Phil Jackson to be official Boomers zen master coach

I do agree. Being BB's choice, and as he openly admits that he wants someone who can, "speak the same (basketball) language", short of sending someone over from the US, Weaver makes sense.

I meant to write , If not Lemanis (for sam reasons as above), then Weaver's a good & sensible choice.

Who will make NBL (boomers) squad?
My not so shortlist:
D Johnson, Drmic
Magnay, Sobey, Cadee ( he makes these teams)
Noi, Jawai, Deng, Djeric ( lights out shooter)
Blanchfield ( see Cadee), Dech,Naar
Goulding McCarron and Lual-Acil.
Kay, Steindl
Creek, Pineau
Bogut, Cooks, Bruce.

Weeks Kenny Milner smith if cadee is in the mix.

The NBL Boomers are good enough to qualify, but would their level be lifted with the addition of 2-3 NBA/ Euro players, eg Maker, Delly, Motum etc. Players who might be released due to not being too integral to their teams, but could they lift the standard and intensity of Boomers.

Will Weaver is the obvious coaching choice. He has his ear to the street in the NBL, he's one of Brett Brown's guys. I'd be astonished if it wasn't him. Highly doubt it would be Lemanis. He's done with the job.

"The NBL Boomers are good enough to qualify, but would their level be lifted with the addition of 2-3 NBA/ Euro players, eg Maker, Delly, Motum etc. Players who might be released due to not being too integral to their teams, but could they lift the standard and intensity of Boomers."

They wont be released for qualifiers and tournaments like this. Have to remember this is just the qualifiers for the Asia Cup which means nothing to anyone really. Don't get me wrong, it's cool to win it, but it's kind of a fate accompli that we win it as long as we don't completely shit the bed.

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As for the squad, I think a good mix of youth of experience is needed. Everyone wants to blood kids at the Olympics (god knows why) but these are the games where you can look to the future a bit without it really hurting you.

Maybe you pull William McDowell-White in? Maybe Josh Green? Kouat Noi? Will Magnay?

You can experiment with this line up, and if you have at least 5 or 6 guys with some solid experience, you should really win these games.

Whoever it is, they need to exude calmness to the max.

Can anyone think of someone that fits the bill?

Why is Weaver the obvious choice??

I would have thought the obvious thing is that we're going to have two completely different teams? An NBL team to qualify, and an NBA team led by Brown to actually play.

Ergo there is no need for the qualifying team to follow Brown's gameplan, nor could it. Hence no need for the coach to be "Brown's man".

If indeed Brown still likes and wants Weaver, he would probably rather tap him for an assistant role in the main event. (Although he may prefer 100% current NBA types)

It will come down to BA politics and what was agreed with Brown to get him onboard. Undoubtedly they conceded him free-reign to pick the Tokyo squad and his assistants, but maybe they kept a bit of consolation juice for the qualifiers?

In many ways it would actually make sense to pick the qualifier coaches from amongst the best in the NBL.

"
I would have thought the obvious thing is that we're going to have two completely different teams? An NBL team to qualify, and an NBA team led by Brown to actually play.

Ergo there is no need for the qualifying team to follow Brown's gameplan, nor could it. Hence no need for the coach to be "Brown's man"."


Brett Brown has already said that he will be delegating a coach for the qualifiers. And even if that weren't the face, having some continuity between the Boomers teams simply makes sense. Injuries are a thing, and if these qualifying and Asia Cup games have any purpose whatsoever, that purpose should be blooding potential players for the real international competitions. Let's say, for instance, Nick Kay makes the Asia Cup team (which we can assume he would), and then Bolden or Maker throw a hissy fit, and the spot is open on the Olympic squad for him. Why wouldn't you want him playing in a system that is going to be similar to that at the Olympics? That goes for any player who might crossover between the teams, the Mitch Creeks and Chris Gouldings of the world.


The qualifiers coach will be Brett Brown's guy and a guy who is in the NBL. Something incredible would have to take place for it not to be Will Weaver.

"Something incredible would have to take place for it not to be Will Weaver.“

NBL: See Incredible

That is the dumbest take on the national team conversation I have ever seen, and that's saying something.

The good news is that when Brown gets sacked from his Philadelphia job, he will have plenty of time to focus on the Boomers. It should happen sooner rather than later, because the 76ers are going nowhere with him.