Boomers promise they won’t be star struck against Team USA, pledge to provide a tough contest

THE Boomers will throw an all-NBA starting five at the Team USA’s superstars. Andrew Bogut says the Aussies have come a long way - from one embarrassing act in particular.

Andrew Bogut (L) says there’s no way Australia will be intimidated by playing Team USA.

ANDREW Bogut bristles at the memory.

“I’ve been in teams in the past where guys have asked for shoes before games,” says the Australian Boomers’ gruff leader.

He’s raising it now in the promise that regardless of the result of Australia’s match against Team USA on Thursday (AEST) the Boomers won’t be lining up for a pair of Team USA Nike sneakers.

And why should they be star struck? Back-to-back wins against France and Serbia doesn’t for a second suggest the Boomers can cause the boilover of the Olympics by beating a seemingly unstoppable US team, but it does show the Australians have a character to wipe the smiles off the faces of players who are in cruise mode.

DeAndre Jordan (L) talks with Kevin Durant during Team USA’s game against Venezuela.

It’s not about winning, this one. It’s about pride in their unit, the ability to go home to their comically cramped athletes’ village apartment after the marquee match, knowing that Team USA will be heading back to their posh offshore yacht carrying a few bumps and bruises from a scrap.

“It will be a very scrappy, unfun, game for the Americans,” said ESPN’s Marc Stein. “Obviously the US will win but your people know how to make things uncomfortable. Matthew Dellavedova, that’s Australian basketball.”

“We know Australia is going to be a tough one for us, just based on how physical they are. So, we’ll be ready for that,” the USA’s Carmelo Anthony said.

“It should be the first thing we write on our whiteboard every game ‘let’s not be fun to play against’,” says Luc Longley, a former NBA star and part of the Boomers’ set-up.

“It’s the way the players wanted to be and that’s our brand of basketball, it’s really the only way we have, punching above our weight class and being like that.”

“A lot of us play in the NBA so we’re up against it night in night out,” says Aron Baynes.

“We have guys in high levels in Europe and some of the best players are from Australia, so we’re not intimated at all. We’ve got to go out there and play Australian basketball and see how that goes.”

“It’s the ultimate test,” Bogut says. ”They’re the best team in the world, the best players in the world but if we go out there and we’re intimidated by them, and try and get our shoes signed before the game and a signed jersey, we’ve got the wrong mindset.”

Andrej Lemanis isn’t concerned about his players’ mindset.

Coach Andrej Lemanis and his coaching team have the unenviable job of trying to find a game plan to carry in against the USA. Mindset, for him, isn’t an area of concern.

“The beauty of our group is none of our players are intimidated by NBA players anymore,” said Lemanis. “We’ve got guys who have been their team mates and played against them for a number of years.’

The Boomers’ living arrangements could have been a negative, but in a way has reinforced the team bond.

“Eleven in a pretty small apartment is pretty funny but we’re a close group, we love being together,” says Joe Ingles. “We have a bit of fun in there and it is what it is.”

Lemanis adds: “This is a close unit and that’s one of the fun things about being around the Boomers guys. You don’t need to do anything in terms of team chemistry. They love being together, love playing together and they’re mates. And going through some hardships and some ups and downs, they always stay together. They support one another and it’s a pleasure being around them.

“We, as a group, have always believed that we have the talent and chemistry to do something special at these Games.”

For now, the US are so far ahead of the pack it’s inconceivable there’s a set of circumstances where they get beaten. Maybe if they have to swim to shore for the game.

Serbian guard Stefan Jovic (L) goes to the basket despite Australian centre Andrew Bogut’s attentions.

“Everyone else has got to catch up, it is what it is,” says Bogut. “If you put a million dollars on it you probably get a dollar back if you bet on them. That’s a great challenge for us, puts in a great mindset of what we want to do and make our offence better and defence better.”

David Andersen, the Melbourne NBL player who at 36 is the team veteran, says the team is looking forward to testing itself on Thursday.

“The States is like a Hail Mary. We’re going to go in there give it our all and try to shake the world and show what we can do.”

Originally published as Boomers promise they won’t be star struck against Team USA, pledge to provide a tough contest