Host nation Japan rates the Boomers as one of the “world’s best” teams, but they’re preparing to withstand a “punch” in the face as they look to cause one of the biggest boilovers in FIBA basketball history.
Pressure on the Boomers to beat Japan on Tuesday night has ramped up, with an automatic qualification position for next year’s Paris Olympics on the line.
This would be problematic as there are only five spots remaining for the Olympics – and most NBA players wouldn’t be available.
New Zealand’s 95-87 overtime victory against Jordan on Monday helped the Kiwis join the Australians with a 1-1 record at the World Cup.
The highest finisher at this year’s Cup between Australia and New Zealand receives an automatic qualification for the 2024 Paris Games.
It means the Boomers must now defeat Japan on Tuesday from 9.10pm (AEST) – and hope New Zealand loses its final group game against Greece on Wednesday.
If Australia fails to beat Japan, it will give New Zealand a chance to receive the automatic qualification for the Olympics if they can defeat the Greeks.
The Boomers could still reach Paris, but they’d have to play in a qualifying tournament.
Australia has a 5-1 record against Japan, admittedly in Asia Cup, but the co-host nation is coming off a historic and emotionally charged come-from-behind win over Finland.
The 10-point triumph was their first win over a European team at a World Cup, which sent the almost 8,000-strong crowd into raptures.
It means the Boomers will walk into a hotbed of national pride on Tuesday when they take on Japan at a home World Cup.
Japanese coach Tom Hovasse respects Australia enormously, but he’ll be telling his charges not to take a backwards step against the Boomers.
“If we can settle in and play our game and kind of create the pace that we want, I like our chances,” Hovasse said about Japan’s chances taking on an Australian side featuring nine NBA players.
“We’re here to win, we’re not here to participate.
“We’ve gotta take the punch and counter, and hopefully we can show ‘em what we got.
“They’re one of the best teams in the world. So, we can’t allow them to push us around.
“They’re bigger, they’re stronger, we have to battle on the rebounds, we have to keep it close on the rebounds. And, we have to shoot, probably better.”
Hovasse is refusing to take Australia lightly, knowing they’ll hit back hard after Sunday’s heartbreaking loss to Germany.
“Coach Goorjian has them playing very well and they are amazing,” he said.
“They lost a tough one (on Sunday), so they’re going to be hungry, they’re going to come with all they have.”
Veteran Boomers forward Joe Ingles knows the Japanese will come out firing in front of a passionate home crowd.
“Japan are a good team – they press a lot and play a lot of zone,” Ingles said.
“We are playing in Japan, so they’ve got a home crowd there.
“We’ll watch a bit of film and get ready for that.
“It’s obviously frustrating and disappointing, but it’s over with now and we’ll see where we can get better at.”
TIGHTROPE AND CHANGES TO LINE-UP?
Australia lost to Germany by just three points, but their World Cup campaign hangs in the balance to reach the quarter-finals.
The Boomers must beat Japan on Tuesday from 9.10pm (AEST) to progress.
A date with Luka Doncic’s Slovenia and Georgia awaits in second group phase, but Australia needs to win both those games to reach the quarter-finals.
It’s looking like the Boomers would face either the winner of Group G (Spain) or the winner of Group H (Canada) in the quarter-finals.
Australia is more than capable of reviving their Cup campaign with victories over Japan, Slovenia and Georgia, but they need to improve a host of key areas.
The slow starts, which have plagued the Boomers since the World Cup warm-up games in Melbourne, is a clear problem.
It begs the question: Does coach Goorjian need to tweak his starting five?
The legendary mentor has started Josh Giddey, Patty Mills, Matisse Thybulle, Nick Kay and Duop Reath in the first two games against Finland and Germany.
There are calls for Goorjian to change this starting lineup, however it appears unlikely heading into Tuesday’s game against Japan.
The Australians have a clear size advantage, which could allow out of touch players like Kay and Reath to build much needed confidence.
Dallas guard Josh Green could be an option to replace Thybulle moving forward, but the Boomers are also juggling Green’s minutes after he suffered an ankle injury during a warm-up win over France.
The Mavericks signing excelled starting against the French before he went down injured.
COOKS STARTING?
The Boomers are at their most efficient when former Sydney Kings star Xavier Cooks is on the floor – and he could be a starting option as the tournament progresses.
Cooks was brilliant again coming off the bench in Sunday’s loss to Germany.
The Washington Wizard had nine points and five rebounds while he was a beast on the defensive end.
Goorjian praised Cooks’ display post-game, saying he is vital to Australia’s chances, especially with starting centre Jock Landale ruled out of the Cup with an ankle injury.
“That’s not having Jock, so he (Xavier) is now the backup five,” Goorjian said.
“If you look at statistically, offensively and defensively and our plus and minus, we’ve been our best with him on the floor.
“Again, we played him a lot (against Germany) and he kept us in the game, and he was crucial for us. He has been tremendous.
“In the small ball line up and the switching, we keep moving forward with that group.
“The subbing with that group, a lot of the times like Josh Green is because he hasn’t played a lot.
“It’s the same thing with Xavier. A lot of the time we have to get him out of there because he is exhausted, but Xavier is crucial for us if we are going to progress out of this group.”
Originally published as Basketball World Cup: Latest news ahead of crucial Australia v Japan Group E showdown