The Australian Boomers will be out to get their Commonwealth Games campaign off on the right foot when they take on a youthful Canada in Cairns. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 5:30pm (AEST).
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Australia are favourites to win the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games by the length of the straight, with New Zealand set to be their biggest adversities later in the tournament.
The Boomers, like most teams, aren’t at full strength. None of their NBA or European players have been released, with the squad made up entirely of players from the recently completed NBL, which had its strongest season in two decades.
Even that won’t be at full strength, after Adelaide 36ers forward Mitch Creek and centre Matt Hodgson withdrew to play in Europe.
Still, the team is littered with talent. The best defensive player in the land, Damian Martin leads the way, while an in-form Chris Goulding will join him in the guard slots. Veteran Brad Newley is also on the team.
There is no question about the Boomers favouritism, but a match against a Canadian side who will be out to prove a point ahead of upcoming NBA drafts will still pose plenty of challenges.
Given the top four teams at the tournament are in Group A, the top two qualify directly for the semi-finals, while team three and four qualify for the qualifying finals.
If Canada can claim an upset over either Australia or New Zealand and beat Nigeria – which is a game up in the air anyway – they could well go straight to the semi-finals, within one game of the finals. However, it looks unlikely.
Their team is made up completely of university stars across Canada. The likes of Justus Alleyn and Mamadou Gueye will need to lead the team from the backcourt and somehow, find holes in the Australian defence.
The biggest problem will be defending Australia. With Martin moving the ball, Goulding a constant threat and Angus Brandt in wonderful form on the glass, plus a tendency to get out and run the floor, they may well be put to the sword simply by Australia’s attack.
Prediction
The Canadian side should remain in the hunt during the first half, but a lack of match fitness to go with the talent difference will see the scoreline blow out as Australia start things off in the best possible way.
Australia by 21.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the Boomers’ opening match at the Commonwealth Games from 5:30pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Nailed it Damo! And yeah, it's one of those things - big win for the opening game, but there are improvements to be made. Cheers mate. See ya tomorrow for the Kiwis!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for the Boomers opening game of the Commonwealth Games. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'm off for a 20-minute breather, then I'll be back for Night 2 of the swimming. Be sure to join me for that, or, swing it over to the home page and take your pick of all the best live sport from the Games and around Australia. Bye for now.
Damo
Guest
40 points, called it! Turnovers an issues and one particular player that struggled but otherwise not much more you can expect. Always room for improvement but need to be realistic. Thanks for the call Scott, enjoyed it.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME No more time in this one. No more points int he final minute either as Australia play it out. The Boomers' weren't what you'd call perfect throughout the course of that game, but they got into the swing of things after the first quarter and ran away with a huge win in the end, getting it out to 40. On the scoreboard at least, Australia are away to the perfect Commonwealth Games title defence, but will be well and truly tested tomorrow against New Zealand. Australia - 95 Canada - 55
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Kay to the free throw line. He makes both and triple figures on the cards here for Australia as they get to a 40-point lead. Australia - 95 Canada - 55
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Canada are getting shelled here. Another miss and this time it's Norton to Kay on the fast break as he scores. Now NIssen with a miss for Canada. Australia - 93 Canada - 55
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Newley misses the extra. Australia - 91 Canada - 55
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Canada turn it over heading into the paint now. Newley takes off up the floor and drops it in, drawing a foul from Diawara who was backpedalling. Australia - 91 Canada - 55
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Now it's Kay dropping a three from the left wing. Australia - 89 Canada - 55
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Goulding makes a big corner three, then checks out of the game. Australia - 86 Canada - 55
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Diawara starting to find a bit of shooting range now as he makes another three, before Cadee answers back with one of his own from a wide open position. Diawara now goes baseline and scores again. He has ten in the last few minutes. Australia - 83 Canada - 55
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Brandt makes one. Australia - 80 Canada - 50
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Canada push the pace this time and Diawara sinks a three, before Golding goes to Brandt and he misses, but draws the foul. Australia -79 Canada - 50
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Diawara with an air ball from a wide open position this time before Cadee puts up a finger roll in transition, but it's no good. Australia - 79 Canada - 47
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Australia with a more pressing defence this time, but Canada get around it and Diawara scores after getting around Gliddon. No help defence there. At the other end it's a foul as Australia bring it up the floor. From the inbound Goulding makes a brilliant reverse lay up. Australia - 79 Canada - 47
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Kay makes one. Australia - 77 Canada - 45
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Morgan started this game so strongly for Canada, but he has gone cold. There's another miss. Quickly up the other end and Brandt missed a hook shot, but draws the foul in the process. Foul ruled not on the shot in fact. Australia through Newley, Cadee and that's a poor pass to Brandt. He hangs on, then Goulding misses a three with Brandt getting the board. Cadee then goes to Goulding before Kay draw a foul as he spins into the paint from the corner. Australia - 76 Canada - 45
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Goulding to Kay inside and he misses from under the basket. Gueye grabs the board, then Canada draw a foul back up the floor. That's against Goulding. Australia - 76 Canada - 45
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' Australia dominating here. Australia - 76 Canada - 45