News Opinion Sport Culture Lifestyle

Basketball

Olympic history has not been kind to the Boomers.

Will this be different?

Kieran Pender in Tokyo

Fri 6 Aug 2021 21.00 BST

It is hard
Show yournotsupport
to feel a sense of déjà vu. Australia’s
for high-impact journalismmen’s basketball team have been
here before – and it has never ended well.
In these extraordinary times, millions rely on the Guardian for high-impact,
Since 1976, the Boomers have progressed to the quarter-finals or further at every
independent journalism that stands for truth and integrity. With no shareholders or
Games but
billionaire one we
owner, (Athens
report 2004). Inevents
on world 1988,with
1996, 2000 and
accuracy, free2016, Australia
from political made it to the
and
semi-finals.
commercial On each
influence. occasion,
And theyothers,
unlike many have lost
we’re– committed
to Yugoslavia, the United
to keeping our States,
France and
reporting openSerbia respectively.
for all readers. Every contribution, however big or small, makes a
difference. Support the Guardian from as little as $1. Thank you.
After this latest semi-final heartbreak, the Boomers have had to
regroup
Supportfor
thethe bronze medal clash. At every attempt, the team has fallen short.
Guardian
Time after time, Australia’s medal hopes have been dashed – by the United States
(by 29 points), Lithuania (six points), Lithuania again (18 points) and most recently
Spain, by just one point after a late foul call in Rio.
Remind me in September
 And so, we are here again. On Saturday night the Boomers face Slovenia in yet
another bronze medal match, after yet another emotional semi-final defeat. Will
this time be different? Brian Goorjian, the Boomers coach and a legendary figure in
Australian basketball, has no doubts. Asked about overcoming past demons to win
bronze, Goorjian’s passion spoke volumes.

“If you can’t handle disappointment, don’t be involved in sport,” he said in an

emotional monologue following Thursday’s loss to Team USA. “Don’t feel sorry for
yourself. It’s a new day. Are you serious about being in the top four in this world, in
these Games, and have an opportunity to step to the plate and have a swim at
something? And you’re going to hang your head?

“Lithuania is not here,” Goorjian continued. “Serbia is not here – the best teams in
the world. We get to go up and pull the bat back and step to the plate and take a
swing. What a great opportunity. I’m not going to cry, I’m not going to feel sorry, I’m
not going to think about past demons. I’m excited. I was excited about [Thursday],
I’m going to be more excited [on Saturday], and I know my team will be.”

Standing between the Boomers and a bronze medal is Slovenia. While the nation is
making its Olympic basketball debut, they arrived in Tokyo with Luka Dončić –
arguably the best player at the tournament. The NBA star has averaged near a triple-
double each game; he even hit a remarkable 48 points against Argentina in the
group stage. While Dončić’s efforts were not enough to help Slovenia overcome
France in the other semi-final – losing by one point – he will be the danger man in
the bronze medal encounter.

Show your support for high-impact journalism

In these extraordinary times, millions rely on the Guardian for high-impact,

independent journalism that stands for truth and integrity. With no shareholders or
billionaire owner, we report on world events with accuracy, free from political and
commercial influence. And unlike many others, we’re committed to keeping our
reporting open for all readers. Every contribution, however big or small, makes a
difference. Support the Guardian from as little as $1. Thank you.

Support the Guardian

Remind me in September
Show your support for high-impact journalism

In these extraordinary times, millions rely on the Guardian for high-impact,

independent journalism that stands for truth and integrity. With no shareholders or
billionaire owner, we report on world events with accuracy, free from political and
commercial influence. And unlike many others, we’re committed to keeping our
reporting open for all readers. Every contribution, however big or small, makes a
“If you can’t handle disappointment, don’t be involved in sport,” Boomers coach Brian Goorjian told his team after their
difference. Support
semi-final loss the Guardian
to Team USA. Photograph: from as little asImages
Jean Catuffe/Getty $1. Thank you.

“There’s a similar challenge to what we had against Team USA,” Goorjian said on
Support the Guardian
Friday, having had a day to reflect on the loss to the Americans. “You’re playing
against the best player in the tournament, with Kevin Durant or Luka. I don’t think
we handled the Durant situation, which really caused us problems. When we had a
Remind me in September
 chance to really put a stamp on the game, we didn’t handle him. Tomorrow the
challenge is how we defend Luka and slow him down.”

