Greece 43 - Aus 37 with 7:40 to go in the third

Barlow high scoring for Australia - scary.

Aus 44 - Gre 43: on a roll!

Helliwell with 3 fouls in 3 minutes. Impressive.

Helliwell 4 in 5 minutes, subbed out. Big contribution there.

Bogut and Barlow also on three fouls. We are only in this game on phenomenal three point shooting...

And his great footwork fluffed 2 points...

05:07 No.9 Bruton, C.J. (AUS) made an unsportsmenlike foul

Typical...

Aus 60, Gre 58 (with shots to come)

05:07 No.9 Bruton, C.J. (AUS) made an unsportsmenlike foul
05:07 No.6 Mackinnon, Sam (AUS) Turnover, bad pass
05:07 No.13 Diamantidis, Dimitrios (GRE) made a freethrow
05:07 No.13 Diamantidis, Dimitrios (GRE) received a foul
05:07 No.13 Diamantidis, Dimitrios (GRE) stole the ball

Not a good minute......

Grece take the lead 63:60 with 2:20 to go. We have missed our last 4 three point attempts. Live by the sword...

02:20 No.10 Smith, Jason (AUS) gets a personal foul
02:40 No.10 Smith, Jason (AUS) missed the 3 point field goal attempt
03:19 No.9 Bruton, C.J. (AUS) Turnover, out of bounce
03:19 No.4 Bogut, Andrew (AUS) received a foul
03:52 AUS - gets a technical foul

What is going on!!!?

Way to rebound your own 3pt miss Barlow!!! How good was that!!!

Is any one watching it or just checking the scores from the link from Isaacs post?

What was the T for? refer to:

"03:52 AUS - gets a technical foul "

01:11 No.4 Bogut, Andrew (AUS) made two points inside the paint (Ass No. 6)
01:11 No.13 Diamantidis, Dimitrios (GRE) gets a personal foul
01:25 No.4 Bogut, Andrew (AUS) received a foul
01:25 No.12 Tsartsaris, Konstantinos (GRE) gets a offensive foul
01:45 No.4 Bogut, Andrew (AUS) hit the 3 point shot (Ass No. 9)

Now that is a good passage by Bogut!!!

We're gonna win!!!

i'm watching and it is high tension stuff..
like the socceroos all over again...

i'm watching and it is high tension stuff..
like the socceroos all over again...

00:29 No.6 Mackinnon, Sam (AUS) received a foul
00:29 No.10 Smith, Jason (AUS) gets a personal foul
00:29 No.7 Spanoulis, Vasileios (GRE) gets a personal foul
00:29 No.7 Spanoulis, Vasileios (GRE) made 2nd freethrow
00:29 No.7 Spanoulis, Vasileios (GRE) made a freethrow

How does this happen?

29 seconds left, 3 point lead to Boomers, Sammy Mac shooting...

Sam you jackass!! 2 misses!!

Whoa xy - don't jump it!!!

Smith fouls out, 23 seconds their ball :-(

####!!!!

Phizzer I noticed this happens too, I think it means No.10 Smith, Jason fouled No.7 Spanoulis, Vasileios (GRE), who shot 2 free throws. He made both then 00:29 No.6 Mackinnon, Sam (AUS) received a foul. Just the Greece name who committed the foul is not up yet.

00:23 No.10 Smith, Jason (AUS) gets a personal foul
00:24 No.13 Diamantidis, Dimitrios (GRE) stole the ball
00:28 AUS - Time Out
00:28 Substitution for GRE - Papadopoulos, Lazaros (out); Zisis, Nikos (in)
00:29 No.6 Mackinnon, Sam (AUS) missed 2nd freethrow
00:29 No.6 Mackinnon, Sam (AUS) missed a freethrow

:-(

I know Johnny, but what idiots could squander a 4 point lead, with possession, with 30 seconds to go? Oh, that would be us.

re: Boomers vs Greece, on now (#93098)

We're gonna win!!!

