Australian Boomers prepared for quarter-finals after impressive pool play

THEY’RE not looking past the quarterfinal but the very obvious streak of Olympic mortality displayed by the USA has the Boomers sensing a gold medal is very much for grabs.

Andrew Bogut of Australia controls the ball as Windi Graterol of Venezuela defends during the preliminary round game at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

THEY’RE not looking past their sudden-death quarter-final with Lithuania but the very obvious streak of Olympic mortality displayed by the USA in Rio has the Boomers — among others — sensing a gold medal is very much for grabs.

Even with Patty Mills resting, Australia qualified for the quarter-finals with a tradesman-like win over Venezuela on Tuesday morning and locked down a spot in the round of eight with their fourth win from five games.

Andrew Bogut of Australia controls the ball as Windi Graterol of Venezuela defends during the preliminary round game at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

That equalled Australia’s best ever record in the group stages, achieved in 1996

That tournament ended with Lithuania beating Australia in the bronze medal match (and again in 2000) but one of those two sides won’t make the semi-finals in Rio after the Boomers drew Lithuania in the quarter-finals.

The world no.3 side lost to Croatia in their final game but still qualified third in group B.

Though well aware one slip from here on in means an early flight home, the Aussies are carrying a quiet confidence about their work and no doubt part of that is the genuine feeling that the Olympic gold medal are not a one-horse race in 2016.

The USA posted their fifth victory prior to the Boomers’ game but again it was a close-run thing; they only beat France 100-97.

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That result came after Team USA scraped past Serbia by three points, and their 10-point win over Australia.

It’s not quite as bad as the famous USA failure in 2004, where they lost two pool games, but it has rivals smelling blood in the water nonetheless.

Asked if it proved the USA were beatable, Boomers star Andrew Bogut said: “Anyone is beatable in anything.”

“They’re obviously the best team in the world and the best group of players,” Bogut continued.

“But everyone comes out and tries to battle them, and teams have been prepared. So we will study the right film if the opportunity arises.”

Venezuela's power forward Miguel Ruiz, Australia's forward Aron Baynes and Venezuela's centre Gregory Echenique eye a rebound during their Olympic clash.

Boomers coach Andre Lemanis was happy to declare it open season.

“For the tournament, it is anyone’s tournament, that’s been proven,” Lemanis said.

“All eight tournaments in the quarter-finals will believe they have a chance at winning the gold medal. It’s good for basketball.”

The Boomers will play their quarter-final on Thursday morning and they hope a rotation and resting system used in the last few group games will help them hit the playoffs with fresh legs and minds.

Mills was rested against Venezuela, and Matthew Dellavedova sat out the second half. Bogut had earlier been rested for the win over China.

“This tournament is a grind physically and a grind mentally so managing bodies and loads is important and we have three games left, hopefully it will pay off for us this week,” Lemanis said.

Bogut said the chance to rest players — and give bench players some good minutes — had been earned with the wins early in the tournament.

“We did our work early,” Bogut said.

“Our France and Serbia wins were huge, so we could afford to have that luxury. There have been groups where we couldn’t afford to have that luxury throughout the tournament. Myself last game, Patty tonight, we get our legs back ... it will help us, not only next round but hopefully the round after that.”

Originally published as Australian Boomers prepared for quarter-finals after impressive pool play