Boomers Olympic Squad

[Bulldog Revolution]

Re: Boomers Olympic Squad

I wouldn't play Penny Taylor in the semi against China and give her another two days to get her ankle right for the gold medal game. Now in some ways that is the opposite of what a coach would do, looking one game ahead, but I think the group should be able to account for China without Taylor. I'd be trying to give the team the best shot at beating the USA, but it is gambling with a silver medal but thats what it takes to win gold. IMO it will be very difficult for the Opals to beat the USA anyway, and particularly without Penny.

Boomers were absolutely awesome against Lithuania - the pecking order has been clearly established Bogut, Newley as the main interior and perimeter options - then the rest, Nielsen doing the 1-2%ers, Bruton and Mills calling the shots and Andersen, Anstey scoring beautifully off the bench, It was a thing of beauty.

10pm tonight will be interesting to see whether we can execute our offence against the most athletic players in the world. They've disrupted everybody elses offence and its led to easy baskets in transition. If we can stop that for most of the game it will be very interesting.

[GVGjr]

Re: Boomers Olympic Squad

The Boomers squad for the Olympics has been announced

Australian Boomers 24-man roster:

Deng Adel, Aron Baynes, Ryan Broekhoff, Xavier Cooks, Mitch Creek, Matthew Dellavedova, Danté Exum, Josh Giddey, Chris Goulding, Josh Green, Isaac Humphries, Joe Ingles, Nick Kay, Jock Landale, Mitch McCarron, William McDowell-White, Will Magnay, Thon Maker, Patty Mills, Brock Motum, Mitch Norton, Duop Reath, Ben Simmons, Matisse Thybulle.

There is also some speculation that NBL standout Bryce Cotton will become an Australian citizen in time for the games

Would anyone like to guess who will make the final 12 and what position Den Simmons will play for us?

[Twodogs]

Re: Boomers Olympic Squad

Australia are third on the FIBA World rankings after the USA and Spain and ahead of Argentina, France, Serbia and Greece. We could win a medal in Tokyo.

https://www.fiba.basketball/rankingmen

[Bornadog]

Re: Boomers Olympic Squad

Hopefully Mitch Creek gets in. My wife went to school with his mother.

[Axe Man]

Re: Boomers Olympic Squad

We are almost always a medal chance at the Olympics and Worlds, but can just never quite get it done. It does seem to be as good a chance as any though.

So many unknowns this year though. Will the games even go ahead? The NBA season is meant to end the day before the Olympic begin. It could cause issues if the 76ers or Jazz make a deep playoff run. Obviously it could also disrupt other countries, especially team USA.

The old guard in Baynes, Mills, Ingles, Dellevedova should all be walk up starts, along with Simmons of course. Thybulle is interesting - plays significant minutes for the 76ers and apparently is a great defender. Is American but lived here for 7 years as a child.

After that it gets harder to line up form with some players without a team at the moment in Maker and Broekhoff. Exum is injured again, Green is raw but talented. Goulding and Motum strong chances. Landale has started the NBL season well and we need a replacement for Bogut. I don't know enough about some of the others on that list. Will be interesting to see what happens.

[GVGjr]

Re: Boomers Olympic Squad

Axe, would there be any merit in picking some players who are over in Europe and playing more than a couple of the NBA players who sit mainly on the bench?

[Axe Man]

Re: Boomers Olympic Squad

Axe, would there be any merit in picking some players who are over in Europe and playing more than a couple of the NBA players who sit mainly on the bench?

Possibly. It's the same issue with the Socceroos and some European players that can't get on the pitch enough.

Obviously Baynes, Mills, Ingles, Simmons and Thybulle play plenty of minutes. Green has had good minutes so far for the Mavs in his rookie season. I just read Delle is battling concussion symptoms from a knock 2 months ago that could force him to retire, that would be a real shame. Maker and Broekhoff need to find teams, Exum needs to stay fit. Humphries another big man playing well in the NBL for the 36ers. Cotton would be a handy addition.

I imagine Mills is our PG with Simmons at PF. Baynes, Ingles and Thybulle/Broekhoff to round out the starting 5.

[GVGjr]

Re: Boomers Olympic Squad

Possibly. It's the same issue with the Socceroos and some European players that can't get on the pitch enough.

Obviously Baynes, Mills, Ingles, Simmons and Thybulle play plenty of minutes. Green has had good minutes so far for the Mavs in his rookie season. I just read Delle is battling concussion symptoms from a knock 2 months ago that could force him to retire, that would be a real shame. Maker and Broekhoff need to find teams, Exum needs to stay fit. Humphries another big man playing well in the NBL for the 36ers. Cotton would be a handy addition.

I imagine Mills is our PG with Simmons at PF. Baynes, Ingles and Thybulle/Broekhoff to round out the starting 5.

Magnay and Motum have some claims and Landale will make it plus as you say if Bryce Cotton gets added the back court will look strong. I saw some highlights on Duop Reath and he might be an option.

I'm glad Bolden didn't make the squad. I wasn't impressed when he walk out of the Boomers games because he wasn't a starter
I'm not sure if Bogut could have been talked into it because even at 80% he would be a great back up for Baynes
Still it provides others with an opportunity

[Twodogs]

Re: Boomers Olympic Squad

Possibly. It's the same issue with the Socceroos and some European players that can't get on the pitch enough.

