Boomers v Team USA: Australia eyes rematch and historic Olympic medal

THE most glorious night Australian basketball can remember is not a “what-if?’ moment, but a delicious entree to historic Olympic achievement.

THE most glorious night Australian basketball can remember is not a bittersweet “what-if?’ moment, but a delicious entree to historic Olympic achievement.

That is the mouth-watering reality for an Australian Boomers side that is quickly matching the hype as the nation’s greatest ever Olympic side.

Had this been Australia’s final moment in Rio it would still have been compared to Tony Ronaldson’s 1996 corner three-pointer or the 1988 Olympic run into the semi-finals.

Then we would have cast forward to a 2020 Olympics side containing Dante Exum, Ben Simmons and Thon Maker.

Instead after Australia’s brave showing in the 98-88 win, it is already desperate to have another crack at the title next week.

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Matthew Dellavedova in action for the Boomers. Picture: Adam Head

And the tale of the tape will show that despite Carmelo Anthony’s brilliance, America is eminently gettable.

Having earnt a 72-70 lead with 8.30min remaining, Australia from then on missed 13 attempts — mostly mid-range jump shots — in a game where they also conceded 21 offensive rebounds.

For all the positives — Patty Mills’ 30 points, Andrew Bogut’s marshalling of the troops, David Anderson’s 13 points (five-from-six shooting) — this was a game let slip.

Win against China and Venezuela and a potential rematch in the gold medal match isn’t that outlandish.

“Australia has never won a medal at the Olympic Games,’’ said assistant coach Luc Longley.

“I came fourth twice which is a sh**house place to come, so that’s where our mind is.

“We have to take care of some other teams, but hopefully we will get another shot at them. I think we would like that.

“I think we made some mistakes down the stretch and they hit some tough shots and we missed some easy ones.”

Aussie Boomers Vs U.S. Dream Team

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Australia should not kid itself beating America will be easy, not after lethal shooters Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant went six-of-25 in a combined Olympic performance we will never see again.

But Andrew Bogut spoke for the entire team with his two-word summation of the performance: “We lost”.

“The Australian media is going to say you guys did great, but no we didn’t, we lost,’’ he said.

“We are not going to take small moral victories, we battled them and it should have been an even closer game.

“In the past if we had got within 15 everyone would have had a birthday cake in the locker room and people think it’s the best day ever.

“We have a different mindset these Olympics and hopefully we can keep that grit and determination.”

Aron Baynes keeps the ball off DeMarcus Cousins. Picture: Adam Head

Australian legend Andrew Gaze says this was Australia’s free shot at America given we dodge them until a potential final, a chance to experiment as we probed a dangerous foe.

“I can’t think of a better (Boomers performance), there have been some great ones but think of the quality of the opposition you are up against,’’ he told News Corp.

“If not for Carmelo Anthony, you win that game. You couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

Australia now takes on China on Sunday morning then Venezuela two days later, and should hit a favourable quarter-final match-up prepared and rested.

The bench showed it is up to the task when called upon, Bogut’s knee is showing no signs of hampering him and Dellavedova and Mills just keep firing.

For the attention it received, Paul George’s talk about Australia being “a little dirty” was patent nonsense given his own tech foul.

Patty Mills in action during the Rio Olympics 2016 Men's Basketball game between the Australian Boomers and the USA Dream Team at Carioca Arena. Pics adam Head

As Longley said of the physical game: “I think the whole team enjoyed it. The Americans enjoyed it too. They haven’t had a tussle like that for a while.”

That gold medal coach Andrej Lemanis has spoken of so often is still well out of reach, but for the first time we can understand his blinding optimism.

“The guys committed to doing what it took to winning a gold medal,’’ he said.

“We believe we are talented enough and we have the chemistry that enable us to have that opportunity.

“Many have laughed at us along the way but perhaps tonight’s performance will help some other people believe.”

Originally published as Boomers v Team USA: Australia eyes rematch and historic Olympic medal