Australia’s Boomers have been knocked out of contention for the gold medal, copping a 26-point loss from Serbia on Saturday morning (AEST).
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Boomers 61
Serbia 87
The 2016 Olympic Games basketball tournament is the Australian Boomers best ever chance at winning a medal – now taking on Serbia for the chance to play for gold. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8am (AEST).
It has been an incredible tournament for the Boomers, who have plenty of talent in their squad but hadn’t shown the sum of the parts could be greater than the individual talents.
However, they’ve managed to do things that no Australian men’s basketball team has done before, including win all of their games other than a very tight match against the USA.
Those wins included a quarter-final victory against Lithuania who are the third-ranked team in the world. They knocked them out of the tournament by 26 points, and are playing excellent on both ends of the floor.
Andrew Bogut has been the man to glue it all together, along with Aron Baynes in the paint. Their combination with guards Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova has been fantastic, and it could well be said it is the reason the Boomers are going so well.
Combined with consistent combinations off the bench, led by Kevin Lisch and it isn’t hard to see why this team are on the cusp of a medal.
Serbia have also been in good form, and they took it to the Americans as well going down by three points in their pool match.
A loss to France hurt them though and they would eventually qualify in fourth position, however managed to get over the top of arch rivals Croatia in an extremely physical quarter-final by just three points.
It will also be interesting to see how they pull up from that game, and whether they will have enough in the tank to take on the Boomers.
The key for Serbia is Miroslav Raduljica. The centre, who at times has struggled with foul trouble will not only have offensive duties to take care of, but he must also find a way to play big minutes and shut down the threat of Bogut and Baynes or they will run all over Serbia.
Milos Teodosic and Bogdan Bogdanovic also have massive roles to play on offence.
The sides have already met during the tournament, playing a pool game against each other – while Serbia took it right to the Boomers for three quarters, they fell away at the end and went down by 15.
Prediction
Australia beat them in the group stage and have arguably played some of the best Basketball at the tournament. Serbia will play hard and fight all the way, but they might lose their way down the stretch a fraction and the Boomers will advance to the final.
Boomers by 5.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this semi-final as the Boomers and Serbia attempt to advance to their first Olympic final from 8am (AEST) and don’t forget to leave a comment.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
BrainsTrust
Guest
There hasn't been any real intense defense in this competition so far till Serbia in this match. The Serbia Croatia match was tamer than I thought it was going to be, considering Serbia could have easily lost that match I was thinking maybe they didn't have it in them. Instead they saved it for Australia. Croatia would not have been capable of doing that level of intensity, and they didn't have the size and athleticism inside the hoop that Serbia has so if only they had knocked them out. When you have the older team and your up against a younger team that has got the edge physically with such intensity then you need a strategy to slow things down somehow instead of trying to go with them.
BrainsTrust
Guest
There hasn't been any real intense defense in this competition so far till Serbia in this match. The Serbia Croatia match was tamer than I thought it was going to be, considering Serbia could have easily lost that match I was thinking maybe they didn't have it in them. Instead they saved it for Australia. Croatia would not have been capable of doing that level of intensity, and they didn't have the size and athleticism inside the hoop that Serbia has so if only they had knocked them out. When you have the older team and your up against a younger team that has got the edge physically with such intensity then you need to slow things down somehow instead of trying to go with them.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Sorry I can't see the future!
Scott Pryde
Expert
» Click here to read the full match report Thanks for joining me this morning for The Roar's live coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympics Basketball semi-finals as first the USA advanced to the final, then Serbia defeated Australia by 26 in this second match. Hopefully you have enjoyed the coverage. Be sure to flick over to the Athletics where Cameron Mee is live currently. Plenty on tomorrow so be sure to check back in - i'll be live with the women's gold medal match from 4:30am (AEST). Before then, I've got NRL this afternoon between the Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast Titans from 3pm (AEST) so be sure to join me then. Bye for now.
Marko Serbia
Guest
Nice prediction mate.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah hopefully they can get up mate! Not a big rugby fan, but i'll still be backing em!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Stats Leaders Australia Points: Patty Mills, Brock Motum (13), Joe Ingles (12) Rebounds: Aron Baynes (8), Joe Ingles (7) Assists: Ryan Broekhoff (4) Serbia Points: Milos Teodosic (22), Stefan Markovic (14), Milan Macvan (12), Miroslav Raduljica (11) Rebounds: Nikola Jokic (11), Miroslav Raduljica, Nikola Kalinic, Bogdan Bogdnaovic (6) Assists: Milos Teodosic, Stefan Markovic (5)
Machooka
Roar Guru
Yep... it's gonna be an interesting old day as my Wallaby does battle later against the almighty ABs :(
Scott Pryde
Expert
How exactly is the men's basketball team disappointing? They are going to be in the top four teams in the world. Making it this far in the tournament is a pretty good effort really.
Scott Pryde
Expert
No problems Machooka, cheers mate. Very tough morning there, because the Aussies have proven they can beat Serbia. Serbia were just physical, got the job done early and the Aussies never recovered. Hopefully they can get up over Spain but it's not going to be easy - they played real well this morning just didn't' quite execute offensively
Justin
Guest
The Women's Rugby 7s team is an anomaly in a period of woeful Australian team performances, with our hockey and basketball teams performing at best what could be described as disappointing, and our Australian cricket team ...well absolutely appalling .......the Wallabies play today.....don't they.....the All Blacks...................oh
Scott Pryde
Expert
Statistics 2-point field goals: Australia (51%), Serbia (61%) 3-point field goals: Australia (13%), Serbia (31%) Free throws: Australia (68%), Serbia (78%) Offensive rebounds: Australia (13), Serbia (10) Defensive Rebounds: Australia (17), Serbia (33) Total Rebounds: Australia (30), Serbia (43) Assists: Australia (14), Serbia (23) Turnovers: Australia (16), Serbia (18) Steals: Australia (6), Serbia (9) Blocks: Australia (4), Serbia (1) Fouls: Australia (22), Serbia (22) Fast break points: Australia (13), Serbia (14) Points in the paint: Australia (32), Serbia (36) Bench points: Australia (22), Serbia (22)
Machooka
Roar Guru
Thanks Scott for your, as always, expert call... I'm a bit bummed as I thought we had the match of the Serbs. But well done Serbia you brought you A game... and Milos T is a true great of the game. OK Boomers you're now got your backs to the wall... and a Bronze medal play-off against the might of Spain. Go well... trust your game. You can do this. And create your own history.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Quarter-by-Quarter scoring breakdown 1st Quarter Australia 5 - Serbia 16 2nd Quarter Australia 9 - Serbia 19 3rd Quarter Australia 24 - Serbia 31 4th Quarter Australia 23 - Serbia 21 FULLTIME Australian Boomers 61 Serbia 87
Scott Pryde
Expert
Full stats and report to come. Thoughts Roarers? Can the Boomers turn it around to beat Spain?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The clock runs down here. Australia knock down a three and then there is a dunk for Serbia to put complete what has been a smashing. Buzzer goes and full credit to Serbia who are off to the gold-medal match. Australia to play Spain in the bronze-medal match. Australia - 61 Serbia - 87
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Now Motum hits a floater before Stimac hits the shot from under the bucket. Australia now draw a foul. Australia - 58 Serbia - 85
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Macvan makes both. Australia - 58 Serbia - 83
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Into the final minute we go. Australia with a miss from deep and a foul up the floor. Celebrations away on the Serbian bench - the Australian bench looks a little emotional on the other hand. Australia - 56 Serbia - 81
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' One free throw falls. Australia - 56 Serbia - 82