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Australia vs Canada |
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|---|---|---|
2018 Commonwealth Games Basketball, April 6 |
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| Cairns Convention Centre, QLD | ||
| Australia | Canada | |
| 95 | SCORE | 55 |
| 25 | Q1 | 13 |
| 22 | Q2 | 16 |
| 22 | Q3 | 13 |
| 26 | Q4 | 13 |
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.