Wednesday 8 August 2012

Valiant Boomers beaten by US

It was a predictable result between two mismatched teams, but the Australian Boomers will leave London knowing they can contend with the world's best players.
In a quarter-final match against the United States, the Boomers stuck with the team of superstars and millionaires for most of the match.
But they couldn't maintain the intense pressure needed to stop the world's best players in London as their Olympic campaign ended with an 119-86 defeat.
Most knew the result was coming. In fact, most probably expected the margin to be bigger.
But the spirited Boomers fought until the end against the gold medal favourites boasting a line-up which has been compared to Michael Jordan's Dream Team.
Comparing the two rosters is unfair, with Patrick Mills the only NBA player in the Boomers squad.
Despite lining up against some of the greatest players in the game, the Boomers stayed tough and gritty to get within striking distance.
Mills continued his outstanding Olympics to top-score with 26 points.
Mills scored 39 points against Great Britain earlier in the tournament and hit a game-winning three-pointer to beat Russia.
But the Boomers didn't have the depth around him, even though he was well supported by Joe Ingles who had the tough task of trying to tame LeBron James.
The Boomers were quick out of the blocks with Mills scoring six early points.
But they lacked the polish in attack to stick with the world's best team, continually missing baskets which would have kept them in the contest.
Maybe it was stage fright, but even regulation free-throws became a problem with the Boomers hitting just five of 12 attempts in the first quarter.
Mills was the shining light for the Boomers and he kept his team within striking distance when he made a superb drive to the basket to make the score 28-21 at the first break.

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