Jawai is absolutely an X factor, I am glad as hell that Jawai is back involved in the national team.

I think the squads really more for those who havent been brought in yet for this year, Gibson is there because in a squad that plays 5 on 5 your going to need another point guard... this is for Delly, Cadee has proven his worth over the past few games. Bairstow also would be a good chance for the series, I would expect there to be atleast 1 more camp yet. This is going to almost be our A squad against New Zealand... when you consider all the names that are in the mix (this is looking at everyone who has been involved this year plsus new names)

I would expect the following names are in the hunt for spots


Delly
Patty
Cadee
Gibson
Exum
Broekhoff
Newley
Ingles
Blanchfield
Steindl
Gliddon
Goulding
Barlow
Ingles
Simmons
Petrie
Bairstow
Anderson
Jawai
Nevill
Baynes..




The core of the Aussie team is putting there hand up. this is a great sign moving forward.

Seriously Anon? Why is Baynes a lock? Have you not watched him play the past couple of years?

Aron Baynes got NBA SUmmerleague all star selection. Enough said.

Cadee has performed extremely well in the past 2 tournaments.

This was originally scheduled as a 'guards and bigs' camp, which is not something I've ever seen on a BA calendar before. But as mentioned above, I think Lemanis is simply using it as a chance to spend some time with the core guys he hasn't seen yet, prior to the main camp on August 8-13 prior to the Oceania Champs.

Australia B Vs NZ C, may the slaughter begin.

Baynes is second on our centre depth chart behind Bogut, it's that simple.

Mystro, judging by the guys that have made themselves available for this camp, I think it will be closer to Australia 'A' (minus Bogut) that actually turns up to play.

I think Exum is going to make Gibson look silly.

Did you even watch Maric last Olympics? Australia has a fair few centers above him in the pecking order its fair to say.

I am most excited about Jawai being back.

Yes this is very much Australia A minus Bogut, a great show of confidence for the new coach and moving forward... our best players putting there hands up for a dead rubber series against a weakened foe. Thats the way boys!

Even if the participants weren't chosen for the reasons posted above, Andrej Lemanis comes across as an intelligent coach and informed decision-maker: I trust the direction he's taking the team and can't wait to see his vision of the "Boomers' style of play" in action.

Pretty sure it will be on NBL.TV

Also Anonymous Baynes will be available...

Anon,

I like your team above...good lineup.

Only change i would make is take Gibson out, put Goulding in and move Exum to PG.

So the guard lineup would look like:

Mills/Exum
Dellavedova/Newley/Goulding.

Baynes..this is probably why he's considered a lock, amongst other things

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlieN3cvQyg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YunFw76LMnY

as for televising email basketball aus here [email protected] and pester them on it.

anonymous I wouldnt say 'no one' considered him before then. I am not sure if this is the same anonympus but one of you is a shit stirring asswipe.

^ this

I DID hear about his european exploits, and I liked everything he did at the Olympics. So NO its NOT because spurs signed him.

Did Brett Brown help Aaron get signed? Undoubtedly... But I think Aron is going to stick around in the league now he is there.

^ +1

oops, I meant +1 to YouknowME, not the troll

I do agree with who ever suggested Gibson be removed and Goulding be in the team......100 percent

Yeah, with some of the pG's coming up.. I think he has served his purpose...

But to be fair, more people then just BB would have to like U for u to get a gig. If ur a complete dud yet BB has a man crush on ya, your not going to the NBA just because of it. lol..

I don't mind this team. A bit of experience, a bit of youth and a chance for some to shine and learn off some of our best.

Baynes is not an NBA standard player? are we talking about the same Aron Baynes who was a summer league all star and gave Dwight Howards the absolute shits on D?

Aron, like many aussies before him will be subject to scrutiny by the the redneck Tall Poppy syndrome element.....dickheads!

