Shane Heal: Underdog Opals get ‘free swing’ against USA in bid to end 12-year drought

Australia’s Opals face the toughest task in world basketball, but Shane Heal believes they’ve got what it takes to challenge the USA.

COMMENT

The Opals are through to the final four of the Olympics with a dominant win over World No. 10 Serbia.

After starting the tournament with one of the worst defeats in Opals history, the team has since improved with every outing.

After the loss to Nigeria, their first win came against Canada — an improved performance that was still less than convincing.

Their third game was a statement game against host nation, France. That was a game where we saw signs of this team’s real potential.

Their defence lifted, they started to look after the ball and make much better decisions.

All while silencing a sellout and vocal home crowd of more than 20,000!

The French team has some very good WNBA and Euroleague talent that has experienced success, and this was a must-win game, a loss would have sent our girls home.

The Opals have shown resilience in their Olympic campaign. (Photo by Damien MEYER / AFP)

Instead, the victory over France put the Aussies in a three-way tie in the group and we all held our breath for a great crossover game and hopefully avoiding World No. 1, the USA.

Nigeria drew the USA and the Opals drew Serbia, the weakest team in the top eight.

The scene was set to take advantage of a fortunate draw, and that’s exactly what the Opals did.

It was a dominant performance from the very first tip.

They looked more connected and playing with the sort of defensive intensity of the dominant Opals teams of the past.

They are playing with a belief and confidence needed to medal for the first time since 2012.

The Opals had been dominant in world basketball, winning medals at 5 straight Olympics since 1996.

They were a powerhouse and now basketball fans expect a medal at every major tournament.

While there are very positive signs the longer this tournament goes on, they now face their biggest challenge against world powerhouse USA in the semi-finals.

It’s a game where the winner goes directly to the gold medal game.

Shane Heal is backing the Opals to get their first medal since London 2012. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)

The USA’s team features WBNA stars like Brittney Griner.. (Photo by Aris MESSINIS / AFP)

While it would take an extreme optimist to tip the Opals in this game, they must play with a genuine belief they can win.

Most of the Opals play against these American stars in the WNBA every week so they won’t be intimidated or overawed by the names.

The Opals will know there is no pressure on them to win, and indeed all the pressure is on the US to win - and win well.

Coach Sandy Brondello is a highly successful WNBA Head Coach and knows the strengths and weaknesses of every US player.

Now she needs the game plan and the ability to make her Aussie women have belief that anything can happen when you dream big and play hard and smart.

My keys to their success? Discipline and slow the game down.

Jade Melbourne is a rising star of the Opals. Picture: Adam Head

The Opals will need to playsome very disciplined basketball, look after the ball and look to grind in a slow-paced event.

If the Opals try and run against the world’s very best then the scoreboard could very well get ugly for Australia.

The USA love to get out and run and play loose with their athleticism and immense skill.

They have 12 superstars on their roster and can rotate players all night.

The Opals have settled on a seven player rotation and can’t match their depth.

The Americans definitely don’t want a half court fight against an Aussie team that can be very physical if needed.

The positive for the Opals will be knowing even if they lose they will get a second chance to playoff for a Bronze medal.

An underdog mindset with a free swing against the world’s number 1 team. Let’s go.

- Shane Heal is a four-time Olympic basketball star for the Boomers, including captaining the 2004 Athens Olympic team. He is writing exclusively for news.com.au during the Paris Olympics.