucher, Paul Henare, Mika Vukona & John Rillie all got along with Lemanis fine.

If the Boomers don't want him I'm sure the NBL would love to have him back.

Yawn. I guess only those ranked in the top 3 currently should bother, hey anonymous?

Rankings don't change, teams don't improve, underdogs never beat more heralded teams, and basketball is a completely predictable game. There is apparently not great parody between the top 10-15 teams, and all results are pre-ordained.

I assume this is the same anonymous who said the NBL was one of the worlds worst leagues? (and was proven to be completely wrong)

You're out of your depth in this conversation. Go talk your hate with people who never watch basketball

GWB, Lemanis openly stated that any replacement in the team would be coming in cold, whether it was Mills or someone else. If they're bringing in someone cold, why not make it the best option?

Doubt he had to grovel. Mills strikes me as the sort who would accept whatever team decision was made, then be happy with an opportunity to play regardless.

Here's an interesting joke. Of the 13 men who have been top two in scoring at the Olympics or World Cup this millennium, five of them have played NBL.

Have played, not had played. Shane Heal and Andrew Gaze are untouchable legends of the game, yes it's a cool stat to pull out but you can't claim that Mills playing 9 games during a lock out and Penney coming in and out each year and Jones pretty much coming home to retire really show how strong the league is.

Sure, fair. But what other leagues are represented in that example? Only the nba.

So the nbl really must be terrible and the boomers, awful! Do I have to show this kid the praise Kobe and LeBron had for the boomers for him to see things clear?

What a stupid and contradictory comment. Eon one hand you list genuine stars, on the other hand you talk about undrafted players and nba stashed.Every name you mentioned as a great was undrafted,nine of them played meaningful nba minutes. By virtue of being in any league that isn't nba, it could be said someone didn't "cut it" at the nba. So I can only assume your argument is everyone who is not in the nba sucks unless you have fond personal memories of them . Is this correct?

*none of them played meaningful NBA minutes* that should be

"Two played prior, three played after."

Actually, all had played in the NBL prior to being top two in scoring and four played afterwards. The reason this shows how strong the NBL is, is that with the exception of Gaze none of those players stood out above the other quality players in the league.

If the NBL was a joke these world class players would dominate. It's still true today, with Corey Webster as a classic example.

I am not sure how old this Anonymous is, and how much he actually follows basketball with the real rules. He keeps getting disproven yet continues to press his case. The Jig's up man! NBL is not a crap league, it is a very good league talent wise when compared to other nations, and the Boomers do not suck in regards to talent, and are comparable to the best teams (on paper) outside of USA and Spain.

Watch some international leagues a bit and you will form a new appreciation for the NBL.

Apart from the obvious factual error you are spot on, the NBL has a high concentration of talent and as a result is of high quality. If you expand significantly the standard will drop.

Patty mills didn't stand out? There was talk he'd win MVP wasn't there?
Shane heal didn't stand out?
Kirk Penney didn't stand out despite four first teams, an MVP, and averaging 24 points in at least two season?

I actually said didn't stand out "above the other quality players in the league", which they didn't, they fit nicely in that group.

Australia v fellow second tier teams (USA & Spain as top tier) since 2012:

Lost to Brazil by 4
Beat Russia by 2
Lost to Slovenia by 10
Beat Lithuania by 7
Lost to Turkey by 1

On that basis I would say definitely comparable, but it is a concern we haven't been able to seal the deal more often in close games.

Is that noise I can hear you scraping the bottom of the barrel?

Anon two above, those results are from World Cups and Olympics, painting a pretty clear picture we are comparable with those good teams on the big stage.

I hope you're right!

Then why did Patty choose to play there in order to face better competition?

Chinas league is not better than the NBL overall as the standard of chinese players is much lower. They do, however, have good money to pick up some great imports. The chinese contingent is only about at SEABL level if that, and doesn't have the height or size of the Australian league.

