Bogut: Australian mix a concern

Who claims the final spot in Australia’s starting five at the Olympics?

According to Australian basketball champion Andrew Bogut, four names are already locked in.

“I think it would be much the same with what we've seen in the lead ups … Josh (Giddey), Patty (Mills), Jock (Landale), obviously the locks … I think (Nick) Kay's locked up the four,” Bogut said on The Gold Standard podcast.

“Then it's just a matter of who's that three. Is it Josh Green? Does he get a chance to start? I think the three's the one that's up in the air.”

The Dallas Mavericks young gun has been a solid performer in the Boomers’ recent hit-outs, with his outstanding athleticism providing a point-of-difference in the lineup. 

While Bogut says that starting five is close to complete, it’s the rotation that worries him most.

“One thing I'd probably say is a negative, the lineups still aren't clear. We still don't have a really direct line to this is our five, these are the three or four main guys off the bench, these five guys are finishing games,” Bogut said. 

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The uncertainty around Dante Exum only adds to that conundrum, with the 29-year-old a chance to miss games with a finger injury. 

“Goorj (Brian Goorjan) has really tinkered with it (the team) right up to the last minute,” Bogut said. 

“We saw Joey (Ingles) not playing early in the friendlies and then all of a sudden playing 10 minutes in some games. Delly’s (Matthew Dellavedova) been in and out.

“That's the only concern I have, is who's our go-to lineup when the chips fall down? I think Goorj probably still is scratching his head and figuring that out and is going to be a play it by ear. 

“That is a bit of a concern, because these teams that come through the qualification phase … they've got their stuff down pat. They know who their five is. They know who their three or four bench guys they can lean on, and they've got two or three guys that aren't going to play much. It's all churning like a motor, right? We're not at that stage yet. I think that's a little bit of a concern for me.”

Despite those concerns, both Bogut and fellow Gold Standard host Brad Newley have backed the Boomers to start their Paris campaign on a winning note against Spain.

 “I'm backing them in for sure,” Newley said.

“It's just how we handle the chaos of that first few minutes … it's going to be hectic. There'll be some turnovers, but whoever wins that initial battle, I think will set themselves up for a good result. 

“I think we've got the mentality now that we can do that.”

“Whoever steadies first is going to win the game,” Bogut added.

“We can't afford to get out to a 10-2 hole or something like that just, because when the Euros get out to big leads, it's very hard to reel it back. 

“If we can get a lead early and then make Spain have to kind of buy into our pace of play to get the lead back, knowing that they need to speed up the play, it plays it right in our hands. 

“I think we're favourites for a reason, but it still is a danger game when it's Spain. I'm still picking Australia, obviously, but I'm a little bit nervous about this one as our first game.”

Australia v Spain
Saturday, July 27, 7pm AEST
How to watch: Nine Network, Stan Sport
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