FIBA World Cup LIVE: Boomers out to avoid shock World Cup elimination against Japan
Australia had a giant alternative to seal its spot within the subsequent stage of the FIBA World Cup in opposition to a Germany workforce with out Orlando Magic star Franz Wagner.
Instead, one other gradual begin lastly got here again to hang-out the Boomers and now they put together for a must-win conflict in opposition to Japan that might be far more difficult than it seems on paper.
Japan rallied late in opposition to Finland, drawing off the power of their residence crowd to storm to a 98-88 victory. It means the winner of Tuesday’s sport will end second in Group E.
Beyond the World Cup, Australia should additionally win on Tuesday or danger lacking out on computerized qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The highest finisher between Australia and New Zealand at this 12 months’s World Cup will earn the spot, with the loser having to struggle their approach by means of a qualification event.
While Australia’s roster is extra gifted on the floor, the Boomers must be cautious of underestimating a Japan workforce that’s actually but to understand its true potential on this event.
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MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs Japan rating and play-by-play updates
Boomers denied game-tying alternative | 00:31
In truth, two of the workforce’s finest gamers — Phoenix sharpshooter Yuta Watanabe and former Melbourne United champion Yudai Baba — mixed for simply 9 factors within the win over Finland.
If these two hearth and the remainder of Japan’s gamers raise like they did in opposition to Finland, the Boomers may actually be in for a struggle.
Japan head coach Tom Hovasse known as Australia “one of the best teams in the world” after the victory over Finland and there’s no doubt the Boomers will be that good.
Against Germany although, the Boomers struggled to include the double-punch that was beginning guard Dennis Schröder and Maodo Lo, who offered much-needed manufacturing off the bench with Wagner sidelined.
Australia additionally continuously discovered itself trailing after gradual begins to quarters and whereas the Boomers have been usually capable of drag themselves again into the competition, unhealthy habits ultimately caught as much as them.
Coach Brian Goorjian has named unchanged beginning fives for the primary two video games of the event, though he might alter that method to strive keep away from one other sluggish opening with all the pieces on the road.
In that regard, whereas it’s straightforward to grasp why Goorjian has been reluctant to provide Josh Green too many minutes given his disrupted preparation for the World Cup, the Dallas Mavericks star is one possibility to return into the beginning unit.
That would see Matisse Thybulle drop again to the bench and could be hardly a shock given Goorjian had flagged Green was his most popular starter earlier than the World Cup tipped off.
Outside of that, it’s unlikely the Boomers will make any modifications and can possible lean into the scale benefit they’ve within the type of common starters Nick Kay and Duop Reath.
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