The only thing I can predict with any great certainty is that Angola won't have a blow out win against us. Everything else I can foresee happening: they beat us by a little, we beat them by a little, or we beat them by a lot. Lets hope it is the latter. I think we will win an often close game by about 15, with us leading most of the way. If Australia lose this they pretty much don't deserve to go any further.

I just want to say I think this is a very talented Boomer team who appear shackled somehow..whether through style, or form, or chemistry...it is a real shame because all the pieces are right there. It is frustrating.

Let's just beat Angola convincingly tonight and all will be forgiven.

In any case, a tie goes on head to head results, but that will not affect either team in this case.

We struggled against Jordan who, while not big, were athletic, aggresive and unshackled.

ohh crap that's how Angola play!!!!!I'm still tainted by the 86 world championships.

Please Brownie, let the boys play like there is no tomorrow because it might be all over by Monday or Tuesday morning.

Go Boomers, finish 3rd and go kick Slovenia's arse!!!!!

Gave the kiss of death last night, got nothing tonight....

Sure, but after those two players the Jordan big man stocks drop right off.

We could have thrown Ingles, Barlow, Worthington, Andersen and Maric (all taller than 6'8)at them all at once and Australia could have taken advantage of the mis-match on every offense (not that we did).

My point being we could utilise this advantage over Angola but it might not guarantee a victory.

Brown gave em a great spray

Brett Brown was pretty fired up in that first time out.... and so he should be, average start two TOs

I don't care if they win by 50, right now, with three minutes to go in the first quarter Australia look terrible.

Australia's offence is the pits, also their perimeter defence is absent. I want my misery to end.

0/7 from 3pts - we aren't working hard enough to get an open look.

Boomers playing Netball offense

1st quarter: 18:15 Angola.

Australia 0-7 for threes.

Deja vu anyone??

This is almost unwatchable up until this stage (early second quarter). Australia are stinking up the joint.

This is looking very much like the game against Jordan, but we won that one right.

Anyone got a link?? such a bad feed everywhere!!

Brett Brown keeps prattling on about defence, we need some fricken points.

http://www.atdhe.net/ working very well for me.

Finally playing decent ball. 7-0 run to take lead 23 -22.

Thanks for the link JP

Three minutes to go til halftime 33:25 Australia

We look better on defence with Patty in the lineup.

Dunno whats more annoying. the bad feed or the commentator.

Australia with a Dix poi (pronounced ala Eurovision) lead at the half 39:29.

You know everyone bags the commentator, I actually don't mind him.

Wanna be internet commentators make me laugh

id rather listen to that bitch sing at half time

What are the Boomers doing on offence? Seriously? They pull on one-on-ones, shoot off balance threes, this is insane. We are just lucky that Angola aren't playing much better....start to flow Australia...it is so staccato.

Was Brett Brown and AFL coach in a former life. He loves making substitutions.

Conserving energy?

Huge Block by Marto, Barlow super impressed

Martin has been really important for us in the third.
Aussie's can win this by over 20

Martin has been really important for us in the third.
Aussie's can win this by over 20

Nice. Boomers finish third in Group A. Up by 22 with 5 minutes left.

So Angola will play the US and who will we play????

Slovenia on late monday or early Tuesday morning.

The commentator isnt that bad.
He makes alot of subs becuase theyve just played 4 games in 5 days or so. Thats pretty harsh even for an NBA team.

Boomers ended up winning 76-55.

Mills led a well rounded scoring spread by the Boomers with 11, with 9 players scoring 6 or more.

We were 9/29 from 3 point land. We had 18 turnovers. Nielsen and Worthington shot the rock very poorly in this game.

No Angolan scored in double figures.

A win is win, but gee wiz, I just wish we could bring some consistency to the table.

Evey Boomer saw 10 minutes or more with the exception of Baynes who played just 5 minutes, and David Andersen who did not play at all due to the stomach virus that has gone through most of the team.

I know that we are young and are an up and coming team with an international rookie coach, but we just make hard work of the games we should win - it is like we play to the opposition's level but not at our own?

Next up is Slovenia after avoidng the USA. I honestly think we can win this game and would argue both Argentina and Serbia are at a level above them. But considering our inconsistency, who really knows which way it will go.

The commentator is from Eurosport UK and he is the worst basketball commentator I have ever heard. His Eurocup commentary during the year is even more painful.

Agreed. The guy is clearly a Sandy Roberts or Bruce McAvaney type 'sports expert' who clearly does not know much if anything about basketball.

There are so many examples of his ineptitude that it's ridiculous but one that sticks out in my memory is from Brett Brown's time out in the first quarter of last night's match.

Brown was upset with the Boomers' lackadaisical effort to start the game, particularly on defence and tore the boys a new one. During his spray, he said something like,"(You allowed Angola) Two three-balls and a lay-up; are you @$*%!# kidding me?"

The commentator then chimed in, saying "Brett Brown is very unhappy with the three-ball...whatever that is!"

Seriously, this guy is being paid; probably well.

Basketball Australia recap: http://linky.com.au/uup6j

Great for Australian Basketball with their progression hopefully gaining some positive media attention on tonight's 7, 9 & 10 news broadcasts.

It was on ABC TV news this morning, has been and will be throughout the tournament for what it's worth.

As far as that game went, our main 3 point shooters had similar 3 point attempts. Its annoying when we get good looks and miss, then the euro teams are shooting the light out down the other end.

The first game against Slovenia in the lead up games we actually hit. That goes along way to betting these teams. Everyone due for a hot night.


lets get behind this!

I agree with LC, that yes we won the game by 20 odd and Australia got the job done. But this was a pretty poor game for Australia, lucky for us Angola were average (they had 20 TOs and shot 37%). Our offence is stunted for much of the time and then we score in rapid bursts due in large part to our defence causing TO's and easy baskets (that part of Australia's game is fun to watch by the by).

I know I'm a glass half empty type of guy but one really frustrating aspect of the game last night was watching the bench look completely useless in the last five minutes of the game, when the contest had been won. Markovic was particularly bad. I would have loved to have seen our second unit come in and put Angola to the sword but they looked as if they had never even met one another before no offence at all.

Still onward and upward.

I understand why you would say I wish our second unit had put Angola to the sword, but I was just stoked we got out away with a poor start, escaped any injuries and were able to rest our first 6 players for the last quarter.
The break comes at a good time for us as it gives DA a chance to get over his bug.
We are an even money chance for mine against Slovenia. Hopefully, France pulls out a mircale against Turkey.

Some epic match ups.
Spain vs Greece.
Serbia vs Croatia
Arg vs Braz

Big chance of being blood on the court for this round. Go aus.

Just watching the replay now. Does anyone else think the way Baynes stands there, chin up staring at the flag makes him looks like some mythical national hero out of a WW1 army recruiting pamphlet?

I've got his number if you want it Beantown?