A look at the key Aussies ahead of the new NBA season plus a wrap of NFL and college gridiron
THE NBA season is about to tip-off and we look at the key Aussies set to play big parts. Plus, we wrap up the NFL and college gridiron as Mitch Wishnowsky sends social media into meltdown.
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AUSSIE San Antonio point guard Patrick Mills is about to get as many minutes as he can eat after the Spurs’ injury-riddled back court was dealt another blow.
The NBA’s longest tenured Aussie has become almost the forgotten man as fans Down Under clamour for the likes of Ben Simmons and Joe Ingles.
But we’re about to see plenty of the lights out guard after Derrick White (left heel) joined Dejounte Murray (ACL) and rookie Lonnie Walker IV (knee) on the club’s long term injury list.
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With championship veteran Tony Parker shipped out Charlotte, this might represent the biggest opportunity of the 30-year-old Boomer’s nine-year career.
“Look, I think it’s foolish not to think that when Derrick went down there was a sense of, you know, feeling deflated,” Mills told kens5.com.
“It’s quite rare, or not very often, I guess, when we lose three guys in five days.
“But very quickly coming together as a group to say to say we’ve actually still got a great opportunity here and business still at hand and take care of.
“I think our respect from watching film from our Atlanta pre-season game and carryover to the Orlando game was very positive from a team aspect.”
Look for him to start against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, share ball-handling duties with new man DeMar DeRozan and, of course, do what he does best - plenty of threes.
BAYNES’ MAMMOTH TASK
Big bad Aron Baynes will have plenty on his plate when the Boston Celtics tip-off against fellow Aussies Ben Simmons and Jonah Bolden in Wednesday’s (EDT) NBA season opener.
Baynes will be charged with the almost impossible task of containing uber-talented big man Joel Embiid as the Celtics look to continue their dominance over the Sixers, who they swept in last season’s Eastern Conference semi-finals.
Will he make Embiid pay from the outside at the other end?
Across his 376 CAREER regular season games, the 31-year-old had only made four three-pointers.
But the New Zealand-born, Aussie adoptee inexplicably went from bruising big man to three-point marksman in last year’s playoffs, nailing 11 of 23 looks from the outside across 19 games.
We’re looking forward to some more stretch five action tomorrow.
Sure. Aron Baynes can hit a three too. Why not? pic.twitter.com/mUNYjaVwZE
— Matt (@MontaWorldPeace) May 1, 2018
Aron Baynes, corner three-point specialist 👌 pic.twitter.com/XjiiE6CC6A
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 7, 2018
BROEKHOFF FROM THE CARPARK
Dallas Mavericks rookie Ryan Broekhoff appears to have already carved out a role in his side’s revamped offence, with the club set to use his ability from deep off the bench in its season-opener against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.
Did I say deep?
I meant really, really deep.
The Mavs are reportedly practicing three-pointers from well behind the arc, with Broekhoff the key feature, knocking down a high clip in practice from 28 feet - more than four-feet deeper than the arc.
“We have all our guys doing it,” Mavs coach Rick Carlisle told the Dallas News. “Everybody’s working on longer threes. It helps space the floor even more. And defences are getting closer to the 3-point line every year. Naturally, guys are going to be shooting them further out.”
Pull the trigger, rook.
Look closely. That’s Ryan Broekhoff about 4 feet beyond the 3-point arc making three in a row. pic.twitter.com/iq6YZTLXE1
— Eddie Sefko (@ESefko) October 14, 2018
THON’S READY
After an eventful off-season that involved a Karate Kid impersonation while playing for the Boomers in Singapore, towering Aussie Thon Maker says he is “more than ready” to make an impact for the Milwaukee Bucks in his third year in the league.
Maker tweeted he was ready to go ahead of his third season in the league, but 21-year-old (insert age joke here) is starting from a long way back, having missed most of the Bucks’ pre-season clashes with left knee soreness.
He’ll be battling the likes of Brook Lopez, John Henson and Ersan Ilyasova for minutes in a front court that looks increasingly likely to start Giannis Antetokounmpo at the four, with Khris Middleton on the wing and Malcolm Brogdon and Eric Bledsoe in the back court. That will mean Aussie teammate Matthew Dellavedova will have to come off the bench when the Bucks tip-off the season against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.
More than ready!😤#yr3 #itsGoTime
— Thon Maker ™ (@ThonMaker14) October 14, 2018
WISHNOWSKY WOWS
There are a host of Australians involved in American Football at the college level but Mitch Wishnowsky is perhaps the most likely to get drafted.
And his trick play for Utah on Sunday (EDT) should only enhance his reputations as not only one of college’s best punters but also capable with ball in hand.
The West Australian already has a Ray Guy Award as the NCAA’s best punter under his belt and will hope to follow Michael Dickson by being drafted to the NFL next year.
Wishnowsky’s fake punt and run was one of the highlights of this week’s college action.
Setting up to punt, the Aussie instead tucked the ball under his arm and charged 28 yards to pick up a first down, a penalty moved the Utes further up the field and they scored a touchdown not long after on the way to a win over Arizona.
As a result Wishnowsky was named the PAC-12 special teams player of the week.
Utah ran a fake punt, Arizona got called for a horse collar, some Utah players didn't like it and it they got into it with Arizona players on their sideline! #PAC12AfterDark pic.twitter.com/MshbmJUGZO
— New Account (@ftbeard_17) October 13, 2018
NFL WRAP
Jordan Berry’s revival in Pittsburgh continued with an assured performance as the Steelers pipped the Bengals in a thriller.
The highlight of Berry’s day was a 69-yard bomb that completely flipped the field for the Steelers. It was comfortably Berry’s biggest kick of the season.
Until Monday’s game, Berry hadn’t produced a punt of more than 60 yards but finally found his range, drawing praise from punting great Pat McAfee.
The Melburnian finished the day with four punts for an average of 43 yards with three pinning Cincinnati inside their 20-yard line.
🗣 KIM JONG UN NUKE IN CINCINNATI FROM A AUSTRALIAN BOMBER #ForTheBrand pic.twitter.com/qMK1LFoN39
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 14, 2018
It was a strong day all around for the Aussie punters.
Michael Dickson (two punts) and Lachie Edwards (one) barely touched the ball as Seattle and New York Jets romped to big wins.
Dickson averaged 43 yards and didn’t allow a single return with both his kicks trapping Oakland inside their 20-yard line.
Edwards’ only punt went 43 yards.
In contrast, Philadelphia’s Cam Johnston had plenty of work with five punts.
The former Melbourne rookie averaged 48 yards and didn’t allow any returns with three of his kicks landing inside the New York Giants’ 20-yard line.
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