‘It’s time’: Brutal Patty Mills call Boomers must make for Paris Olympics
The Boomers held their own against the USA in their Olympic warm-up, but Aussie hoops fans are calling for one unthinkable change.
Olympics
Don't miss out on the headlines from Olympics. Followed categories will be added to My News.
COMMENT
If the Boomers are any chance of making a dent at the Paris Olympics, Patty Mills simply has to come off the bench.
On face value it’s borderline sacrilege for Mills not to be in Australia’s starting five, given he nearly single-handedly secured the Boomers their first ever Olympic medal with a 42-point explosion in the bronze medal match in Tokyo.
Watch the Boomers take on Serbia LIVE on ESPN via Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
But three years on, Mills is now a 35-year-old in the twilight of his career having left the San Antonio Spurs, where he won the 2014 NBA title, and he is now bouncing around the NBA.
The beloved veteran looked off the pace in the Boomers’ respectable 98-92 loss to the USA in their Olympic warm-up game in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday morning (AEDT).
Last year’s FIBA World Cup campaign saw Josh Giddey officially take the keys to the Boomers’ offence, but coach Brian Goorjian appears reluctant to move Mills to the bench.
Watch the Boomers vs USA highlights in the video above
Mills had a shocker against the USA, making two out of eight shots, conceding five turnovers. He was a minus 16 on the all important “plus/minus” team metric during his time on the court.
He was also a bit of a liability on the defensive end, and the consensus from pundits and Aussie basketball fans is it’s time for Goorjian to bite the bullet and bench Mills.
ESPN’s Olgun Uluc wrote on X: “Patty Mills was 2/8 FG, and a -16 with 5 TOV. A role reduction seems the obvious outcome here. No reason not to give (Josh) Green the bulk of those minutes.”
Neroli Meadows said “+/- doesn’t tell the full story obviously, but sometimes it backs up what the naked eye sees … changing of the guard?”
One fan wrote: “If Patty Mills doesn’t play, Australia wins by double digits.”
Another said: “Patty Mills, it’s been real but i think it’s time..”
A USA fan posted: “Patty Mills left his cape at the hotel & we are LUCKY he did.”
Mills did make a three-pointer as the Boomers made a late comeback, but Australia struggled from long-range, hitting only 4 out of 18 three-point attempts.
Goorjian left sharpshooters Chris Goulding and Dejan Vasiljevic out of his squad, so he will be desperate for Mills and Joe Ingles to provide some much needed scoring punch from beyond the arc.
But the cold hard reality is Mills has to come off the bench and lead the second unit, letting Giddey take control of the offence.
Australia’s starting five against the USA was Giddey, Mills, Dyson Daniels, Nick Kay and Jock Landale.
Giddey had 17 points, seven assists and eight rebounds, while Landale showed why he was missed at last year’s World Cup — finishing with 20 points and seven rebounds.
Giddey’s classy performance overshadowed some other alarming sights to emerge from the game with Goorjian having a lot of work ahead of him before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on July 26.
The Boomers trailed 65-41 early in the third quarter before things started to click for the Tokyo Olympic bronze medal-winners.
Goorjian liked what he saw from Australia’s big men with Jock Landale impressing with 20 points and seven rebounds.
Will Magnay also boosted his chances of earning more game time in France, scoring eight points in his 11 minutes on the court.
Excitement machine Duop Reath was given just two minutes.
Anthony Davis was the USA’s top scorer with 17 points while Devin Booker also put up 16.
LeBron James had a hard night at the office in comparison, finishing with 10 points, shooting three from eight.
The Boomers have their final warm-up game against Serbia, led by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, on Wednesday morning.
The Aussies have been drawn in a group of death at the Olympics and will come up against Spain, Greece (featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo) and Canada, who are second favourites for gold behind the USA.
Mills, Ingles and Lauren Jackson will join Andrew Gaze as the only Australian basketball players to compete at five Olympics when they suit up in Paris.
Boomers Olympics schedule of games
Saturday, July 27: Australia vs Spain
Tuesday, July 30: Australia vs Canada
Friday, August 2: Australia vs Greece
Originally published as ‘It’s time’: Brutal Patty Mills call Boomers must make for Paris Olympics
‘Never had’: Bruce loses it over Gout Gout
Legendary broadcaster Bruce McAvaney has seen it all in Australian sports but our latest rising athletics star is a different beast.
‘World at his feet’: Australia’s never seen anything like Gout Gout
Bruce McAvaney has seen so much in Australian track and field throughout his broadcasting career, but nothing compares to what teen sprinting sensation Gout Gout is doing at his age.