XY, 22/08/06


Whoops!!!

Barlow you tool!!!

I think it was him that t/oed the ball over...

The Boomers - the new Socceroos...

00:02 No.6 Zisis, Nikos (GRE) hit the 3 point shot
00:04 No.5 Barlow, David (AUS) Turnover, Ball handling
00:09 No.9 Fotsis, Antonios (GRE) hit the 3 point shot (Ass No. 13)
00:19 No.9 Bruton, C.J. (AUS) made 2nd freethrow
00:19 No.9 Bruton, C.J. (AUS) missed a freethrow
00:19 No.9 Bruton, C.J. (AUS) received a foul

How the f**k did we blow that one?

4 missed free throws and 2 made threes by Greece.

If Barlow's afraid of shooting FT's then he shouldn't be on the team... he dropped a load in his drawers when he had the ball on the dribble with 5secs...

It was a passionate cry for help. Oh my God, how hard is it to maintain possession, take the fouls as the come, and hit the free throws?

We missed 3 free throws, made 2 turnovers, gave a foul, AND LET THEM HIT 3 threes in the last 9 seconds!!!

what the hell.... make your free throws team....

That was s##te... This was our game the Turkey one was not... We are in some trouble now...

Sorry that is *2* threes

Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory....

ugly

Just finished watching on the net. We got lucky when a ball pretty clearly off us was called out of bounds off Greece under Australia's offensive basket within the last minute. We couldn't even get the ball inbounds.

Also Mackinon was fouled without taking any time off the clock. Clearly Greece had done their scouting homework, why BG didn't sub Sam for a decent foul shooter at the in-bounds makes no sense.

Except for one minute of Bogut brilliance Australia didn't play like it deserved to win in the fourth.

Hopefully Barlow learns a tough lesson - cause he looks the goods apart from that unspeakable at the end... He might be a very good one by the time Beijing comes around...

These guys need to read some Shakespeare...

"... Gather ye' rosebuds while ye' maye'..."

How many chances like that will they get!!! Euro Champs!!! At the WC's!!!

Spanoulis looks awesome though!!!

Yeah Beijing and beyond looks solid...

Boges, Newley, Barlow, Bruce (played a nice game at the toughest posi. under a lot of pressure today), (Matt) Knight, Kickert, Loughton... Future looks very bright...

Would Ryan Kersten be a potential Boomer come 2008?

What are people's thoughts?

From what I can see on the Fiba website.

Greece won 72 - 69. Bogut top scored with 18.

Can't see the hype around Schortsanitis... should change it to Fatsanitis... He is worse physically than Glen "Big Baby" Davis...

looks as though Australia will not progress through to the 2nd round now, unless we win both games against Lithuania and Qatar... and even then, hope that those above us have a shock loss here and there. Just be thankful that the Lithuanian team isn't as strong as it used to be, and were 0-2 before this part of the round started, or else i would be saying start packing the bags and get ready for an early flight home. First think BA must do is get rid of Goorijan and the "Sydney-first" attitude he has put in the team... and coming from an ex-Sydney sider, that says something.

I hate David Barlow.

That was a very ugly finish for the Aussies. Goorj just doesnt have them stratgically capable against class opposition. Close isnt good enough. THAT WAS A WIN WE GAVE UP.

THAT IS ABSOLUTE BS. For all u goorjan lovers, jesus wheres your explaination for this...Two turnovers in the last 20 seconds of the game...cmon guys an under 12 team could've got the ball into play and kept it. That is the most disgraceful effort from an otherwise quality game.

The worst case scenario should have been overtime. A turnover is unacceptable and fatal against a European champion. The 2 3's in the last 10secs is no fluke...Dont anyone think that they had the right players on the floor at the right time. Mac shouldve been subbed out when the professional fouling started.

