Australia have the basketball world talking, and with another dominant win over a powerhouse team, the Boomers are proving they are legitimate.
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Australia’s Matthew Dellavedova during the Boomers v. Lithuania match in Rio. Australia’s Olympic men’s basketball team could be on the brink of history. He played more minutes than Australia’s other really big guy, Andrew Bogut, and contributed a handy 16 points to Bogut’s 6. Aron Baynes set the tone on the first possession by forcing Lithuania into an offensive foul by stepping up and taking the charge.
“We came out and threw the first punch”, Mills said.
Unlike the previous night when the Opals appeared to get a raw deal from the referees, it was the Boomers who capitalised on some generous calls, extending the margin out to 48-30 at half-time as they forced Lithuania into numerous turnovers.
Lemanis was more interested in giving credit to the team’s leaders, in particular Patty Mills, for inspiring the Boomers so far tournament.
Damian Martin also did what Damian Martin does, which is to contribute the sort of soulful performance that makes the whole of Australia glad he’s on the court.
He sunk five of 11 from the three-point line and missed just one inside.
Australia should roll big in this game. The combination of Australia’s tireless, physical defense and Lithuania’s listless play was enough to prevent a rapid comeback.
If successful, Australia will face the victor of the Croatia v Serbia clash (11.45am Thursday).
Mills, a back-up to Tony Parker at the Spurs, has been one of the standouts in the men’s basketball competition at the Rio Olympics.
“When you get a bunch of them together like what we have here, it is fun to coach and be around”. “Off-ball defence has been a major problem for the Americans in Rio, and their potential gold-medal opponent would love to take advantage of it”. Perhaps that needs some rethinking after the beatdown they received at the hands of the Aussies.
Australia just might win it all.
The favored USA team, to this point unbeaten but shockingly underwhelming, had better be careful.
Bogut may have been cast aside in order to create space for Kevin Durant in Golden State, but his play in the Olympics is a reminder of how valuable he is.
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Have you been enjoying the Rio Olympics? The Boomers did it pretty easily, which is a change from the old days when Lithuania used to beat us a lot at the Olympics.
