Player Report Card - Boomers v Venezuela

Player Report Card – Boomers v Venezuela

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The Australian Boomers got their FIBA World Cup preparations off to a flying start with a convincing 97-41 win over Venezuela in Melbourne.

After starting the game shooting 10/11 from the field to lead 27-16 at quarter time, the Boomers blew the game open across the second and third quarters, outscoring Venezuela 48-11 as their suffocating defence was on full display.

As we follow the Australian Boomers on the road to the history-making FIBA World Cup campaign, we spotlight each player’s impact in every warm-up game.

 

JOSH GIDDEY

14 Pts, 8 Rebs, 9 Ast, 24 mins

Giddey was a class above and completely controlled the game. Providing a passing option the Boomers hadn’t seen in action before, he escaped double teams with ease and attacked the rim in transition.

Giddey’s inclusion was the biggest difference since we saw the Boomers in the last Olympics, and he seems to have completely changed the team’s offensive structure.

Will have to tighten up things as a playmaker, finishing the game with six turnovers – which may be overhyped due to the fact he has the ball in his hands for much of the time he is out there.

PATTY MILLS

8 Pts, 4 Ast, 26 mins

Patty did as Patty does. Key takeaways, however, was how much the team is no longer forced to rely on him from a ball handling and scoring perspective.

His defence was impressive, setting the tone early, getting a hand to a Venezuelan triple, forcing a backcourt turnover and was super active in the passing lanes.

Shot 1 of 6 from three but this won’t happen in back-to-back games.

MATISSE THYBULLE

8 Pts, 2 Steals, 19 mins

Thybulle appears to have played his way into the team’s main line-up since the Olympics, starting the game at the three. He played suffocating defence all night, picking pockets and causing deflections. He only recorded two steals but would have notched up double figures in deflections and fingertips on opponent’s passes.

As well as causing several turnovers, he showed he wasn’t afraid to take a three, knocking down one from the corner during the first quarter.

Potentially fumbled the ball a little on multiple plays, but no doubt this will diminish as the team play more games together.

DUOP REATH

26 Pts, 2 Rebs, 19 mins

Who would have picked Reath to be the Boomers’ leading scorer on a team that may have to cut NBA players from its roster?

Super impressive performance. Worked in tandem with Giddey on numerous pick-and-roll options, including back-to-back dunks at one point. Cut hard to the rim every time Venezuela double-teamed Giddey, getting to the dunkers spot all night, and did all the big man basics to perfection.

Hit a deep three and paired with young Dyson Daniels in the dying moments of the fourth, just as well as he did with Giddey.

You have to wonder, could he stir up some NBA interest at the World Cup, not unlike Jock Landale did two years ago?

NICK KAY

7 Pts, 8 Rebs, 3 Ast, 23 mins

Continued his role as the team’s starting power forward and delivered a typical workmanlike effort, screening hard, rolling to the basket and boxing out.

Kay’s activity created numerous scoring options for the Boomers, including a four-point play from Mills and a lay-up from Cooks… both only happening through his screens.

He wowed the fans with some impressive ball handling, taking the ball full court after a rebound and going coast to coast for a dunk.

Anyone listing his Kay as a potential last-man cut is sorely mistaken.

JOE INGLES

12 Pts, 3 Rebs, 17 mins

The first sub off the bench, replacing Nick Kay at the 6-minute mark.

Ingles showed a willingness to drive to the basket more than he’s shown during NBA play, really looking to create.

His ability to knock down a triple has not waned, despite being a couple of months away from his 36th birthday. He added nine points, all from beyond the arc.

Another to have committed a few turnovers by attempting some risky passes through or over the zone, but again something that will disappear as the team logs a few more games prior to the tournament.

JACK WHITE

4 Pts, 8 Rebs, 16 mins

White entered the game and was an immediate impact on defence, forcing a missed shot on his first defensive play.

White’s value was clear in this game, showcasing his ability to switch back and forth from guards to forwards, bringing true positionless basketball to the lineup.

Defensively, he couldn’t be faulted and playing alongside Xavier Cooks in the first half, which would have surprised many with media reporting these players are competing for the same position on the team.

His impressive rebounding ability was on display, grabbing eight boards and making it a hard case to see him cut from the team.

XAVIER COOKS

5 Reb, 4 Blocks, 16 mins

Cooks’ stifling defence was on display from the get-go, notching three blocks in the first half.

As mentioned above, pairing for White in the front court, a spot they are rumoured to be in contention for, was interesting… especially when it was a huge part of the Boomers’ first-half shutdown of the Venezuelan offence. Goorjian tested out a small ball lineup at one point with with Cooks being the biggest player on the floor, playing alongside Mills, Giddey, Ingles and White.

He had some rough turnovers early on and appeared to fumble a few catches in different spots, but he showed his ability to guard the 4 with some big boards and solid work down low.

CHRIS GOULDING

2 Rebs, 10 mins

Goulding’s first shot was a triple that hit the side of the backboard, and he failed to score at all. His tenacity on defence was a stark difference to the effort he brings to an NBL game, with a Goulding, Reath, Cooks, White and Exum unit responsible for the Boomers’ best defensive run of the game.

Despite going scoreless, he still has the green light on offence and his poor showing may, in fact, be a result of tweaking his ankle early in the fourth quarter. It’s thought he may not suit up for the team’s game against Brazil.

A sore ankle and this performance would suggest he is still teetering on team selection.

DANTE EXUM

8 Points, 2 Ast, 3 Stl, 17 mins

Came into the game as the first guard off the bench, taking ball-handling duties from Giddey.

Exum was efficient from the field, slashing his way to the basket, and his length caused many disruptions in defence, creating several deflections.

Playing in a game 24 hours after his father’s funeral (Cecil Exum), he looked more than comfortable in the point guard spot and no doubt made his Dad proud as he watched his green and gold performance from above.

DYSON DANIELS

5 Pts, 12 mins

Surprisingly Daniels didn’t see the court til the sixth minute of the third quarter. Unsure if this was due to precautionary measures, or has his name reached the top of the list for players expected to be left off the team?

Bar an air-balled three throw, Daniels didn’t put a step wrong during his time on the court and looked comfortable in transition. Daniels filled the passing lanes well, hitting a corner three right after the missed free throw as well as setting up Reath for a deep three at the game’s end.

 

Josh Green (elbow) and Jock Landale (ankle) were both rested as they recover from injuries. Both are expected to play the remaining warm-up games.

The Boomers will take on Brazil and South Sudan in Melbourne this week, before final World Cup tune-ups against France and Georgia.

 

FULL SCHEDULE (Times AEST)

Australia vs Venezuela (Monday, August 14 @ 7.45pm)

Australia vs Brazil (Wednesday, August 16 @ 5.30pm)

Australia vs South Sudan (Thursday, August 17 @ 7.45pm)

Australia vs France (Sunday, August 20 @ 2pm)

Australia vs Georgia (Tuesday, August 22 @ TBD)

Liam Alexander (4 Posts)

Liam is a C Grade basketball player with an A Grade love for the game.


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