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6 August, 2024

Delly’s hustle key to Boomers securing quarter-finals berth despite loss to Greece

The scoreboard might not have shown it on Friday night, but the Australian Boomers’ berth in the quarter-finals of the Olympics might have boiled down to the hustle and want to win of Maryborough’s own Matthew Dellavedova.

By Michael Thompson

Delly’s hustle key to Boomers securing quarter-finals berth despite loss to Greece - feature photo

At half time against Greece on Friday night, it looked as though the Boomers, for all money, would be going home in the group stage.

Sitting 17 points behind, the Australians were playing clunky sets on offense and unable to stop the influence of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Thomas Walkup on the defensive end.

However, Dellavedova’s second half cameo brought plenty of energy, despite playing just seven minutes on the night, and he helped settle down the Boomers when they needed it to eventually reduce the margin to six points by the end of the game, and with Canada defeating Spain, the Boomers are now up for the fight with a meeting with Serbia for the right to go into the semi-finals — and a guaranteed fight for a medal.

Greece started strongly on Friday night as Antetokounmpo and Walkup provided much of the scoring in the early stages, while Nick Calathes also provided plenty of energy early on.

That allowed the Greeks to open up a 8-2 lead early on, before Australia started to settle, with Jock Landale providing plenty of energy.

With Patty Mills also making shots early on in the game, it meant that Australia was able to reduce the margin to one point at quarter time, with Greece leading 25-24.

However, the start of the second term was punishing for Australia, with Greece going on a quick 14-0 run, and putting the Boomers on the back foot. Antetokounmpo was continuing to dominate, while Dinos Mitoglou also busy in the second quarter.

Greece would go on to score 28 points to 12 for the term to lead by 17 points at half time, 53-36, with plenty of concerns for the Boomers.

Greece continued to have all the answers to start the third term, making it hard for Australia to score at will in the paint as they had across the first two group games against Spain and Canada.

However, throwing caution to the wind, Boomers coach Brian Goorjian threw Dellavedova and power forward Duop Reath into the game, and the duo would help Australia creep back into the game.

Dellavedova would immediately impact by providing an assist to Landale for an easy two-point bucket, before providing two rebounds later in the piece.

Delly would soon hit a big three to reduce the margin to 12 points, which saw Australia trail 50-62 at the final change.

Dellavedova’s efforts sparked the team, and it brought the Boomers into action, with Landale, Dyson Daniels, Nick Kay, Will Magnay and Mills all scoring to reduce the Greek lead to four points halfway through the final term.

With four minutes to go, Dellavedova was brought back in, and provided a huge steal which helped Australia eventually score a bucket through Mills, which reduced the margin to two points.

However, Greece would go on to have all the answers, and took a six-point victory, despite conceding 21 points to 15 in the last, holding on for a 77-71 victory.

Dellavedova’s seven minutes on court yielded three points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal, and he also provided a shift in mindset for the Australians, finishing with a team high +10 rating on the court.

Dellavedova’s minutes won praise from former Boomer Brad Newley on the NBL’s Gold Standard podcast, suggesting that he could be helpful to the Boomers’ quest to beat Serbia in their quarter-final matchup tonight.

“He was great, his minutes kind of turned the game around a little bit. Who knows, maybe we see a little bit of him earlier next match,” he said.

The Boomers now turn their attention to the might of Serbia and their leader, three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.

They will have a good understanding of what Serbia will throw at them after defeating them in a warm-up match for the Olympics just two weeks ago, having won 84-73 in Abu Dhabi.

Jokic will be the key man to stop, particularly with his all-round brilliance in grabbing rebounds, scoring impossible buckets at will and bringing his teammates into the game which has been a hallmark of his basketball at the Denver Nuggets, while Filip Petrusev, who scored 17 points in their last meeting, will also be an offensive threat.

Australia will be hoping to repeat the heroics of Mills, who scored 28 points in their last meeting, while Dante Exum, with his 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Josh Giddey, with his 13 points, six rebounds and two assists, will also be called upon much like that game in Abu Dhabi.

The Boomers will be on court at 10.30 pm tonight.

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