Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Draw definitely could’ve been easier (understatement - it’s the group of death), but realistically if we consider ourselves a chance at an Olympic medal in 2020, we need to make it out of this group. Canada, while they have the players, lack the international experience we have, whereas Lithuania are quite the opposite, having the experience but less talent.Horrible draw for Aus. Is it just me or do we always get screwed?
Canda are in another league to usIt wont be easy. Canada are as good as us on paper. Plus there's still a bit of uncertainty around Ben playing.
Seems like this far out there are eleven near certainties in my view and only one place up for grabs barring a major change.
The eleven highly likely selections in my view are:
1. Bolden
2. Baynes
3. Ingles
4. Simmons
5. Mills
6. Exum
7. Delly
8. Thon
9. Broekhoff
10. Creek
11. Bogut
!2th spot to come down to how much Green develops or a selection based on providing insurance for injuries. Motum could be the guy if there is a selection based on insurance for injuries. Simply because of his experience as well as the fact he can shoot and defend with underated athleticism. Lansdale and Mathaing are too much like Bogut and Baynes in terms of game style in my view. While Adel, Cooks, Sobey or Goulding would also be in the frame for selection.
Canada have little experience on the world stage, which is where we have the edge. It also seems like there is a good possibilty that Wiggins doesn’t play.Canda are in another league to us
We dont have a guard like murray or wiggins who can drop 25-30, which is probably the big difference
Canda are in another league to us
We dont have a guard like murray or wiggins who can drop 25-30, which is probably the big difference
People need to be reminded international basketball is completely different to NBA hence the success of European nations.
Having the thought of Simmons, Mills, Ingles, Broekhoff and Bolden on the court at once could be scary. Add in Maker, Delledova and co could hitting the 3 ball. I would take Sobey now that Exum is out due to his athleticism and ability play quickly in transition.
At this stage I think Simmons is a 50/50 chance of playing depending on numerous circumstances at end of the NBA season.
Green has explicitly stated he wants to play at the WC, he's only a kid, might not currently be as good as Sobey, but I don't think they make the same mistake they did with Simmons, who's current reluctance is in part due to being snubbed last time from what I've been told by people who absolutely know.
Pretty well known that not being selected for the World Cup was a big reason why he didn't make himself available for the Rio Olympics. I'd be picking Green just for the experience since he's almost certainly going to be a future NBA star.Green has explicitly stated he wants to play at the WC, he's only a kid, might not currently be as good as Sobey, but I don't think they make the same mistake they did with Simmons, who's current reluctance is in part due to being snubbed last time from what I've been told by people who absolutely know.
Where has Green said that? I follow him on twitter and google him a fair bit. Havent heard that before. He's dreaming if he thinks he's a sure thing without massive improvement before the world champs. Ive only read he wants to play for Australia long term.Green has explicitly stated he wants to play at the WC, he's only a kid, might not currently be as good as Sobey, but I don't think they make the same mistake they did with Simmons, who's current reluctance is in part due to being snubbed last time from what I've been told by people who absolutely know.
I linked it in my post above yours. He apparently spoke directly to foxsports.com.au.Where has Green said that? I follow him on twitter and google him a fair bit. Havent heard that before. He's dreaming if he thinks he's a sure thing without massive improvement before the world champs. Ive only read he wants to play for Australia long term.
Basically you're saying it was a mistake to not select a (admittedly elite) high school player for a senior international tournament. I disagree. Simmons inclusion would not have made us perform any better at the last Worlds, and for the minutes he may have gotten if selected, it wouldn't have done much to improve his game.I don't think they make the same mistake they did with Simmons, who's current reluctance is in part due to being snubbed last time from what I've been told by people who absolutely know.
Basically you're saying it was a mistake to not select a (admittedly elite) high school player for a senior international tournament. I disagree. Simmons inclusion would not have made us perform any better at the last Worlds, and for the minutes he may have gotten if selected, it wouldn't have done much to improve his game.
Qualifiers are a different thing all together though.He’d already played for Australia in World Cup qualifiers 2 years before as a 15 year old, so it wasn’t as if it was some left field selection.
I’m only going off what I was told at the NBL MVP awards gala a few weeks ago, he wanted to make the squad, he was good enough to make the squad, they controversially overlooked him at the time.
He remembers the slight.
Yeah, they were placed in 8 pots according to ranking, but some teams were not allowed to end up in the same team as each other.Are these groups seeded at all? They don't seem very equal.
Yep thanx for the link. Ill admit I was wrong in an earlier post. Simmons did say he wasnt happy not being selected for the last world champs, so fair enough. You were right and I was wrong. Green should definitely make the team if Exum and Simmons dont play. Ill be optimistic until its 100% confirmed.I linked it in my post above yours. He apparently spoke directly to foxsports.com.au.