That is 2 games in a row that I have noticed the Boomers celebrating before the final whistle. After CJ's 3 against Turkey, they looked way to happy about it for a second quarter, and in the last minute tonight the kiddies on the bench were ready to send sms to mates back home! Too many signs for me that this team is too inexperienced.

Not only did we have some stupid turnovers in the last minutes(and some s#!t coaching) but what the HELL were Barlow and Mack thinking on D?
Barlow didn't challenge the first shot until it was too late, then Sammy didn't even run at all on the game winner.
The thing that makes it even more annoying is they both should've been off the court at the end....

i am speechless...what do u say about a loss like that...the mistakes made in that last 30 seconds...U12 teams execute better than that...i cant watch that crap!

John Lawrence,

I believe the format at this World Champs means that the top 4 from each pool will progress to the 2nd round (IE - round of 16). So we're still a very good chance of making it through, especially after Brazil lost to Turkey last night.

Of course, it has ruined our chance of getting a good cross-over, I'd say.

Considering Greece were the European champions i dont think we would be to scared of anyone in the crossover (usa excluded)
Barlow is a tool, yes he hit some big shots throughout the game, but that play down the stretch was terrible, Newley should be getting his minutes, I agree Mckinnon's missed foul shots and turnover late hurt us, however we wouldnt have even been in the game had it not been for him, I dont know why but his game steps up whenever he is on the international stage.

Maybe Goorj should have selected a veteran instead of Barlow! Would anyone have been against Rillie or Harvey or Cattalini handling the ball in the last 30 seconds?

Hoop Addict is on the money, I think we only need to win one more game to make the 2nd round. If we lose to Qatar I'm switching my alliance to New Zealand.

Hey Lloyd, how about some gum? About $100 worth.

-Thought Bogut was a little lazy defensively.Much better offensively.
-What has happened to Worthington?
-Don't have small guards inbound the ball from the endline - they don't have the angles or field of vision to work with.
-Better mix of straight man and match up zone.
-Used Bruce better but he still can't control the tempo.
-Foul shots win games!
-Greece's ball movement outstanding
-Should have won, inexperience down the stretch was the culprit.

From what I have read, if we beat Qatar, we are in the next round.
If we beat Lithuania, we make the next round and do not cross over to play the US.
TR, don't do it mate, the sheep are not that good surely !!!!!!

I think we have to beat Qatar and have other results go our way (e.g., Brazil lose the next two or something like that), or beat Qatar by 40-50+?

If we can beat Qatar and Lithuania, then we're OK.

Anyone want to work it out?

Just quitely how farking huge was that dude from Greece?

Carfino "now that is a big brother right there"

right now we are ranked 11 in the tournament and 3rd in our group as Greece and Turkey are already through.

Link

good work Kent, very informative...

We played pretty well, you must remember it takes a good effort to push the european champions like that. I really hope we take Lith and qatar, thewn we will consolidate 3rd and miss team usa in the crossover.

Whoever says i cant blame goorj is an idiot. You dont think that these guys practise inbounds plays? obviously not seeing as there were two vital turnovers in the last passages of the game from inbounds plays. At least one was after a timeout so you'd gather that the most important thing said in that timeout was getting the ball in...to anyone! And where was aaron bruce...top quality div 1 college point guard and you choose david barlow to be on the court instead. Thats a joke. I can think of about 20 players that aren't in that boomers team that are better than him. Its just another case of Goorj's kings costing another international win.

If it is not boy goorj's fault, then who's is it???
I'm with you Dr Bullshit...and we still had a goddamn timeout left..WTF !!
Why didn't he call it and calm Sydney oops The Boomers down, and design an inbounds play !!!!!!!
Sub out Sam Mac and put in someone who can at least hit a foul shot...

hurley, who gives a rat's arse if we pushed them or not. The bottom line is we choked, had numerous moronic decisions from the coach, and the stupid assistant coach who got hit with a technical which cost us the game.

Sorry, pushing a team is not good enough, any team can push any team on a given day, it's the damn world champs.

