if we take this one out, id start calling us serious contenders...

Australia Beats Franc 67-66 on gamewinner by Neilson and the assist from Newley.

Patrick Mills wasn't on court for final possesion, my guess is they were finding offence other than him.

Good close game thoughout with a big 3rd Qtr by Us then the french had a big 4th.

Good game it seemed, couldn't watch it but watched the FIBA livestats of it.

Another confidence boosting win...I just wish our games were not that close!

well, u have to know how to win close games, and the boomers are doing that... i officially say it now, the boys r now contenders i think... anything can happen this year!

Maric will be on song come the WC games, keep in mind it's only his second game in this team and I'm sure it takes a while to learn the system and react to the other players on court.

BA Recap: http://linky.com.au/ga6oi

Another fine win. It is good that we are winning these close contests. I just can't help being concerned by our lack of offence. Apparently I'm not the only one:

SMH Link: http://linky.com.au/kkrtb

Also, Mills, as good as he is in some areas (ball handling, getting to the hoop, sometimes 3pointers) his passing seems woeful (he had six turnovers and only four assists) this continues his poor assist to turnover ratio from the Stankovic Cup. The other worry is the lack of our big men in the offence...Nielson was 2-2 shooting (why is he not more involved).

I think this team is good enough for the Quarter Finals in Turkey. I just wish they could score more easily.

Any win is a good win but lets not get ahead of ourselves. Looking at the box score suggests to me that the French did not play particularly well and did not play their starting centre.

Defense appears in place (which we knew would happen given the make up of the team) but do we read between the lines of Coach Brown's comments regarding the lack of protection of the ball (too many turnovers). It seems to me that he understands our weaknesses quite well however perhaps the message is not getting through to some players. Lets hope he has enough time to iron out these deficiencies on offense.

Other observations: Gibbo getting plenty of court action (and doing well)/ Barlow getting buggar all....Ingles also playing well, while big guys holding their own (at the moment).

I'm still not convinced we are a contender yet.....

the reason why alex isnt play good is because mills doesnt feed the big man like a point guard should . He isnt a point guard he just looks to score all the time . and not feed his team mates . the only guy in that team that is a real point guard is steven markovic ... he is one of the best point guards in europe and he sits on the bench... steven would feed the big man and run that team like clock work . the only way austraila will do anything in the worlds .. if brown plays steven and he runs the point . serbia will kill as if he doesnt play because .. mills isnt good enough to match up to the top guards in europe .. mills is looking to play for a euro team for next seasons .. but he wont do well there because his game dosent site the euro style ... the only way we will do anything at the worlds and against and big euro teams
like serbia .is that brown play the euro guys alot and starts markovic as point

Steven Markovic is not one of the best point guards in Europe, and in the Stankovic Cup he looked like the fourth best point guard on the team.

Im concerned with the Boomers offense. Obviously, they have guys that can put the ball in the hoop, both inside and on the perimeter. But they need a feeder, and Mills isn't a guy who can do that.

Actually, trying to be a feeder is IMO out of his comfort zone. He has tried to penetrate the lane and create for his teammates but that has failed, hence the large number of TO's and the poor TO:Assist ratio

it is an important factor to have two or more "go-to-guy" mainly when needed most in the game winning plays!

we never learned the lesson from previous tournaments like in Beijing. Times we've seen Bogut done all by himself that includes bringing the ball down the court.

Newley should have been the player that can do it. but he just dont have enough aggressiveness to do it.

I have written AIS right after the last Olympics on whether they can develop some athletic ones

markovic is a great point guard in europe . just look at the awards he has won . in serbia . for most assist in a season . mills makes more turnovers then assists . what sort of point guard is that . go on the net and read about markovic and see what he has done in europe then talk . you have no idea

Show me one season where he was a star in Europe? Or the NBL?

well, Markovic although balding but he is still young. a tall PG and a member of winning Emu Team that captured world crown alongside Bogut and Maric. but Markovic old plays is obviously missing, less energetic this time

Saying that Markovic is a star in Europe is like stating that David Andersen is a star in the NBA. Both are solid players that undertake their role on their team.

Methinks granstar is confusing Australia's Steven Markovic with Serbia's Stefan Markovic.

AB4EVA is onto something there I think...

Nice to see hm get some burn last night and score some points. Be interesting to see how the guard minutes are distributed.

they've been looking here in this forum since i guess..

remember the idea of bringing in Markovic to Boomers line up started here.

and after reading about himself yesterday then suddenly he rose up to the occasion? :)

and what about Mills? Patrick likes challenge. he's better playing as an underdog. the tougher the game it will be the better he will do it.

Has anyone managed to find any photo galleries from that tournament?

Des

Well, there's this...

http://linky.com.au/2hla2

Video of the whole game :). Thanks aussieboomers4eva.

Des