Sharky Pete
Great White
Boomers squad - without Jason Cadee and Chris Goulding - 'best in years'
BOTI NAGY THE ADVERTISER
The Advertiser
August 05, 20131:37PM
ADELAIDE 36ers guard Jason Cadee and Melbourne Tigers MVP Chris Goulding were unlucky to miss selection for the Boomers squad ahead of the Oceania Series against New Zealand.
That's the opinion of national coach Andrej Lemanis who today also said Euroleague pair Nathan Jawai and Aleks Maric had been ruled out of contention due to injury.
That said, the Boomers squad of 15 is one of the best assembled in a non-world championship or Olympic year.
It includes eight London Olympians led by Patty Mills, Matthew Dellavedova, Joe Ingles, David Andersen, Aron Baynes, Brad Newley, Adam Gibson and David Barlow.
"I've said it before but those teams that give themselves the best chance to win a medal are the ones which spend time together every year," Lemanis said.
"I'm really pleased with the commitment shown by the core guys."
Jawai (foot) and Maric (groin) both were not in contention for the team which will be selected from this squad which goes into camp on Wednesday in Canberra.
The final line-up will contest the two-game Oceania Series against New Zealand on August 14 in Auckland and on August 18 in Canberra.
The series winner has the higher seeding for next year's FIBA World Championship in Spain.
Lemanis said he had been in communication with Australia's No.1 player, NBA star Andrew Bogut regarding his future with the Boomers.
"Bogut said to me if his body's right he'll play for the Boomers," Lemanis said of the Golden State Warriors' centre.
"With the run of (bad) luck he's had with his body, you don't know ahead of time but he has said he'll play if he's right."
NBL starters Cadee and Goulding arguably were the unlucky pair to miss selection.
Cadee had a terrific series for Australia at the World University Games where Lemanis coached the young national team to the silver medal.
Since crossing to Melbourne from the now defunct Gold Coast Blaze for last NBL season, Goulding has been a revelation.
He was named the All Star Game MVP, won the Tigers' club MVP, trained with NBA star Kyrie Irving, was invited to camp with Cleveland Cavaliers and trained his way into their Las Vegas Summer Pro League team.
"At some point as coach, you have to decide between players," Lemanis said.
"Jason did particularly well at the World University Games.
"I liked the way he played but I especially liked the leadership he showed within the group and the way he carried himself.
"He definitely put himself into contention but we are pretty well served at point guard, with Matthew Dellavedova, Dante Exum an exciting young player, and with Gibbo (Gibson) and Patty (Mills) also able to run the one-spot.
"Jason had a similar situation to Chris (Goulding) who has been playing well and last NBL season did pretty well too.
"Both Jason and Chris, by their own admission, would know that defensively they still have areas to work on.
"Chris can definitely put the ball in the basket."
Lemanis said it was impossible to not be excited about Australia's prospects.
"I'm excited," he said.
"Both Dante and Ben (Simmons) have an athleticism we don't commonly see in this country.
"And Ryan Broekhoff and Cam Bairstow have done well for us and have exciting futures."
http://www.news.com.au/sport/basket...est-in-years8217/story-fne5rn2j-1226691467978