If there is any upside for Australia from Slovenia’s defeat, it was the physicality of
their clash with France. Dončić was seen wearing an ice pack on his left wrist after
the match and yelling “Fiba happened” in the mixed zone [a reference to
basketball’s governing body and the presumed difference in refereeing attitudes
towards physical contact, compared with the NBA].

If the Australians are to contain Dončić and take down the Slovenians, they will
need big performances from a number of newer stars. New San Antonio Spurs
signing Jock Landale, 76ers small forward Matisse Thybulle and former top five
draft pick Dante Exum all showed against the United States why they are the future
of the Boomers. They will need to step up again on Saturday.

The older guard, meanwhile, will be hoping for a better showing in what might be
their last international game together. Patty Mills experienced an afternoon of
lacklustre shooting on Thursday, Matthew Dellavedova struggled to find creative
spark and Joe Ingles – despite shooting 60% from the floor – only managed nine
points. With the trio all in their 30s, it is unlikely they will be the core of this team
come Paris.

Quick Guide
How do I sign up for sport breaking news alerts?
Show

Mills, Ingles, Dellavedova – along with the likes of Aron Baynes (injured in the group
stage) and Andrew Bogut (recently retired) – have been at the heart of golden
generation for Australian men’s basketball, but they have never vindicated their
abilityyour
Show with an international
support triumph. A bronze
for high-impact medal on Saturday would be just
journalism
rewards for over a decade of commitment to the national team cause.
In these extraordinary times, millions rely on the Guardian for high-impact,
“[We have]journalism
independent a proud tradition offor
that stands basketball,” Goorjian
truth and integrity. mused
With following the
no shareholders or semi-final
loss. “But
billionaire we’vewe
owner, never
reportmedalled – ever with
on world events medalled Forfree
accuracy, us right now it’sand
from political wipe it, get up
in the morning,
commercial wash
influence. Andyour face,
unlike and
many get ready
others, we’refor this next
committed to one.”
keeping our
reporting open for all readers. Every contribution, however big or small, makes a
The next Support
difference. generation are equally
the Guardian committed,
from if Thank
as little as $1. somewhat
you. less lyrical. “There’ll be
some guys hurting right now,” said Landale. “It’s our jobs to pick them up and make
sure theythe
Support realise that we have one more game [on Saturday] and we can fucking
Guardian
make history.”

Remind me in September
 … as you're joining us from India, we have a small favour to ask. Tens of millions
have placed their trust in the Guardian’s high-impact journalism since we started
publishing 200 years ago, turning to us in moments of crisis, uncertainty,
solidarity and hope. More than 1.5 million readers, from 180 countries, have
recently taken the step to support us financially – keeping us open to all, and
fiercely independent.
With no shareholders or billionaire owner, we can set our own agenda and provide
trustworthy journalism that’s free from commercial and political influence,
offering a counterweight to the spread of misinformation. When it’s never
mattered more, we can investigate and challenge without fear or favour.
Unlike many others, Guardian journalism is available for everyone to read,
regardless of what they can afford to pay. We do this because we believe in
information equality. Greater numbers of people can keep track of global events,
understand their impact on people and communities, and become inspired to take
meaningful action.
We aim to offer readers a comprehensive, international perspective on critical
events shaping our world – from the Black Lives Matter movement, to the new
American administration, Brexit, and the world's slow emergence from a global
pandemic. We are committed to upholding our reputation for urgent, powerful
reporting on the climate emergency, and made the decision to reject advertising
from fossil fuel companies, divest from the oil and gas industries, and set a course
to achieve net zero emissions by 2030.
If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or
small, powers our journalism and sustains our future. Support the Guardian from
as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

Support the Guardian Remind me in September

Show your support for high-impact journalism

In these extraordinary times, millions rely on the Guardian for high-impact,

independent journalism that stands for truth and integrity. With no shareholders or
billionaire owner, we report on world events with accuracy, free from political and
commercial influence. And unlike many others, we’re committed to keeping our
reporting open for all readers. Every contribution, however big or small, makes a
difference. Support the Guardian from as little as $1. Thank you.

Support the Guardian

Remind me in September