Paris Olympics 2024: NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo praises Boomers’ blueprint to success ahead of quarter-final

NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo was almost on the end of a stirring comeback typical of the Boomers’ grit — and it’s fair to say he was impressed.

The Boomers’ brave comeback against Greece has attracted high praise from NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who says the physical Aussies were “incredible” in defence.

Brian Goorjian’s men have scraped through to the quarter finals to most likely play Serbia or France thanks to Canada’s thrilling win over Spain.

Earlier, the Boomers’ podium dreams were on life support after a poor first half cost them in a six-point loss to Greece.

The only positive for Australia was an improved second half performance.

The Boomers ramped up their defence to hold the Greek Freak scoreless in the third period.

This paved the way for Australia to surge back from a 19-point deficit to get within two points in the final quarter.

Giannis Antetokounmpo lays up the ball against the Boomers. Picture: Mark Terrill/Pool/AFP

Boomers players are frustrated for digging themselves such a big hole in the first half against Greece, but they can take solace from their second half fight back.

Antetokounmpo was certainly impressed by the dogged and determined Australians.

“They are an incredible defence. A clinic from them,” Antetokounmpo told reporters post-game.

“They were helping, they were being physical, they were fouling in transition, rebounding the ball.

“Offensively they were moving the ball, playing downhill, (Josh) Giddey was playing downhill, Dante (Exum) was playing downhill, (Patty) Mills was moving so much, the bigs were rolling, they were very good in the third quarter.”

The Boomers can largely thank veteran guard Matthew Dellavedova for their surge home down the stretch.

Australia trailed by 16 points with four minutes remaining when Dellavedova entered the game.

The veteran of four Olympics made an immediate impact with an assist, a steal and a three.

Watching on from the sidelines, Goorjian couldn’t have been happier with Dellavedova.

“That’s the reason we brought him here. If this thing gets nasty or it gets hairy and we lose our way, we know he’ll steady us,” Goorjian said.

“We just thought from a defensive standpoint, to keep the pressure on, you bring him in there.

“We enhance our defence and we get through our system better.”

Matthew Dellavedova and Jock Landale try to halt ‘The Greek Freak’. Picture: Getty Images.

Australia’s first half struggles prompted Goorjian to bench Josh Green after the second quarter.

Green, a former starter, has failed to score in three group stage games. Goorjian knew he had to make a change and inject Dellavedova into the game. “We love him (Green), but he hasn’t got going. One of the things we talked about was the Delly factor....and now we’re 14 or 15 down, we had to make the move, tighten the rotation, bring Delly into it,” he said.

“I thought Delly, Duop (Reath), we just got some different faces and heads in the thing because the first half was diabolical.

“It has been a struggle for him leading into this. We gave him the first few, but it looked like it was going down the same path.”

Goorjian revealed he told the players to learn from their poor first half against Greece and to use the comeback as the team’s blueprint for success moving forward.

“I talked about the learning process. I know nobody wants to hear that right now, but just convincing them that if we do move forward, how we win,” he said.

“We have new players, a lot of them haven’t played in this before so when you get under pressure it all emerges.

“The first half is how we don’t want to play, we’ve talked about that, but when you experience it, it’s a great learning experience.

“The second half is where we want to go. It helps convince the team about what we need to do to win.”

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