The Boomers have copped a bit of flack lately for their performance on the court. Apparently nobody told the likes of Mills, Barlow or Bogut, all combining well in the opening minutes of the game against the European Champions, Russia.
Newly was equally as sharp and when Anstey stepped on for his first minutes he had an immediate effect on the game.
Australia were playing big in defence and the resulting rebounds created great transitional play.
Anstey sunk a 3 late in the quarter and the lead snuck out to 11.
Andersen started out strong in the second and Worthington sunk a big three to take the Boomers out to a 14 point lead 3 minutes in.
Bogut worked hard under the hoop and began to hit his straps. The Boomers strong D forced Russia to shoot from outside with little success.
When Newly took a charge drawing the offensive foul late in the half it summed up the Russian’s game thus far and the Boomers went to the long break 16 points up.
Russia came out hard in the second half and began to close the gap but a quick time out by coach Brian Goorjian had the Boomers back on track.
With Bogut hitting another one from outside the frustration became evident in Russia’s game with team fouls piling up.
They weren’t finished at that point however, closing the third with a 3 point basket and looking back in the game.
Halfway into the last Bogut faked outside and drove to the basket to slam an inspiring dunk. But the Russians weren’t about to lie down and with their 3 point shooting finally on target they clawed their way back into contention.
The Boomers held on and ran out 14 point winners with their hopes of a medal still in tact.
Trevor
Roar Pro
Aaron, I agree that USA aren't unbeatable. They'd know that and won't come out overconfident. It's gonna be a tough game. I think Mills needs to lift a bit more. I think he has a lot more to show yet. He could well be a key to the game. And if Anstey finds his range, Bogut has a big game...... Yeah, it is do-able!
Aaron Doherty
Roar Rookie
Well i have to say that effort against Lithuania has filled me with some confidence. We have the USA next and they aren't unbeatable, Patrick Mills has to be used against Jason Kidd as much a possible. Chris Paul torched him in NBA playoffs just with the sheer fact that he is too fast, Mills needs to be used in a similar way. We need to go big, start Anderson or Anstey for this game and hope that we can get Bogut matched up against LeBron down low and he can use his height. Anstey's range can hopefully draw Howard out of the paint and open up lanes for Barlow, Newely, Mills Bruton etc. We can't afford a slow start, not here, we need this game.
Trevor
Roar Pro
Yeah we are still a long way from a medal but doing well so far.
matta
Guest
medal wont happen. Every four years we hear the same crap from Aussie Basketball
Aaron Doherty
Guest
We're still a long way of competing for a medal as yet, Lithuania will be a good way to see where we stand. If we can beat them or at least look like we can beat them we'll be in better shape, but we'll have USA, Spain, Greece, China as well as Croatia and Argentina and Lithuania from our pool to contend with. Russia was a good win but we got a long way to go. We need to defend the perimeter alot better, Russia nearly came back and when they had no business being close in that game, Lithuania will destroy us if we defend the 3pt line like we did at the end of the Russian game