LC
Years ago

Boomers impress against Spain in closed-door scrim

According to Andrew Gaze, the Boomers looked mightily impressive against Spain, the second-ranked side in the FIBA Rankings, in a private scrimmage yesterday.

"Australia took on the two-time silver medal winning Spain yesterday, in a closed-door scrimmage," Gaze said on SEN Radio.

“Clearly, Australia got the better of Spain. They looked sharp and the word coming out of it was Andrew Bogut was in rare form and transformed the entire offence and what they were doing on defence. He just had an enormous impact.

More: Boomers impress against Spain in closed-door scrimmage

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ME (he/kangaroo)
Years ago

Bogut makes a big difference to any team. But I would reserve getting too excited until Sunday morning. If the Boomers win or pull close to France, then it'd be fair to say they're a shot.

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Dazz
Years ago

SO, are THESE Spaniards all intellectually impaired?

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LC
Years ago

No Bogut = no chance.

Clearly there is a little bit of excitement with his return!

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MACDUB
Years ago

Good signs at the very least.

Mind you, can't imagine Spain took it all to seriously given the age of some of their players and the burnout potential. Gasol, Navararro and Reyes are 36 and Calderon is 34. Fernandez is 31 and has had bad back issues.

But good signs re: Bogut

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Anonymous
Years ago

So.. Starting lineup?

Delly
Mills
Ingles
Anderson
Bogut

Lisch
Goulding
Broekhoff
Bairstow
Baynes

Martin
Motum

How come USA only brought 2 pgs. Could hurt them. Harrison Barnes out for a cg.

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Ricey
Years ago

Probably because half of USA can carry the ball up the court that aren't PGs

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Mystro
Years ago

every American basketball player is clearly a PG, especially if they play NBL

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Anonymous
Years ago

If we're being told to take the Olympic warm up games with a pinch of salt then a closed door scrimmage result is essentially meaningless.

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ME (he/kangaroo)
Years ago

Positive signs is all it amounts to. Of course it can't come close to a win against Spain in a meaningful game but it says that there may be potential there.

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Hoopie
Years ago

Bit of a shame (but probably realistic) that the Melbourne Age lists every women's game as a highlight but no men's until the quarter-finals.

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ME (he/kangaroo)
Years ago

Yeah but newspapers today are all about "equality". Have a look at how many mens sports they note as highlights. I'd be surprised if it were many at all.

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Hoopie
Years ago

Doesn't Australia punch above its weight in women's sports, tho?

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Zodiac
Years ago

If anything the US women's team are more certain of gold than the men's team.

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Luuuc
Years ago

Yes, fair call.
The women do definitely punch above their weight, and Opals medals in the last 5 Olympics is a superb achievement, but the gap between #1 and the rest has never been bigger. (though having said that, the USA has picked a team that leaves the door open ever-so-slightly for an opponent that can rain down 3 pointers for 4 quarters - which we know is a big ask at any level)

At least on the men's side there is reasonable hope (and historical proof) that on a good night one of the top teams could knock off the USA.

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Mick
Years ago

Disagree Luuuc.

The gap between the mens' USA team and the rest of the world has blown back out to what it was in the 90s, the non-American sports media just hasn't recognised it because they are slow to catch up and don't really care about basketball.

What has changes is that the gap between them and, say, the eighth best team is closer than it ever has been, but the USA are miles ahead of the second best team.

This team will romp to gold, and there are probably only three or four guys going to Rio that would even be on the roster if the best Americans had made themselves available.

The Americans are now the best shooters in the world, you can't get your guns out and beat them in a shootout like you could in the early-mid 2000s, you'll end up seeing Klay and KD go for 25 each and the game will be over at halftime.

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Hoops

Boomers impress against Spain in closed-door scrim

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