‘They know what’s at stake’: Goorjian says young guns ready for Doncic; Boomers seal place at Paris 2024

The Boomers took a step forward in securing a place in the crossover rounds, but they could take a giant leap to keep their gold medal hopes alive at the FIBA World Cup.

Boomers coach Brian Goorjian praised newcomers Xavier Cooks, Josh Giddey and Josh Green for their game-winning performances against Japan on Tuesday night (AEST) and said that game was the blueprint for how his side could contend for a medal.

Josh Giddey drives to the basket against Japan.Credit: Getty Images

Cooks came off the bench to record 24 points and 16 rebounds in 23 minutes, Josh Giddey had 26 points and 11 assists, and Josh Green finished with 15 points as the Boomers beat Japan 109-89 to seal their place in the crossover rounds.

Germany topped Australia’s Group E with a 3-0 record and the Boomers took second place with a 2-1 record.

They will play Luka Doncic’s Slovenia on Friday at 10.10pm (AEST) and Georgia on Sunday at 5.30pm (AEST) in their crossover games. They must win both to have any chance at making the quarter-finals, as results from the first round carry over. That means Germany and Slovenia are both undefeated and in pole position to take the two quarter-final spots unless they suffer a loss.

The Boomers joined host nation France as being qualified for Paris 2024 after New Zealand missed out on the crossover rounds. Australia take the automatic spot for Oceania.

The highest finishing nations from Asia and Africa along with the two highest nations from Europe and the Americas at this World Cup will also earn places in Paris.

Goorjian said the Japan win provided a guide to how they could restrict NBA superstar Doncic and his high-scoring teammates.

“I thought they shot poorly from the three-point line but a lot of them were contested, they were tipped and the [defensive] switching was really good and much better communication and aggression,” Goorjian said.

“That will be the challenge for us and at another level in the next couple of games. We made them shoot pull-up twos, made them go into the key, but we defended that three-point line and we will have to that going forward.”

Goorjian also said the time for talk was over as a loss to the undefeated Germany during the group games means the Boomers can’t afford to lose another contest, especially to Slovenia.

Goorjian also said his side had taken their loss to Germany to heart and were “locked in”. A poor start in the Germany game led to Goorjian calling time out and issuing a rare spray to his players for not being focused.

Green’s move into the starting lineup and Matisse Thybulle taking his longer arms to the smaller second unit had been a win for the team.

“The assistant coaches were saying to me “these guys are locked in, they know what is at stake”,” Goorjian said.

“I didn’t have to do anything like I did in that time out. There was no emotion from me.

“That was the original plan but Josh had an injury and missed all our camp in Cairns and most of our [lead-in] games.

“I think he is better on the defensive end at the “Delly job” [named after guard Matthew Dellavedova] of picking up the ball and putting pressure up the floor whereas Matisse is long and he can play with that switching group, they were up a level tonight.”

The Boomers beat Slovenia in the bronze medal game at the Tokyo Olympics but this time they have less experienced players playing key roles and they are growing with each game.

Xavier Cooks dunks for the Boomers against Japan.Credit: Getty Images

“I’m happy to move to the next stage with this group,” Goorjian said.

“I know we lost to Germany but from the games I’ve watched, that was one of the best games played at this whole tournament.

“We went up another level tonight and the youth are getting better and better as we play more games.

“When we say we are trying to win gold, Slovenia, Germany - those teams can do the same thing.

“Talk is cheap. When the players do it and it is successful, it really helps us.”

A new Boomers hero emerges to keep campaign alive

Roy Ward

Cooks has been a hero for the two-time NBL champions Sydney Kings and he brought out those same heroics to keep the Australia Boomers alive in the FIBA World Cup in Okinawa on Tuesday night.

Josh Giddey drives to the basket against Japan.Credit: Getty Images

Cooks came off the bench to score 24 points and 16 rebounds in 23 minutes while Josh Giddey had 26 points and 11 assists as the Boomers beat Japan 109-89 to seal their place in the crossover rounds.

A loss to Germany on Sunday night and Japan’s upset win over Finland meant the Boomers had to beat Japan or they would have been out of the tournament.

“It feels great and I think we had 19 assists at half-time, the ball was really flying around,” Cooks told broadcasters after the game.

“We have kind of a new group and we are starting to figure that stuff out now. It’s looking pretty good.”

Australia will take confidence from the business-like way they handled Japan who had a roaring home crowd behind them in Okinawa with centre Joshua Hawkinson leading his nation with 33 points and NBA forward Yuta Watanabe had 24 points.

Japan guard Makoto Hiejima (6) and Australia forward Nick Kay (15) fight for a loose ball in the first half.Credit: AP

The Boomers tally of 109 was their highest score at a World Cup and their offence was far more balanced with six players scoring eight points or more while as a team they won the points in the paint statistic 68-34 and points off the bench 36-22.

Cooks won the NBL MVP award last season while leading the Kings to their second-straight title, he then flew directly to the US to finish the NBA season with the Washington Wizards who have signed him up for this coming season as well.

He showed why he is now an NBA player and one that is pushing for regular minutes with the Wizards as he dominated the rebound battles, ran with purpose and threw down several powerful dunks early in the game to set up Australia’s win.

Cooks has been desperately waiting for his chance to play for the Boomers at a major tournament after a knee injury denied him a chance to take his place in the 2019 event. He also missed selection for the Tokyo Olympics and had to settle for being one of the injury reserves.

Cooks, whose dad Eric was a long-time star in the NBL and SEABL, has brought that desperation into this tournament and been a difference in all three games.

Giddey and Patty Mills (13 points, nine assists) both did well to set up their teammates combining for 20 assists while NBA swingman Josh Green came into the starting five and was very efficient scoring 15 points on five of seven shooting and had four steals.

The Boomers will play their crossover games on Friday night and Sunday night with the draw still to be finalised.

All Boomers and Team USA games are live on ESPN and Kayo Freebies.

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