World applauds Boomers’ masterclass against Lithuania

THE Boomers were celebrated all over the world after a breathtaking win, but a tweet from the NBA spoke the loudest.

Aron Baynes #12 and Matthew Dellavedova #8 of Australia during the Men's Quarterfinal match against Lithuania. Picture: Mike Ehrmann

AUSTRALIA’S basketballers produced one of the most breathtaking performances in Boomers history to cruise into the semi-finals of the Olympics.

The 90-64 win against a completely overmatched Lithuanian outfit was as good as international basketball gets — and was rightfully celebrated all over the world.

But it was one tweet from the NBA midway through the game which spoke loudest. Australia’s basketballers have been known for their toughness, team-first attitude and togetherness over the years but there have been few genuine stars on the global stage.

Matthew Dellavedova still may fit into the cult hero category — rather than out and out superstar in America — but he has enough cache to prompt his new team, the Milwaukee Bucks, to push his jersey online after a first half in which he set the court on fire.

Delly’s 15 points, four three-pointers and three assists in the opening 20 minutes presented the Bucks with a marketing opportunity they couldn’t pass up.

Delly jerseys NOW avail:

Home: https://t.co/NKqQg3v19y
Road: https://t.co/NQ1YdRXKhS
Alt: https://t.co/sDFMZKsd5C pic.twitter.com/E4gnH7OIgL

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) August 17, 2016

Australia's Matthew Dellavedova during the Boomers v. Lithuania match in Rio. Picture: Alex Coppel

That’s right, don’t just admire our boys’ heart — wear their number on your back. But the Bucks weren’t the only ones to recognise the quality of the performance. This is how the world reacted.

THE NBA

The Boomers used to be lucky if they had two or three NBA players in their squad. Now we’ve got four who have won NBA championships and all four of their teams were watching the quarterfinal.

Dellavedova (who didn’t add to his halftime stats after being rested), Patty Mills (a game-high 24 points including 5/11 three-pointers), Aron Baynes (16 points on 7/9 shooting) and Andrew Bogut (six points, seven rebounds and six of the prettiest assists you’ll see from a big man) all received some post-game love from the team’s that pay their bills.

Australia's Liz Cambage in the crowd during the Boomers v. Lithuania game. Picture: Alex Coppel

Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis said it was no coincidence Australians had been on the past four NBA champions. “It’s because they contribute in so many different ways, it’s not just what they do on the court, it’s what they do in the locker room, how they get the team chemistry right, how they interact with their teammates and prepare to sacrifice for the group,” Lemanis said.

“When you get a bunch of them together like what we have here, it is fun to coach and be around.”

FORMER BOOMERS

The Australian team was being celebrated as the best in our country’s history after the game. They’ll need to become the first to secure a medal — an accomplishment they can guarantee by defeating the winner of Serbia-Croatia in the semis — to fully secure that standing.

But the players — and coach — are already earning rave reviews from some former national team members.

Unbelievable. Great game #boomers.

— Mark Worthington (@Wortho33) August 17, 2016

What a glorious display of basketball. Here comes the final 4 for the first time since 2000. This time a medal tho! #AwesomeTeamEffort

— Shane Heal (@ShaneHeal) August 17, 2016

The Boomers are so tough to stop in Off because of the ball & player movement & passing ability. So good to watch & tough to stop. #Boomers👊

— Shane Heal (@ShaneHeal) August 17, 2016

Hey @BasketballAus Scrap your post Olympic evaluation of the Boomers and just sign Andrej Lemanis for the next 4 years.

— Chris Anstey (@ChrisAnstey13) August 17, 2016

Nup that's it I've officially lost it!! Hope the neighbours love their boomers too!! God damn! This is bloody brilliant!!

— Anthony Petrie (@Antpetrie17) August 17, 2016

Medal rounds baby!! How am I meant to sleep right now? I'm Pumped up like a tractor tyre! Great work boomers!!

— Anthony Petrie (@Antpetrie17) August 17, 2016

Three-time NBA champion and current Boomers assistant Luc Longley said the players needed to finish the job to avoid the hollowness he felt finishing his career without an Olympic medal.

“Absolutely,” said Longley, when asked if it was a gap on his resume. “It was Sydney (2000 Olympic Games) when I thought we were going to get a medal, so this is another crack at it.”

Australia's Patty Mills during the quarter-final. Picture: Alex Coppel.

THE TEAM

The players know their history. Twice Australia has made it through the quarterfinals at the Olympics — in 1996 and 2000 — and both times they followed a semi-final defeat with a loss in the bronze medal playoff.

“It’s one of those things that is a hoodoo of Australian men’s basketball and (ending that) has been the number one goal of our group from day one,” Baynes said.

So why will it be different this time? “We believe. We believe that we can beat teams,” Bogut said. “We had teams where we said all that, but there was that doubt still there. We’re in that (winning) mindset.”

“We want to win our next game. We want to go as far as we can. I think the goal for us has been the gold medal,” the star centre added.

“Australia has been in this position two other times and finished fourth both times.”

Good win fellas, get ready for the next one👍 we appreciate the support #AUS #GoBoomers #OneTeam

— Matthew Dellavedova (@matthewdelly) August 17, 2016

THE OPPOSITION

Lithuanian point guard Mantas Kalnietis entered the game as one of the stars of the tournament, after averaging 19 points and eight assists in pool play. Midway through the third quarter he was a broken man after being hounded into an uncharacteristically impotent performance.

“For sure it was tough but we knew before the game that we are playing an aggressive team who have many guards who can press the ball for 40 minutes,” Kalnietis said. “So we knew, but like the game shows, we werenn’t ready mentally.”

Lithuanian coach Jonas Kazlauskas indicated a 50-point defeat against Spain in their second to last pool game had ruined his players’ confidence.

“It was really bad for us how we finished this tournament,” Kazlauskas said. “To lose with so big difference the last three games hurt us a lot. (What) much more hurt us (was the) big loss against Spain team, so after that we were not the same team like we were before.”

THE US MEDIA

SB Nation’s Kyle Neubeck believes the win cemented Australia as the number one challenger to Team USA.

“Team USA’s struggles at the Rio Olympics were first made apparent by the boys from Down Under. It was easy to chalk up that performance to American apathy, but the Boomers are making a case that they need to be taken as a serious threat,” he wrote.

“If Team USA watched any of this one, they should be taking special note of Australia’s constant cutting across the baseline. Off-ball defence has been a major problem for the Americans in Rio, and their potential gold-medal opponent would love to take advantage of it.”

International hoops junkie and ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla didn’t mention the Boomers by name in this tweet but you can read between the lines given it landed around the time of the final buzzer.

Coaches: USA has put together a team of players that need to find the ball. In international hoops, the ball finds the player. #SpursOffense

— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) August 17, 2016

Delly is probably tournament MVP as of now

— Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) August 17, 2016

Yahoo Sports’ Dan Devine was similarly impressed.

“Throughout group play at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the Australian men’s national basketball team sent a message to anyone and everyone who was watching: we’re tough, we’re talented, we’re not going to be pushed around, and we’re ready to compete at the highest levels of international basketball,” Devine wrote.

“They reinforced that message on Wednesday.”