The Australian Boomers were solid without being spectacular during the group stage of the Commonwealth Games, but they may need to go up another level when they face Scotland during the semi-final. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 10am (AEST).
The Boomers have been far from perfect through their first three games, despite what a quick glance at the scoreboard would have you believe otherwise.
While it’s hard to classify them as major problems against the level of opposition they have faced, Andrej Lemanis’ team seem to be stuck in a rut early in games, their offence simply not clicking.
The starting five is all wrong, with Perth Wildcats guard Damian Martin stuck on the bench, and it’s hurting them with a whole stack of slow starts.
Their biggest challenge – and likely opponent in the gold medal match should they win today – was New Zealand. They trailed for three quarters before pulling it out of the fire.
It was far from impressive, with some splendid individual performances dragging them over the line. They managed to dominate Canada and Nigeria in their first and third games, but then, anything other than complete domination would have been a disappointment.
Even though New Zealand on paper are their toughest opponent, Scotland have caused upset after upset to reach this stage of the tournament and a lot of the credit has to go to Illawarra Hawks coach Rob Beveridge.
He has hid side running simple offensive which is easy to execute on, but off the floor, he is one of the best man-managers in business, proving it as he dragged the Hawks to the NBL finals at the end of the 201-17 domestic season.
Given the way Australia are playing and being coached, this could come down to a battle of the experienced duo.
They showed plenty of grit and determination in their group though, getting through to the knockouts before beating Nigeria in a tense contest by just five-points during the qualifying final.
Prediction
There’s no denying Scotland’s form is good, but it’s probably not going to be enough to challenge the Boomers, who are rolling straight towards the gold medal game.
Australia by 14.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the first basketball semi-final at the Commonwealth Games from 10am (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this morning on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 Commonwealth Games as the Boomers qualified for the gold medal game. I'll be back at 12:45pm (AEST) for the women's gold medal hockey game and again at 11:30am (AEST) tomorrow for the men's basketball gold medal game. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME That'll do it. Australia through to the gold medal game on the Gold Coast tomorrow. They will play the winner of New Zealand and Canada, who play this afternoon. The first half was still a little bit off for Australia, and if they play like that tomorrow, things may not work so well for the Boomers. If they can emulate that third quarter though, there is almost no chance of them losing the gold medal tomorrow morning. Australia - 101 Scotland - 44
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Australia with a heap of misses, but Walker grabs an offensive board and they, for the first time at the Games, will bring up the hundred. Australia - 101 Scotland - 44
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Better from Scotland. Bunyan with some nice work at the top and he fires a ball inside to Fraser who scores off the glass. Another bucket for Australia, then it's a missed three for Jiminez. Australia - 97 Scotland - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Scotland working around now. It's Bunyan to Fraser and he has to shoot with the shot clock running down, but that's no good. Now Sobey goes inside and kicks out to Wagstaff who misses. Australia - 95 Scotland - 38
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Fraser to the free throw line. He makes one. Australia - 95 Scotland - 38
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Timeout Scotland. Australia - 95 Scotland - 37
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' This game just bubbling out nothing. 5:45 left in this one. Australia - 95 Scotland - 37
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 7' Cleary a miss for three this time, then Cadee slows it down. He goes across to Newley and he hits a wide open three. Australia - 91 Scotland - 35
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 7' Malcolm a miss, then it's Newley up the floor to Cadee who hits a three from the right wing. Australia - 88 Scotland - 35
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 8' The Aussies with some more quality ball movement before Newley drives, loses control and misses the shot after regathering. Australia - 85 Scotland - 35
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 8' Norton to Brandt and he scores from close range, then Cleary misses. Collins grabs an offensive board and draws the foul. Australia - 85 Scotland - 35
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 9' The final quarter underway here. Looking more or less at a quarter of garbage time. Australia - 83 Scotland - 35
Scott Pryde
Expert
THREE QUARTER TIME Collins makes a shot on the buzzer for Scotland, but this has been all one way traffic through three quarters of action. Australia - 83 Scotland - 32
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 0' Scotland turn it over. Now it's Norton in, then out before the baseline opens up for Brandt to go forth and slam it home. Australia - 83 Scotland - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 0' Sobey with a wide open three! Australia - 81 Scotland - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 1' Well, that's better from Scotland. They get a stop, then Malcolm hits a three from the right wing. Australia - 78 Scotland - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 2' Finally the lid comes off the bucket for Scotland! Australia were on a 23-0 run, but Cleary manages to convert on a three. Australia - 78 Scotland - 27
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 2' Sobey to Martin, then it's inside to Wagstaff who scores on the hook shot with the shot clock running down. Australia - 78 Scotland - 24