Why Brian Goorjian cut Boomers stars Chris Goulding, Matisse Thybulle, Xavier Cooks from Paris Olympics squad | Analysis

Big names Chris Goulding, Matisse Thybulle and Xavier Cooks have all been cut for the Paris Games. MATT LOGUE and MICHAEL RANDALL analyse why Boomers coach Brian Goorjian made the big calls.

The need for an extra big man, the lights out shooting from Jack McVeigh, a focus on Matthew Dellavedova and Dyson Daniels as the defensive beasts and Nick Kay’s shooting are the major reasons behind the Boomers’ shock selection decisions for the Paris Games.

As revealed by Code Sports, Olympic bronze medallists Chris Goulding, Matisse Thybulle and defensive beast Xavier Cooks have all been cut for the Paris Games.

Goulding, Thybulle and Cooks will join NBL stars Jack White and Dejan Vasiljevic as part of the squad cull.

The cuts have shocked basketball legends and fans alike, but no cut in a star-studded squad was going to be easy, and the coaching staff have a plan in place.

Portland Trailblazer Thybulle, 27, is a surprise omission, given the athletic defensive guard-forward has elite tools and was a member of the Boomers’ bronze-medal winning Tokyo Olympic team.

Matisse Thybulle is a surprise omission from the Boomers squad. Picture: Getty Images

While Australian officials value the NBA star’s assets, especially his perimeter defence, it’s understood a decision was made to focus on three-time Olympian Dellavedova and rising guard Daniels as the team’s defensive identity.

Bogut was particuarly shocked with Thybulle’s cut from the Boomers squad. “’Tisse’ (Thybulle) is a real interesting one. He’s arguably the best defender on that squad, one of the best defenders in the NBA,” the three-time Olympian said.

“I think the ups and downs of his shooting was a concern, and how in the last campaign (the World Cup) I think he struggled a little bit with that, when his shot wasn’t falling.”

The move to leave Cooks out of the squad is also intriguing. The versatile big man just signed the biggest contract in NBL history to play under Goorjian at the Sydney Kings for the next three years — a marker of the brutal reality of Olympic selection.

Boomers coach Brian Goorjian. Picture: Getty Images

It’s understood the desire to select a third big man in Magnay as backup for Jock Landale and Duop Reath played against Cooks.

The three-point shooting of veteran forward Kay also weighed against the Kings star being selected for Paris given he isn’t a noted perimeter shooter.

One of Australia’s greatest marksmen, Goulding, 35, appeared to book his ticket to Paris with eight treys in the two games against China. But selectors opted to look elsewhere.

It’s understood McVeigh’s red-hot form in camp and during Tuesday’s warm-up win over China was too strong to ignore.

Jack McVeigh’s form was too strong to ignore. Picture: Getty Images

The NBL grand final MVP dropped a team-high 24 points in the victory, including six of eight from three, prompting senior players to declare him a must-selection for Paris.

White, who will play for Melbourne United this season after two years in the US, and sharpshooting Adelaide 36ers guard Dejan Vasiljevic were told before Thursday night’s game they would not get any game time but did not find out they wouldn’t be on the plane until later that evening.

Tasmania JackJumpers Magnay and McVeigh franked their NBL championship with maiden Olympic berths.

Rising guard Dyson Daniels will help set the Boomers’ defensive identity. Picture: Michael Klein

NBA champion Matthew Dellavedova has won himself a remarkable Olympic lifeline, after vowing to return, following his axing ahead of last year’s FIBA World Cup.

Fellow veteran Joe Ingles also survived the selection cull for Paris, despite murmurs his position could be under threat.

Kay’s selection for Paris has also raised eyebrows given he was exposed defensively during last year’s failed World Cup campaign in Japan. Would the Boomers have been better selecting Cooks — a brilliant defender — instead?

Questions have been asked if selecting the ageing trio of Dellavedova, Ingles and Kay is the right move when other younger, more athletic players could have been selected.

Then again, international experience and lived experience of the Boomers’ dogged culture and what’s required on the Olympic stage is irreplaceable.

Nick Kay’s selection has also raised eyebrows. Picture: Getty Images

On the plus side, the return of key big man Jock Landale is a major boost for Australia heading into the Paris Games.

Landale’s absence at the World Cup due to injury had a major impact on the team — and you only had to take one look at the big man’s stellar performance in Thursday’s win over China to see the major difference he’ll make to the Boomers at this year’s Games.

Time will tell if coach Brian Goorjian has made the right call selection calls.

Until then, the debate will dominate, which is also a testament to the strength and difficulty of naming a 12-man Boomers Olympic squad.

Originally published as Why Brian Goorjian cut Boomers stars Chris Goulding, Matisse Thybulle, Xavier Cooks from Paris Olympics squad | Analysis