Tall Poppy Syndrome.... the cancer of Australian Culture

not ahead of nothing.. I never said he was an NBA allstar, just a summer league one. I am not blowing it out of proportion. He did well in Summer league and was a handy rarely used NBA roleplayer so far. Still, I think he is of NBA standard and I think he is actively proving it.

"No one is saying Baynes is a complete dud. He's just not really an NBA standard player. He was playing in Slovenia which is right down the line for national leagues NBA scouts follow."

Seriously? He was leading the Euroleague in rebounding!

Role player, Bench Warmer... You really are just splitting hairs.

Just wanna add, people should pester Basketball Australia about the NZ/Aus series coverage

[email protected]

Alright... Benchwarmer. Whatever... just go away basically. One minute your debating he shouldnt be a lock for the Boomers... then we prove he should be and your trying to make it sound like hes not good enough for the NBA when clearly he is and will be. Did Aron Baynes fuk your girlfriend at some point? Whats your deal dude? seems like no matter how many times your woft is discredited you try to make him sound shit again. OK... NBA Benchwarmer... right now, and what are you? A C grade Social player or something? No ones pretending hes a superstar, but he is a 'bench player' on one of the deepest teams in the NBA...

Well maybe a few are commenting as Anonymous... I think people should use names so we know who to direct things to.

I am not sure he is, but his performance in Europe last season was better than all three and his performance in London was better than Maric.

Did anyone ever say ahead of Anderson and Jawai?

Maric goes without saying...

anon saying baynes is a dud... so many heros on the internet these days. Would love to see how you would go in the NBA...

Most people here couldnt even cut it in Div 2 social ball talking about how shit NBA bench players supposidly are.

Hes a lock. thats all there is too it. Him and Delly form a great 1-2 punch... Not sure why anyone would want to scrap what worked best at the olympics.

Good to see them going with upside for the first time in a while, rather than "guys who have already hit their ceiling and simply can't cut it in international ball". Except for Gibson, who fits the above descriptor, it's a nice squad.

It seems like Baynes will never get the credit he deserves. When he was the last man added to the 2010 World's team I was surprised, I thought Ogilvy deserved that spot more at the time. But Baynes has just gone from strength to strength since then. He was named best centre in the Greek League in 2011-2012, and everyone thought that was a joke, saying things like 'the Greek league isn't what it used to be' etc etc. Then he goes to London for the Olympics, and is the Boomers fifth-leading scorer with 7.5 ppg, 3.3rpg and an impressive 65FG% in only 12 minutes per game. He then gets a call up to Union Olimpija, a Euroleague team, and all he does for them is collect 14ppg and 10rpg, take a look at the stats below;

EUROLEAGUE 2012-13 REGULAR SEASON RANKS
Ranks #1 in 2-pointers attempted (92)
Ranks #1 in 2-pointers made (54)
Ranks #1 in Offensive Rebounds (39)
Ranks #1 in Total Rebounds (98)
Ranks #1 in Index Rating (182)

He WOULD have been called up to the NBA eventually, but yes, I agree, Brett Brown's Boomers-Spurs connection clearly expedited the process, but its not like BB has the final say on personnel decisions for the Spurs, Baynes' contract would have been signed off by Buford and Pop. AB was never expected to play a significant role this past season, if anything, he probably exceeded the Spurs' expectations. His time will come, he will be a solid role player for them over the next few seasons.

Sure, he has areas of him game he needs to work on, such as not getting into foul trouble, but for mine, he is our second best centre right now behind Bogut, and slightly ahead of Jawai. Given Bogut's injury history, both of these guys (Baynes and Jawai) should be locks for the Boomers for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.

youKnowMe, Does it really matter what grade they currently play social basketball? Everyone is entitled to an opinion on the forum and your acting like the beesknees of everything. You thought the NBA Draft ran backwards for gods sake. Instead of correcting other people and launching an atttack on there basketball skill which is unrelated to this conversation just acknowladge their opinion.

Why exactly did Maric suddenly start sucking? For the couple of tournaments prior to London he looked really great for the Boomers -- tough body and soft hands around the cup -- but Baynes just well and truly eclipsed him since then.

