Boomers Team, NBL & Tiny At Discos

- Basketball Australia - “The players selected displayed a combination of physical grunt and skill on a daily basis during the camp and I’m looking forward to getting on the road with the team and seeing the same effort and intensity in a game situation,” Head Coach Brett Brown said.

The announcement of the Australian Boomers team is still fresh in my mind but I wish to take some time to digest it all before I make a comment on this very diluted national team.

In the meantime here are some audio grabs from the camp in Canberra.

- Head Coach Brett Brown
- Nathan Jawai
- Pat Mills (from USA)
- James Harvey

- wwos.com.au - "I've been given the all clear now from doctors, so I'm thrilled I can continue playing basketball at the highest level with the Tigers," Sam Mackinnon said.

With a healthy Sam MacKinnon lining up for the Melbourne Tigers it really does not matter who they sign at the point guard spot.

I'm not being disrespectful to any incoming point guard (I'll guess Nathan Crosswell and already signed Luke Kendall) but MacKinnon, when healthy, is one of the best creators in the game.

Chris Anstey, Mark Worthington and David Barlow will be hoping that MacKinnon has shaken his much documented health issues so they can be the recipients of his playmaking abilities.

I'm guessing with this signing the Tigers will start the season as title favourites.

- Adelaide Advertiser - "I've got a decent outside shot and I'm a bit more mobile running up and down the floor with my athleticism" said new Adelaide 36ers signing Matt Burston.

The NBL is short on big men but I think Burston is being a little kind to himself talking about his perimeter game and athleticism.

I'm sure Coach Scott Ninnis would have preferred to be hearing about rebounding and a low post prescence from his newly signed big man.

- Illawarra Mercury - "I'm (Glen Saville) not quite ready to make an announcement yet, but we're definitely getting closer. There's still one or two minor things that my agent (Geoff McGuire) is sorting out, but it's nothing that's going to be a deal breaker."

My question to "Sav", if they are not deal breakers, why haven't you signed yet?

- Sacramento Kings taking a long look at Pat Mills?

- NBA FanHouse feels Mills is not getting the hype he deserves leading into this week's NBA Draft.

- Keith Langlois who covers the Detroit Pistons thinks Joe Ingles "could develop into a Hedo Turkoglu type" of player.

I'm sure Joe can live with that considering Hedo will be receiving a contract in the $10mil/year range this offseason.

- Who would have thought Kendall "Tiny" Pinder loved discos. Enjoy a trip down memory lane with the Sydney Supersonics. Also, check out a young John Harker with no Nappy San in sight.

Boomers Assistants Named

New Zealand Breakers Head Coach Andrej Lemanis gets his chance on the international stage with the Boomers.

This article is courtesy of Sportal.

Three new assistant coaches have been named to help Brett Brown pilot Australia's men's basketball team through to the London Olympics in 2012.

Brown, who was named as the new Boomers coach last month, will be joined by Andrej Lemanis, Shane Heal and Marty Clarke and they will guide the Australian team through until at least 2012.

That means outgoing coach Brian Goorjian will have no role, while Brendan Joyce and Gordie McLeod also find themselves on the outer.

Basketball Australia Chief Executive Larry Sengstock was thrilled with the quality of the new assistant coaches and believes they will be able to help Brown guide the Boomers to an Olympic medal in 2012.

"We have entered a new era for the Boomers and I am excited and hopeful about what this coaching staff can deliver," Sengstock said.

In addition to the selection of Lemanis, Heal and Clarke, Bill Tomlinson has also been drafted in as a network coach to assist in the development and preparation of players on an individual basis.

That means Brown will have four experienced people to call on for advice when required and this should help the Boomers in their quest for an Olympic medal.

Brown, who is currently in the United States working as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA playoffs, was extremely happy with the selections of his assistants.

"They are a competitive, astute group and together we are excited to embrace the difficult challenge of securing Australian men's basketball's first medal in senior men's competition," Brown said.

"Marty has a terrific record with the junior program and knows the playing group well from their time together at the Institute; as a four-time Olympian and former Boomers captain Shane is an untapped resource of great value and an inspirational leader; Andrej has an outstanding knowledge of the game and has done very good things with the New Zealand Breakers; and Billy has been one of the top coaches in Australia for the past 25 years."

Let me know what you think about these selections.

Episode 28 of "The OT"

A rare action shot of Brett Brown in his playing days for Boston University. The new Boomers coach joins us on "The OT" for a chat.

"The OT" has come up with the big interviews this week.

The new Australian National Team (Boomers) coach Brett Brown takes time out of his San Antonio Spurs playoff schedule to discuss the Boomers.

He mentions how Andrew Bogut, David Andersen and Matt Nielsen are the "Big 3" with Brad Newley knocking on the door.

Also our "blast from the past" is a former teammate of mine, Derek Rucker.

Rucker a former Davidson College Wildcat standout touches on all topics that include Tina Arena and her lyrics, Seamus McPeake, Pat Mills vs Stephon Curry and my weightroom habits under tough nut fitness guru Billy Johnstone.

To complete the program, Rod and I discuss the NBA playoffs.

Enjoy!

News & Links

Where will Mike Dunlap end when this offseason's coaching movements are complete?

I've just moved camp today from cactus country (Phoenix) to beachside (San Diego).

I'm taking the easy way out today with links everywhere. The six hour drive (which included three border patrol stops, Mexico is very close) has me a little weary but there is plenty happening in Australian basketball right now.

Enjoy all this good stuff.

- First, we have a change of head coach with the National Team. Out goes Brian Goorjian who has held the job for the past six years, and in comes energetic NBA assistant Brett Brown. Brown has been given the job until after the London Games (2012).

Goorjian had two Olympic campaigns during his time at the helm with 9th and 7th place finishes.

Will Brown be able to improve on this? We can all judge his after the London Games.

- It seems the Wollongong Hawks have done everything asked of them to qualify them for the New NBL and all with a touch of Bollywood. Click here for an audio interview with Mat Campbell as well.

On the otherhand, it is a nervous wait for fellow hopeful the Cairns Taipans.

- Kerry Williams is helping out the young hoopers of the Northern Territory. Well done to Kerry.

- One of the NBL's worst kept secrets has finally become public knowledge. Brendon Joyce will not coach the Gold Coast Blaze next season.

- Joe Ingles goes home to play for the Tigers. I'm beginning to sense the 36ers will fullcourt press Ingles about playing for his home team next season.

Only trouble is 36ers coach Scott Ninnis has never dribbled let alone shot a basketball with his left hand. How could he help develop left handed Ingles?

- In the NZNBL, there is a father/son combo.

- For those interested, Mike Dunlap is getting plenty of attention in the USA and Denver Nuggets Head Coach George Karl supports him.

- Memphis give Kentucky permission to speak to John Calipari. Is Dunlap a chance at the Memphis job?

- Click here to see who was named to the All-American 1st team in college.