I remember the starting point guard of the China team (and he was considered best point guard of the china league) was going to get a gig in the NBL. They tried him out by making him guest in the all star game, and while he pulled a nice pass or two, he was pretty much dominated by everyone on floor (even in a relaxed all star setting) so he was not picked up by the team in the end.

Also, anonymous, the 12 point loss to Lithuania's B team was in a warm up game where they are trying new rotations and figuring things out. I don't think people in the know sit there and consider such games when ranking the ability of teams. I believe that was a game that Delly and Bairstow were rested as well. Have a look at the warm ups from other teams, all sorts of strange results happen because winning warm ups is secondary to trying plays and rotations. I really wish you would stop writing things because you are scraping the bottom of the barrel and everything you say looks foolish in light of evidence.

Anonymous, you contradict yourself repeatedly. You just said "Aren't comparable to Lithuania and Slovenia in actual basketball. But looking good on paper counts I guess"

1. You forget we beat Lithuania in the World Cup (when it actually mattered)

2. Only just before you implied that the Boomers do not look good on paper.


You just want to hate, don't you? Facts don't support you

"Comparable to the best teams

Ranked 11th"

11th out of 230 countries.

You don't know international basketball dude, and with every sentence you write, you further underline that fact.

The difference between 4th and 12th in world basketball is very very close. Anybody within that range could beat eachother on any given night. Might I add we didn't have Patty Mills or Andrew Bogut to compete last year? Yeah, we almost snuck in the top 8 with our B team - so take a rest you troll

"I guess when you only have six teams you are going to get a concentration of talent. Unlike decent leagues that aren't in trouble of failing each and every year"

Ah, so before you said the NBL had no talent, now you admit there is a 'concentration of talent' - in affect admitting the NBL has a high standard of talent. You are having to concede a lot, aren't you?

You are better off just saying the NBL has been run by a pack of morons, that is the only claim you could justifiably make out of anything you have said that wouldn't get swatted out with a mutumbo "no you don't" finger.

"Australia v fellow second tier teams (USA & Spain as top tier) since 2012:

Lost to Brazil by 4
Beat Russia by 2
Lost to Slovenia by 10
Beat Lithuania by 7
Lost to Turkey by 1
"

We were without Bogut for all of them and without Patty for half, too. Two of our most important players.

I am done with this convo for now. Anonymous is either too young to know better, too stupid to know better, doesn't follow international ball, doesn't follow anything other than NBA, or is just hating for the sake of hating.

Haha yeah, how stupid of me? Funny how a couple of NBA teams think the same thing ? ;)

Only need one team to give you a contract and you're in the NBA. Huge shame for Delly that it's the current favourite to win the championship.

Should we be concerned that we haven't heard any news on the Patty Mills issue, or is this because we are just more likely to get this kind of update on a week day or something? I am sure that call must have got through by now - if indeed there was a call.

Coach said in the media he would be calling Mills. Don't see why that wouldn't be true.
What reasons would Mills have for saying no?

Not sure what to make of the silence.
If I was BA I'd probably prefer to wait until after the weekend to announce the good news, so that it's not lost amongst all the footy, cricket, etc. So hopefully that's all it is.

Fibs has a time limit for how long before a vame you can name your team. If he isn't announced Timor, I expect they are going with 11

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/238977/Boban-Marjanovic-Wanted-To-Play-In-Eurobasket-Spurs-Held-Decision-Power

Spurs are probably going to keep him out.. Wouldn't want the shoulder injury coming back!!

They said he would be available for the series, so I don't think it is the spurs that will be the issue

I don't think he willbee playing. Basketball Australia just did a Facebook update about some home coming event with the team and no Mention of patty, and they'd definitely know by now if he was playing with the training camp to begin tomorrow. I think the douche bag coach wants to stick with his 11

I don't think he willbee playing. Basketball Australia just did a Facebook update about some home coming event with the team and no Mention of patty, and they'd definitely know by now if he was playing with the training camp to begin tomorrow. I think the douche bag coach wants to stick with his 11

Surprised we haven't heard Boti or literally anyone on the issue.

Mills will be playing Saturday.

You know something we don't, supernintendo?

That BA have confirmed it?