Why such a backward step for a guy in his prime?

Mick, I wouldn't say Maric 'sucks', he's coming off a pretty good season for Lokomotiv-Kuban in Russia (), but I agree, he looked absolutely terrible and outclassed in London. It is clear that he was injured just prior to the Games, though this was never discussed in full detail. I agree though that he appears to have reached his 'peak' early with that All-Euroleague First Team season with Partizan in 2009-10 when he was 25. Perhaps going to Panathinaikos wasn't such a great decision after all.

Personally, I've always felt that he was destined to be a back-up for the Boomers, such was his role for the 2003 Emus, if on the Boomers at all.

Sorry, I was supposed to put some stats in the brackets () above.

Maric averaged 11.5ppg and about 7rpg across both the the Russian League and Eurocup, and his team did win the Eurocup, so not a 'bad' year.

Yeah sorry that was meant to be "sucking in the green and gold", not a comment on his club game. He looked like a completely different player in London. It was like he and Baynes swapped skillsets/brains or something. Because the last time before London I saw Baynes play I wasn't impressed at all, and then he steps up big time and has carried that form on to the NBA....

I agree Mick. Maric and Baynes did a complete 180. Unfortunately we'll never really know how much Maric's injury affected him in London. One thing I do know about Maric, and this isn't just in London, for a 125kg guy nicknamed 'Truck', he gets pushed around under the basket an awful lot. I never like to see that trait in a big guy.

Rightly or wrongly, I think Maric has fallen down the pecking order for the Boomers. He's probably fifth or maybe even sixth on the centre depth chart right now. Assuming Bogut is not available, and also assuming Andersen is not available (I initially thought there would be no way in the world he would play in the upcoming Oceania series, but seeing him name in this 10-man squad, perhaps he will) I would play Baynes as the starting centre, and probably take Jawai and Nevill as his back-ups. Two back-ups may be seen as over the top, but Jawai and Nevill bring completely different skill sets, and I just feel that Baynes still has a tendency to get into foul trouble quickly, hence the need for a third string centre coming off the pine.

Why not take out the whole, he's a lock because of the NBA blah blah, and say he is a lock for his genuine work rate, his professionalism on and off the court (something the boomers are focusing on) and his ability to work well with other "lock" players..

Not taking anything away from anyone else who made the Olympics, but it's hard to find someone who deserved his spot more then him...

Well said den33!

I would also add, he's a lock because of his unwavering commitment to the national team program since 2009. He has virtually been a part of everything the Boomers have done in that time.

Marics pre-london injury isnt something I had thought about much... guess he could work himself into a position again.

I'd put Baynes ahead of Anderson now. Anderson doesn't give you anything resembling a post presence; he can only score off fade aways from 10+ feet out against any half-decent big men, and he struggles guading NBA calibre bigs down low. Personally I don't think Anderson should be on the team at all. If for no other reason than how the hell can you ride on the shoulders of a big man who shaves his god damn arms and armpits? I'd rather take a punt on Jawai as a high risk / high reward player. And a guy who does not have a life goal of looking like a goddamn ken doll.

I'd say there is no way Bogut is missing Rio. It will be his last chance to play Olympics in his "prime" years. After missing London, he'll be there.

I totally agree Mick. Andersen's form has been slipping. Brown tried playing him at the four-spot in London, which didn't really work. He'd be fourth or fifth on the depth chart at the centre position.

I also agree about Bogut doing everything he can to be in Rio, but it certainly pays to have a contingency plan given his injury history.

The two biggest questions for me when thinking about this roster going forward for Spain & Rio are:

1. Exum and Simmons: are they all they are hyped up to be? If so they could both realistically be starting calibre players come Rio so it blows the roster wide open, if not, well then we will see a similar team to London with Jawai in for Anderson, and Exum and Simmons rounding out the end of the bench for Gibbo and PC's London spots.

