‘Swallow the f---ing ball’: Goorjian sprays Boomers as World Cup hopes hang in balance

An expletive-laden spray from master coach Brian Goorjian sparked the Boomers, but it was not enough to save them as they fell to an 85-82 loss to Germany in a crucial FIBA World Cup game in Okinawa on Sunday night.

The defeat leaves the Boomers with a 1-1 record and fighting for their lives, going into their final group game against Japan on Tuesday night. They must win to progress to the crossover rounds, but it won’t be easy as Japan will have a passionate home crowd behind them.

Japan upset Finland on Sunday night, rebounding from 18 points down to beat the Wolfpack 98-88, with a sellout crowd roaring them home to a first-ever win over a European team. They did so without their best player, NBA forward Rui Hachimura, who elected to skip the World Cup.

Only Germany and the winner of Australia or Japan can finish with two wins or more in this group, so the Boomers-Japan game is now effectively a knockout game, with the winner joining Germany in the crossover round.

The frustrated tone of Goorjian and Joe Ingles in their post-game press conference spoke volumes, coming after six-time NBL championship coach Goorjian had bluntly urged his team to refocus after calling a time-out with the Australians trailing 8-0. During the time-out, he appeared to chastise point guard Josh Giddey.

“I don’t know what’s going on, man. On top of you with a couple seconds left, four in the post baseline lay-up? We’re playing for our lives. Two dead bodies,” Goorjian said in the huddle.

Patty Mills battles German centre Johannes Voigtmann.Credit: AP

“Swallow the f---ing ball. Come on now. Boys, we got to pick this up. It’s embarrassing.”

Veteran sharpshooter Patty Mills responded with 13 straight points, including a deep three-pointer on the fast break, in less than six minutes, as the Boomers took a 25-24 lead into quarter-time.

“When I coach or when I am hard like that, is when the effort and the controllable stuff is off,” Goorjian said post match.

“I just thought the first four or five minutes of the game, we had two or three guys on the floor asleep. I just needed that time out to use my voice. That’s really the only time I go off. It’s very rare.

“It might be the first time since I’ve had this group.”

While the Boomers were fuming about no foul being called on Giddey’s last-second half-court shot, they made a number of uncharacteristic errors late which hurt them against an excellent German side that played without NBA forward Franz Wagner who sat out with an ankle injury.

German NBA guard Dennis Schroder led all scorers with 30 points and eight assists while guard Maodo Lo contributed an invaluable 20 points.

Mills scored 17 of his 21 points in the first half, while Giddey recovered from a slow start to finish with 17.

Jack White contests a rebound with Germany’s Moritz Wagner.Credit: Getty Images

Goorjian declined to speak in too much depth about the referee decisions, but admitted he was frustrated he had to use his coach’s review early in the game.

“We had a couple of out-of-bounds calls under the basket – it was clear, but I had to use my deal [review] but I can’t get into that tonight,” Goorjian said.

“I said some things were out of our control. It was close. I was disappointed there.”

Germany led 83-82 with 30 seconds remaining, but Schroder threw a pass out of bounds giving the Boomers the last play.

Dante Exum grabs a rebound for the Boomers.Credit: Getty Images

Giddey was forced to the bench due to the blood rule with a cut on his forearm and that left Mills to take the ball. The veteran drove towards the basket but slipped over at the key moment, losing the ball with 4.7 seconds to go.

The Boomers failed to foul Lo and he scored a lay-up with a second left, leaving Giddey’s half-court heave to miss the mark.

Goorjian wanted a foul called as Giddey did appear to receive some contact, but the referees said the game was over.

With German legend Dirk Nowitzki sitting courtside, the Boomers struggled early.

Josh Giddey dunks.Credit: Getty Images

Ingles and Dante Exum’s arrival off the bench made a difference as Ingles scored four quick points and Josh Green made a late three-pointer to see the Boomers lead 25-24 at quarter-time.

Germany took a 36-30 lead, the Boomers unable to regain the lead with Matisse Thybulle fouling Schroder as he let a three-point shot go in the final seconds of the second quarter. He made all three free throws to put his nation up 49-44 at half-time.

Boomers centre Duop Reath showed NBA scouts why he can play at the top level, nailing two three-pointers and throwing down a put-back dunk in the third quarter.

Mills fed Giddey for a fast-break dunk and the lead, but Schroder kept attacking and took his tally past 20. Exum and Ingles again made a difference late in the quarter as Australia led 66-62 going into the last term.

Germany went on an 8-0 run to start the final term as Schroder and Lo made key plays, taking a 72-66 lead with just under eight minutes to go.

Germany will play Finland before the Boomers’ game on Tuesday.

The Boomers play Japan on Tuesday at 9.10pm (AEST) with ESPN and Kayo Freebies showing the game live.