Yes, it was an “exhibition”, a pre-Olympic trial. Yes, Team USA had come together as a squad six days previously. And yes, at times, it looked like they were in cruise control.
And of course, yes, yes, yes – we shouldn’t get too excited that Australia beat the United States in a basketball game two weeks before the Olympic Games.
But well! The Boomers’ 91-83 win over the Dream Team in Las Vegas is now their second on the trot after the 98-94 win in Melbourne in 2019.
And, if nothing else, against a team of NBA superstars led by Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Damian Lillard, it has given Australia belief: we can beat these people again and again.
But then they appear to know that, these very good Boomers, and were not overawed by any stretch. None of them on paper would make Team USA. But as a team they scrap and rip and tear, and there’s a lot to like about them.
Particularly now they’ve just beaten the best. Twice on the jump.
Team America did flex their muscles for long sections. When they turned it on, moved the ball around and put their hyper-skilled athletes in space, they made it look pretty. And even a bit easy, like a Playstation highlights reel.
When Lillard wanted to hit a three, he hit one. When Durant wanted to hit a three, he hit one, too. When Bradley “The Real Deal” Beal wanted to scream into the key and rip off a dunk and hang off the rim like a Parkour guy mucking about on a scaffold, he did.
Lillard, a Portland Trailblazer, finished with 22 points and six three-pointers. At halftime he compared America’s play to the Nigeria game two days before: “We are much more aggressive, much more talkative. We’re just playing harder now.”
Yet Australia was, too. At halftime Basketball Australia declared it “a competitive first-half display from the boys with plenty to get excited about”. It rang only half-true; they were down by nine points.
But then a mighty man from South Sudan, Duop Reath, landed a three and squared the match 60-all. The ever-competitive Joe Ingles drew a foul, went to the free-throw line and drained them both. And Australia led by two.
Then Chris Goulding got hot from downtown. He pulled the trigger on a fine jumping two-pointer before raining death from above with a massive three-pointer, right on the siren, to give Australia a 5-point lead at the last break.
The US hit back. But the longer the final stanza went and the longer Australia’s defence, headlined by Philadelphia 76ers man Mattise Thybulle, thwarted their attack with blocks and steals, the more Australia believed.
And Durant began to miss. And Patty Mills did not. And that was that for Team USA. Off to think again.
And if you, Australian sports fan, are looking for signs that Australia can break their Olympic basketball medal duck following the fourth-place in Rio – and knock over these superstar Americans for a third time – Tuesday’s fixture was it.
They will need luck, of course. They will need several things to go their way.
There can be no mistakes. Australia turned the ball over six times in the first half. They trailed 46-38. These things were not unrelated.
They must drain everything from outside. Ingles showed the way with three three-pointers. Goulding and Mills impressed from downtown.
And they must remain calm when America applies defensive pressure.
But they know that. And they believe. And they have good reason to.
Go them.
Lara
Guest
Just saying, the USA just blitzed Argentina by 28 . However, the USA lineup actually looks undersized . I get the feeling they will be gunning for 3’s, play a fast up tempo game, n run the opposition off their feet. They got a team of shooters , no shot blockers….play them slow n muscle up in the box.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
Well done boomers, smashed Nigeria. Looks like we have good depth to do well. Go Aussies.
ojp44
Guest
Ok fair enough, context is everything ????
Matt Cleary
Expert
Mate they're different sports with entirely different contexts. You're comparing yarns about beating the USA in basketball and nearly losing to France B in rugby. One was glass half empty - we should've beaten France B at home, while beating the USA, even in an Exhibition game with 3 players missing from the NBA finals, is huge in the context of the game, the team, the Olympics, history, Mabo, etc.
ojp44
Guest
Yep, read both articles and all paragraphs therein, which lead to my observation. Just seemed glass half empty one day and then a different glass probably a bit more than half full a few days later. Have I misunderstood ? @ Mark, I agree more of the 1st xv French rugby team probably not playing vs the USA basketball guys (although great nba player that he is I wouldn’t pick Draymond for international play). In any case, just back from watching France come away with the win so perhaps glass half empty was / is correct.
Oscar the Dog
Guest
You read the article? How dare you read the article and then give an opinion. To good for taking shortcuts and then giving an opinion. People like you…..
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
They are kings!
Matt Cleary
Expert
Did you read the first paragraph of this one?
Mark
Guest
In Matt’s defence, I think the French rugby team have got far more of their best team unavailable for this tour than the US basketball team. Durant, Tatum, Beal, Lillard and Green would all be in the best US team even if Curry, James, Davis and Irving were fit and available. And I also note that Matt says in his first few paragraphs that we should go overboard about this win, given it’s an exhibition and the US team is not as strong as it could be.
josh
Roar Rookie
A silver medal is a loss though! Gold or Bronze at least you win them.
Nancy Pelosi
Guest
I live in Texas, the "Team USA" is a joke. Australia, PLEASE embarrass the spoiled punks! Best of luck to all "Down Under" in Japan.
josh
Roar Rookie
Nigeria aren't a bad team. Plenty of NBA-level players in the squad.
josh
Roar Rookie
Hoping this can be the team that finally medals. I would have been nice to see Bogut one more time, with a chance to medal a nice way to end a career. Plenty of teams have finished n the 3rd place playoff, will a medal be the tipping point. While you could argue a win in an exhibition, is just that. The USA weren’t going easy, they were looking for the win. Draymond Green wasn’t backing away. KD was looking for it. Shows the difference between the NBA and international ball, where low and behold they play a little thing called defense.
ojp44
Guest
@ matt cleary, aren’t you the same guy who told us not to get carried away with the wallabies beating ‘this France’ ? But it’s ok to get hyped because the boomers beat the US team on an exhibition game minus some of their stars ? To be clear, I wish the wallabies and boomers every success, just puzzled about the apparent divergent positions you’ve adopted across these two articles.
astro
Roar Rookie
If anything, that makes this win more impressive! Team USA don't lose many games after a loss...
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Celebrate success. Anywhere all the time! Its simple.
Mark
Guest
Australia finished 4th at the last major international tournament - the 2019 World Cup. But that could easily have been 1st - we lost to the eventual champions, Spain, in the semis in double overtime after leading up to the final minute of regulation. We then lost to France in the 3rd place playoff after leading for most of the first 3 quarters. We had already beaten France in the round robin stage. Spain's team is aging - the Gasol brothers and Rubio are fine players but almost at the end of their careers. France will be a contender, as will Slovenia with Luka Doncic. But Australia has arguably more depth than those teams, and (fingers crossed) we should be aiming for at least the silver medal.
JGK
Roar Guru
I'm surprised Aust are clear second favourites for the Olympics.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I think US will win because they wont be able to party it up under Covid restrictions which is their main weakness. Australia they need to be smarter place themselves in the opposite side of the draw to the US and save their energy for the elimination finals. Last time both Boomers and Opals spent their energy in the group stage, and then got wiped out by less talented Serbia playing hard.
Paul
Roar Guru
Great stuff Matt. The Boomers on paper should have not been close to the US, even without some of their better players. The fact they won suggests good things for the next few weeks. Touch wood, they can deliver again in the actual tournament