2. Can you play genuine, old-school bigs at the four at a top flight internationl comp any more?

Ie. can guys like Jawai, Maric, Baynes etc play at the four in this day and age, when you bear in mind a guy like Carmelo Anthony (MVP of London games) will be playing at the four for the US, for example? With that short FIBA three point line you almost can't afford to have a non-shooter at the four or five...

It's somewhat ironic that at a time when we are finally spoilt for choice for quality Aussie big men, the game has moved on to the point where a roster carrying four back-to-the-basket bigs is now a liability in terms of mobility, and shooting the three is more important than ever in modern basketball (ie. the thing we used to be great at but are now terrible at).

Are we better off carrying only two or three genuine bigs at the most into a top flight comp (ie. WC or Olympics), and grooming guys like Ben Simmons or Joe Ingles to start at the four?

Or do you just put your ten best guys on a team, regardless of position and hope it works out?

All great questions Mick.

1. Only time will tell, but yes, if they end up being as good as predicted, then they will both likely be starters for the Boomers in 2016. Neither of them have yet really been able to define their positions outside of Exum being a guard, and Simmons being a forward. So in reality, they will probably be able to slide between positions depending on match-ups.

Exum is interesting, as it seems all the college guys want him to become a big point guard, Penny Hardaway style. I'm sure deep down though, Lemanis probably want him to be a deadly shooting two-guard, a guy that can get buckets either at the rim or from outside anytime he wants. Maybe he'll be able to do both?

2. In short, no, I don't think so. I personally would never want to see Jawai, Maric or Baynes playing the four-spot for the Boomers. Stretch fours are the way to go. Again, Simmons may be able to play this role by the time we get to Rio, if not, hopefully Motum can.

Shooting has cost us big-time in the last couple of major international tournaments. I'd rather see four guys on the floor that can shoot the ball well, and put a traditional big like Baynes or Jawai in the middle to crash the boards.

I dont think we lack stretch 4's. Motum, Petrie anyone?

I wouldn't exactly call Petrie a 'stretch' four, he only shot the three-ball at 33% last season. And unfortunately Motum is not yet proven at international level (neither is Petrie for that matter).

So, at the moment, unfortunately we do lack in that area.

think Anderson could be used at the 4?

YouknowME, Brett Brown tried using Andersen at the four in London, but it didn't really work. Sure, he could give you a few minutes there I suppose, but he's really been a five man his entire career, and always will be.

The fact that people keep talking about trying to turn true centres in power forwards probably highlights the lack of viable options we have at that spot.

Power Forward and Shooting Guard are the Boomers two weakest positions at the moment. I know this is blatantly obvious to everyone, so I'm sure Lemanis is all over it too.

I think he could. He has been miss-used by Brett Brown, has a solid but ugly 3 point shot.

Barlow could be a short-term solution as a stretch four in spurts.

Again, Brett Brown tried this in the lead-up to London. He ran a line-up in the Greek series that consisted of Ingles, Newley, Worthington and Barlow (I can't remember who was in the middle at the time, would have been Maric or Baynes I suppose) with Ingles running the point. I really liked the line-up, we were tall and athletic with decent shooters, and Ingles was able to be creative at the point. But BB obviously didn't agree as he abandoned this combination pretty quickly.

Anderson has an ok shot but doesn't have the mobility to play at the four.

With Jawai, Baynes and Bogut I don't think Andersen will get a look in at centre and agree he is too slow for the 4 spot, Motum,Bairstow and Petrie look to challenge for that spot with Simmons in the mix from 2016

If everything tracks as projected for Ben Simmons, he will have just been drafted into the NBA a couple of months prior to Rio. Hopefully it will be as the number 1 pick just like Anthony Davis was prior to playing for Team USA in London last year!

Are Boguts injury and insurance issues going away for Rio or has everyone just smoked a joint and forgotten all about them?

What insurance issues?

Insurance has never been the reason Bogut has missed a tournament.

What youknowme said. The insurance issues were the reason he never played in the NBL during the lockout. Haven't ever kept him out of an olympics or WCs. Only issue is injuries.

