Dazz
Years ago
Are The Boomers victim of Our Basketball Success?
At one point, Australia was rated in the top 4 nations. During that era we managed 4th place at the Olympics, won junior world titles, etc.
But NBA careers were rare. Apart from a few try-outs, Longley was the only regular player. In those days most of the Boomers played in the NBL, representing your country was the ultimate pinnacle, and The Boomers had a real program. They would train together regularly, play games against the NBL-Allstars, and when they got together for tours or to play visiting teams they had 90% of the squad.
In those days, if The Boomers coach said "I want Joe Bloggs to shoot more 3's," he did.
Now days, the majority of our good players are either in the NBA or Europe. Obviously they're still available for Olympics and World's, but (for obvious reasons) they're less like to be available for qualifiers, friendlies, or training.
When everyone was in AUS, they could have a mid-week training session attended by most of the squad. Now that's impossible.
The success of our best players overseas would tend to suggest that Australian Basketball has actually improved a little, but The Boomers don't seem to reflect that?
Australia IS one of the top Rugby nations, so when the wallabies play a one-of "test" against whoever, they sell out Subi oval (a crappy venue for rugby in a city where AFL dominates.) Yet the Boomers play, and hardly anybody cares.
