Tokyo Olympics 2020: Boomers left to play for bronze after Team USA runs riot in semifinal

After a crushing defeat to Team USA that dashed their hopes of a gold medal, the Boomers will go on to play for bronze. But even that will be out of reach if one thing doesn’t change.

Patty Mills couldn’t quite get into his scoring groove.

A despondent Matthew Dellavedova could barely muster a sound, while Patty Mills and Joe Ingles flew through the mixed zone without a word as Australia’s Olympic dream was shattered on Thursday against Team USA.

There will be no gold medal in Tokyo for the Boomers. And quite frankly, if a devastated leadership group can’t pick itself up soon from the 97-78 defeat, there’ll be no bronze either.

“I mean … yeah,” was all a shaken Dellavedova could manage on the pain of falling at the same semi-final hurdle that has become all too familiar for this group.

Patty Mills couldn’t quite get into his scoring groove.

“Just got to regroup and get ready to go,” the veteran guard added, choking back tears, as the reality of another bronze medal game set in.

In a game they led by as many as 15 points, the Boomers ultimately couldn’t keep pace with their fast-finishing American rivals who flicked a switch inside the Saitama Super Arena and made clear they’re still the gold standard in international basketball.

You have to be perfect to beat Team USA, who are led expertly by Kevin Durant. Australia came close to perfection for nearly 20 minutes. But you don’t beat the best with ‘close’.

The Boomers ran out to a 41-26 lead with 5:23 left in the first half, behind a fervent defensive effort, when Team USA head coach Gregg Popovich called a timeout.

From that point on, the script flipped; Team USA outscoring the Boomers 71-37 in the remaining 25 minutes as American shots started to fall, along with Australia’s resistance.

Like they did against Spain to secure passage to the final four, the United States turned it on after the half-time break as they choked the Boomers in a third quarter that decided the game.

The Boomers just couldn’t deal with Kevin Durant.

By the 8:25 mark of the third, the US had grabbed the lead. At the end of the period, it was 74-55 after 10 minutes of basketball that Team USA won 32-10.

Mills managed just 15 points on 15 shots; shut down by defensive stopper Jrue Holiday.

Ingles added just three more points after hitting two triples in the opening minute of the game. Neither made it to the press conference.

“Put this game behind us, be men about it, and move on,” Boomers big man Jock Landale said of how Australia can rise again in two days’ time when they play the loser of the second semi-final between France and Slovenia.

Landale has dealt with one third-place playoff heartbreak already with the Boomers – a 2019 loss to France at the World Cup. Before his time, it was Rio in 2016, when the Boomers led Spain with 9.7 seconds on the clock, before the bronze medal fell through their hands. In total, the Boomers have finished fourth at the Olympics on four separate occasions.

Joe Ingles had an a big impact on the Boomers’ impressive early run.

“I feel like my team’s feeling really good about themselves – proud of what they’ve put on display to this point and very honoured and excited to be involved in a game coming up that could be our country’s first (medal),” Boomers head coach Brian Goorjian said in a statement that was somewhat incongruous with his core players’ words and actions.

With the bronze medal game on Saturday, everyone will need to get on the same page soon if Australia is to break their Olympic duck.

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNT: BOOMERS V TEAM USA

1 World’s best scorer Durant fires

It looked ominous for Australia when Kevin Durant went to work and sunk his first shot with ease.

Durant looked unstoppable when he found his spot in the first half to finish the contest as the game’s leading scorer.

Nick Kay did a commendable job guarding the two-time NBA champion to start the game before defensive beast Matisse Thybulle came on to help.

You are never going to keep Durant quiet, and while the Boomers’ did their best, the NBA superstar produced a scoring masterclass to sink the Australian’s gold medal dream.

The US did a good job of keeping Mills quiet.

2 NBA champion keeps Mills quiet

Mills looked nervous early, missing a few easy layups and shots before briefly finding his groove.

Championship-winning Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday did an amazing job guarding Mills and forcing him to take tough shots.

Holiday is one of the best on-ball defenders in the NBA, as seen when he kept Phoenix star guard Chris Paul quiet during the Bucks’ successful NBA Finals run.

Holiday was also enormous for the US on the offensive end to finish the game as one of the best players on the floor.

The USA are playing for gold.

3 Defence not maintained while turnovers, rebounds and second chance points prove costly

The Boomers’ defence has been strong all tournament and it continued against the USA … for one and half quarters.

Australia produced an aggressive mindset on the defensive end, forcing the Americans to give up multiple turnovers.

USA looked sluggish in offence and poor in defence at stages in the first half, prompting Boomers legend Andrew Gaze to declare in commentary: “If they think they can play a version of pick-up ball, it is not going to work in FIBA basketball.”

USA were also restricted to 18 first quarter points before going on a 16-4 run in the second quarter to reduce a Boomers 15-point lead to just three at the break.

The Australians gave up too many second chance points from turnovers and poor rebounding, opening the door for the talented Americans to find their offensive groove.

USA exploded in the second half on the back of Durant and Devin Booker’s scoring brilliance and a ramped up defensive focus to surge to a comfortable win.

Dante Exum was a standout for the beaten Boomers.

4 Exum won’t be an NBA free agent for long

With Mills struggling offensively compared to his high standards, Dante Exum stepped up to lead the first half scoring for Australia.

Exum looked strong from range and dangerous when he ran the floor.

It’s fair to say that he won’t be an NBA free agent for long after producing another standout performance despite a quiet second half offensively that mirrored the Boomers’ woes.

5 History repeats

The Boomers face another bronze medal game, but this time they’ll be desperate to avoid a fifth fourth-placed finish.

The pain of past failed campaigns has fuelled the Australian’s quest for a maiden medal, and they’ll need that energy again in Saturday’s third-placed playoff.

Originally published as Tokyo Olympics 2020: Boomers left to play for bronze after Team USA runs riot in semifinal