The bloody insurance question again. Again!

Injuries obviously no one can control, but Bogut has never missed an Olympic Games or a World Championship due to insurance issues.

Sorry if that is not the case.

I can remember not that long ago people on here were of the opinion that Bogut prob wouldn't be back in a Boomers uniform again.

what has changed?

not that it's a massive deal with Baynes rapidly improving and the Boomers never having a problem with size.

I can't speak on behalf of others, but I for one have always thought Bogut would LOVE to play for the Boomers again. He was always relished representing his country, and has even gone above and beyond going to camps, and acting as an assistant coach when he couldn't play due to injury.

If his body will allow it, he will wear the green and gold again.

If I recall some of the posts you are referring to correctly, I think that's more of a case of an anonymous poster saying something "controversial" to get attention than anything fact-based.

"If I recall some of the posts you are referring to correctly, I think that's more of a case of an anonymous poster saying something "controversial" to get attention than anything fact-based."

thanks Mick.

Anon, the 'team' per se has not yet been announced, so at this stage neither has the captain. The 10 guys named in the original post above are simply going to Canberra for a preparatory camp.

Exum and Simmons inclusion very very exciting for Aussie bball. One just turned 18 and one just turned 17 - thought they were a little older - wow.

Mystro, I am one of those who believes that Bogut will never be a Boomer again, though I sincerely hope I am wrong. IMHO he maybe an outside chance for Rio 2016, but only if he wraps himself in bubble wrap 24/7 and avoids walking in gentle breezes between now and then. I very much doubt he will suit up for WC.

The above posters are correct, only injury has prevented his appearance for the Boomers in major tournaments, never insurance. I believe the NBA lockout may have prevented his appearance for the Boomers in the Oceania series of that year and playing some games in the NBL due to insurance, but they were both probably off the cards anyway.

Personally, I was unsure whether insurance would be an issue for major tournaments if Bogut was out of contract in that particular year, but I have been led to believe that this is not an issue. It was only the exceptional circumstances of the lockout that complicated matters. I defer to those more knowledgable on the subject to explain further.

Bogut has said himself recently he wants another Olympics. I think if ever healthy, we will have him for the Worlds and Olympics. I genuinely think he wants to do it. he is in the second half of his career... he wont have these opportunities again after this Olympics coming.

Anonymous... Luc LOngley had a long time between playing for Australia. think it was like 88 and then 2000? either way just because he hasnt, doesnt mean he wont... Hey, we all wrote off Jawai til yesterday and hes been out for about as long!

Gibsons a good player, I like him as a 36er... but I just dont see these great 'point guard specific' skills that make him a Boomers point guard. Good defender, streaky shooter... Ok passer, he doesnt have the Basketball IQ of dellavedova, doesnt have the quicks of cadee or ability to push the ball... I would have him on my NBL team any day of the week but wouldnt neccesarily bother with him as a Boomer anymore... the intangibles that he brings are already there in other people.

As for Goulding, Goulding is kind of a poor mans Newley/Ingles.... Might have a place as a 3rd option ar shooting guard, but has a way to go before knocking off the big dogs at that spot. I like his ability to create his own shot however, and has a bit of that Shane Heal about him where he doesnt mind just throwing it up and seeing what happens which is a mindset that few Aussies outside of Patty Mills have.

YouknowMe is right, well almost (Longley did play in '92) Bogut has played in 2 olympics and 1 WC. I'm sure he will play again for us only injury will prevent that happening.

The sad part about when international players become NBA players with decent roles, is the international teams do lose them a bit to the NBA. I am sure Bogut is one of atleast 20 players in the NBA who has had to miss many national team commitments... people act like hes turned his back on his country or something... I don't think thats the case at all.... It is just the reality of being an NBA player where your health and ability to stay in shape for them is worth literally millions of dollars.