Obviously Baynes, Mills, Ingles, Simmons and Thybulle play plenty of minutes. Green has had good minutes so far for the Mavs in his rookie season. I just read Delle is battling concussion symptoms from a knock 2 months ago that could force him to retire, that would be a real shame. Maker and Broekhoff need to find teams, Exum needs to stay fit. Humphries another big man playing well in the NBL for the 36ers. Cotton would be a handy addition.

I imagine Mills is our PG with Simmons at PF. Baynes, Ingles and Thybulle/Broekhoff to round out the starting 5.

Dellevedova? That'd be a huge shame because he was massive for us at the last Olympics.

[Axe Man]

Re: Boomers Olympic Squad

Dellevedova? That'd be a huge shame because he was massive for us at the last Olympics.

Yes unfortunately:

Report: Matthew Dellavedova facing potential retirement due to concussions

A fan favorite in Cleveland could be facing the end of his career.

Matthew Dellavedova, the Cleveland Cavaliers guard who played a significant role on the team during its second LeBron James era, is still dealing with the after-effects of a serious concussion suffered during the team’s preseason opener on Dec. 12, according to The Athletic's Joe Vardon and Kelsey Russo.

Nearly two months after the injury, Dellavedova’s symptoms have reportedly persisted to the point that he is unable to work out in any real capacity. The report characterizes the possibility of an unwanted retirement as “on the table, if not likely.”

Matthew Dellavedova has a history of concussions
There’s no reported deadline in which Dellavedova has to recover or call it quits, but it’s clearly a bad situation for a veteran player. Dellavedova has had a history of concussions in his career, most notably missing the final month of the 2018-19 season with one.

From The Athletic:

“He’s taking steps, but they’re small steps,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said on Jan. 16, when asked about Dellavedova’s progress. “With the history that he has, with the concussions, we’re taking every caution that we possibly can to make sure that he’s gonna be fully recovered first before we do anything with him.”

Dellavedova signed a $2.1 million contract last offseason to extend his second stint with the Cavaliers. He began his career with the team as an undrafted free agent, and soon proved to be a useful piece as the team became a regular in the NBA Finals with James.

Dellavedova left the Cavaliers for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2016 via a sign-and-trade deal and four-year, $38 million offer sheet. Three years later he returned to Cleveland in another trade. We’ll see if it ends up being his final tenure with an NBA team.

[The Underdog]

Re: Boomers Olympic Squad

Well, I didn’t know about Thybulle’s Australian eligibility. It’s pretty tenuous, but we can use whatever help we can get, so welcome aboard, mate.

[Twodogs]

Re: Boomers Olympic Squad

Yes unfortunately:

Report: Matthew Dellavedova facing potential retirement due to concussions

A fan favorite in Cleveland could be facing the end of his career.

Matthew Dellavedova, the Cleveland Cavaliers guard who played a significant role on the team during its second LeBron James era, is still dealing with the after-effects of a serious concussion suffered during the team’s preseason opener on Dec. 12, according to The Athletic's Joe Vardon and Kelsey Russo.

Nearly two months after the injury, Dellavedova’s symptoms have reportedly persisted to the point that he is unable to work out in any real capacity. The report characterizes the possibility of an unwanted retirement as “on the table, if not likely.”

Matthew Dellavedova has a history of concussions
There’s no reported deadline in which Dellavedova has to recover or call it quits, but it’s clearly a bad situation for a veteran player. Dellavedova has had a history of concussions in his career, most notably missing the final month of the 2018-19 season with one.

From The Athletic:

“He’s taking steps, but they’re small steps,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said on Jan. 16, when asked about Dellavedova’s progress. “With the history that he has, with the concussions, we’re taking every caution that we possibly can to make sure that he’s gonna be fully recovered first before we do anything with him.”

Dellavedova signed a $2.1 million contract last offseason to extend his second stint with the Cavaliers. He began his career with the team as an undrafted free agent, and soon proved to be a useful piece as the team became a regular in the NBA Finals with James.

Dellavedova left the Cavaliers for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2016 via a sign-and-trade deal and four-year, $38 million offer sheet. Three years later he returned to Cleveland in another trade. We’ll see if it ends up being his final tenure with an NBA team.

That's a real shame. I like how he plays.

[GVGjr]

Re: Boomers Olympic Squad

We've done very well in the Vegas tournament. The selectors got things right and I've been impressed with Thybulle, Landale and Kay along with Mills, Dell and Ingles. Baynes just had the one game. Exum looks good as well.
It's a shame Simmons didn't make himself available.

[Axe Man]

Re: Boomers Olympic Squad

Hopefully Mitch Creek gets in. My wife went to school with his mother.

Mitch has found himself in a bit of trouble on a couple of fronts and subsequently missed the squad.

Dellevedova? That'd be a huge shame because he was massive for us at the last Olympics.

Thankfully he has recovered and will continue his career in Melbourne next season.

[Axe Man]

Re: Boomers Olympic Squad

We've done very well in the Vegas tournament. The selectors got things right and I've been impressed with Thybulle, Landale and Kay along with Mills, Dell and Ingles. Baynes just had the one game. Exum looks good as well.
It's a shame Simmons didn't make himself available.

I haven't watched but the reports have been very positive. Hopefully it transfers when the real stuff starts in Japan. Great to hear some of the young guys in Green and Giddey have been impressive too. They should be ready to step into the shoes of Mills, Ingles, etc in the coming years.

Great to see Simmons working on his game in south west London.