The Boomers have bigger dreams than just minor medals in Tokyo

Tokyo: It would be tempting to say this has been a game five years in the making for the Boomers, that all roads from the smouldering remains of Rio have now converged ahead of their semi-final at the Olympic basketball tournament.

In another era, this may have rung true. Making the semi-finals for the fifth time and wandering into a foregone conclusion against the USA might have seemed like a good week at the office. Then, they could regroup to focus on the real goal, a lesser medal to break their Olympic drought.

Boomers veteran Joe Ingles with teammate Nathan Sobey.Credit:Getty Images

Times change. So have the Boomers and so have the USA, whose squad in Tokyo is stacked, as you would expect, but not quite invincible. Australian basketball has progressed to the point where being the gallant loser to the global galacticos is no longer a cause for satisfaction.

“We’ve done it before. It’s not like we’ve never beaten them,” said Boomers forward Joe Ingles, who along with captain Patty Mills adds a veteran, NBA-level composure to the squad as well as his on-court smarts.

“You have respect for what they’ve done and who they’ve got and their coach but if we’re not going to go into the game confident, there’s not much point of showing up.”

It has been a fruitful few weeks for the Boomers, who have gone through the prelims undefeated and been bolstered by some signing news ahead of their appointment with the Americans on Thursday. Mills, the long-time San Antonio Spur, inked a new deal with the Brooklyn Nets, while big man Jock Landale has does enough to convince Team USA and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich that he’s worth a two-year shot in the NBA.

The Australians gave the impression of a team that had always set their sights on loftier goals after they caught fire against Argentina. Ingles said that victory was simply another step along the road towards the medals, which have evaded Australia in the men’s tournament since their debut in Melbourne in 1956.

Four times they have made the medal rounds (1988, 1996, 2000, 2016) and four times they have left empty-handed. Ingles said they weren’t departing without one this time and would be preparing meticulously in a bid to upset the USA and make the final, rather than risk another heartbreaking bronze play-off like the one that left them distraught against Spain in Rio.

“We’ve had one goal in mind, to win a gold medal and leave with that. This [Argentina] was a stepping stone to that and we have a couple more games now. Rest up recover, watch the film … we know who we’re against. They have a couple of new players they didn’t have last time we played them,” Ingles said.

“In 15 years, I don’t think I’ve gone in expecting to lose a game. I think that’s the worst mindset you can have, regardless of the situation or who you’re playing. Everyone is trying to win.

Patty Mills (centre) drives to the basket against Italy.Credit:AP

“We’re well aware this is a tough game but we’re a confident group. We know where our bread is buttered. We get ready for who is in front of us and it happens to be USA.”

The Boomers needed to get in the grind against Argentina, who led after the first quarter. But when the Australians found their range and locked down defensively, there was no doubt over the result as they skipped away for a 97-59 win.

It was deeply impressive but Ingles knows they can be better, while influential swingman Matisse Thybulle felt like they were just getting started. But even though they defeated the USA in an Olympic warm-up tournament in Las Vegas, the reigning champions are a different beast when the medals are on the line.

“There is still a lot of stuff we can fix. But Team USA is a different team to all of them. They can get out and run, they’re athletic, they want to play the open floor. We’re happy with what we’ve done, we flick the switch and get ready for the next one.”

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