Stupid decisions that Goorj made should be saved for when Australian plays Fiji or PNG, not in the World Champs.

Bottom line is Goorj screwed the pooch. End of story. He had a timeout up his sleeve, his inbound plays are terrible and his substitutions are totally lame.

The sorry arsed excuse 'that we gave them a run' or 'we pushed them' is pure bullsh*t talk of a losing attitude or program. Since when should we be happy with 'pushing' a team regardless of their reputation or qualifications on the world stage.

The only thing we shoud be pushing is Goorj of the plank into a tank of man eating sharks.....

Did you know that all Brendan Joyce did to get a tech was shake his head????? while the greeks are up in arms every 2 minutes,... Brendan Joyce got up and shook his head... "tech foul". what about the contact the europeans had on Bogut, but forbid he should even get in defensive position against them. The game should never have got to a last second play, if you take out refereeing blunders we wouldve won by 10. However, it did,.... and the coach thought it best to run the game out as quick as possible and not let the D get set rather then have a timeout and maybe reassemble the line up, fatal mistake... cost us the game.... bnut we werent expected to win... we are about where we expected to be in win loss at this time, weve got a good chance against Lithuania.... time to look forward.

hurley, Goorjian has taken the blame for the loss saying that he should've called the time out. He didn't think it best to "run the game out" - I think it slipped his mind that the TO was a better option.

Does anyone else think that after the World Champs that the BA goes the same way as the Socceroo's and actually approach FIBA to get out of the lame Oceania and join the Asian confederation??? Better competition....

Also, how about again following Soccer Australia and have serious consideration of employing a coach with an proper understanding of the international game, or at least higher credentials than the NBL.

There are numerous NBA coaches that help out with coaching international squads. Is this a viable option????

Maybe at Beijing BA needs to look more seriously at a coach. Does anyone think someone like an experienced NBA head coach (or good college coach, Tubby Smith type) would make the same moronic mistakes Goorj made. Hell no!!!

Yes I'm pissed, I'm pissed that scrubs like Barlow are on the court at cruch time (let alone in the team), terrible fouls shooters like Sam Mac are still on the court when teams are fouling, simple plays like in bounding the ball seem to be random acts of stupidity and running around with your head up your butt, not being able to count how many time outs you have left.

Soccer Australia took the plunge and hired the most experienced coach they could afford, maybe BA needs to bite the big one and have a long hard look at this issue. If Goorj is the best we can get, then we are in for a whole bunch of hurt...

Hurley, at the end of this tornament it will be the opportunities that we didn't take that will be remembered.

We lead Greece by 4 points, with possession, with 29 seconds on the clock.

We lead Turkey by 14 points at half time after dominating play.

It is lovely for you to talk of looking forward, but if we had taken our opportunities we could be 3-0.

B.t.w, that was great clutch shooting by Greece at the end. They were hitting the 3 to that point at only 20% (4 of 20), and come up with 2 in 9 seconds. Damn that hurts.

hurley, you lost all credibility when you said it was brendan joyce....

It was actually Rob Beveridge who got the tech.

Hurley, TR is exactly right. You can't just say 'we did well to be push them that far'.
We had that game and it was only stupid decisions down the strecth that lost it, just like against Turkey. We can't just be satisfied with the fact that we came close.
We should be 3-0 so far and through to the next round, but we're only 1-2 and may not even make the next round.

An even simplier question for FIBA - if we win the Oceania qualifications why the hell does NZ draw an easier pool?

(#93203)possibly because of their world ranking from the last worlds and at athens where they didn't disgrace themselves.

this pool was winable our games have shown that won one, being in winning positions in the other two.

The draw isn't tough, we just keep shooting ourselves in the foot.

its the toughest in the world championships and thats for sure.yes we have shot ourselves in the foot, but its a young team.... and they are doing just what the old boomers were doing 15 odd years ago, granted some of these guys wont make the team when people r healthy.