Thanks aussieboomers4eva.

for the record I inhaled

inhale flatulence

Jawai ; (like erin phillips) it's good to seeya back
Bogut when contracted just needs a little bit of a topup from BA to cover insurance.

yeah it has mirrored Longleys, so far time is showing who has had the most success of the two. I would argue Bogut is more 'talented'... but just like peoples argument against Lebron all those years "wheres the rings?".

Truth be told none of us know whats going to happen between then and now, we could experience a sudden pole shift and be wiped out as a species. What I do know is, if healthy, and able... Bogut will make himself available as his prime starts to end in the next few years. That kind of "guarantee" is all we can hope for right now.


2014/16 could be one hell of a team. A young core thats been around for a long time, plus some of the most exciting youngsters we have ever had. Wont Anderson be a bit long in the tooth by the time the worlds/Olympics are on though? Hes like 33 as it is... will be 34 by the worlds and 36 by 2016...

Hold up, youknowME thought the NBA draft ran backwards? Is this for real? Funniest thing I've heard in a long time!!

@Mystro, is that the Kronic thing again? LOLz, good times :P

Well I have never taken the time to sit amd watch a draft... so, and yeah I mean I thought the players were pre-selected and they just waited til the end to present the Number 1.

The one thing Goulding has is balls, for better or worse.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but the Boomers have too many super-efficient players: guys who only take open shots and take what the defense gives them.

Which is fine, but what happens when the defense gives you nothing? The whole offense grinds to a halt because no one can probe and prod the defense into giving them something that the defense doesn't want to give them. We have lots of guys who are fantastic role players, but are missing that one guy that the team can ride and look up to when the chips are down. Now Goulding is obviously not that guy, but he does give the team something in that department if that's the direction they want to go down.

Gibson is NO NO NO NO NO. He has played in top flight comps before and looks timid, frightened, and entirely over matched at either guard position. Plus he can't shoot. No.

Mick - I could not agree more with your comments,Gibson is not a good scorer,is undersized and so is Paddy but Paddy scores and is lighting quick and is great on assists.Della 2nd PG and Goulding 3rd or SG. I saw Goulding working out with Irving at the clinic at Knox and seriously he shot the ball as well as Irving.

I'm with Mick but I disagree slightly in one area - I reckon Goulding is now good enough to change a game though his offense.

Well said Mick. In some respects, a lot of these super efficient players you speak of are guys that have come out of the AIS system, and it's great to have a bunch of players like that. But my one criticism of the AIS program over the years, is that unless you have an absolute superstar guy in the group, like Bogut, and perhaps right now Exum, then everyone is forced to play the team game, and no one really learns how to be 'the man', and carry a team on their back. Combine that now with our 'best' players playing overseas, mostly in small reserves roles, this problem is further compounded.

Hopefully with Ingles going to Maccabi next season, to play a bigger role, he might be the guy that can develop into being able to put the Boomers on his back in crucial situtions.

I don't think that Goulding is a guy that can fill this 'superstar' role that we crave, but he is a guy who brings energy, creativity, confidence, and can score in a variety of ways. I think the Boomers could really use him off the bench, if for nothing else, just to change up the look of the team, and give Lemanis a bit of an 'X factor' that we currently lack.

I dont think there's much problem with personnel, it's just about getting them playing as a unit in an offensive system that allows them to succeed.

As much as Brown succeeded with halfcourt defence, he failed utilising his players offensively and tried to fit players into roles rather than the other way around.

I wasn't specifically saying there is a problem with personnel, the flip side of the AIS program is that there is an enormous amount of talented players produced to a level capable of playing international basketball, hence the amazing depth we now possess. Rather I was just saying that for all of those players, aside from Bogut, there isn't anyone else that you could say is a genuine superstar, someone who when all the coaching, strategy and systems fail, can put the team on their back.

Great call Vart.

Couldn't agree more.

It is why the Emus have always traditionally been so strong. Because the AIS teaches them a team game, and most if not all Emu's players were also AIS teammates.

It helps at FIBA events and AST (which Aus won in 2010).