Having to adjust their rotations due to the loss of Aron Baynes to a neck injury, it would have been understandable if Australia had a slow start, with Nic Kay moving into the starting line-up rather than coming off the bench.

But the Boomers came out firing.

“They’re a great team, they are a well-coached team, they’re physical they run hard and transition, but I think most importantly for us it was getting used to life without Baynesy (Aron Baynes),” Jock Landale said.

“Getting used to our rotations where we would be playing and seeing Joe a lot more at the four, Nic and I more at the five. It was important for us to get some solid movement out there in our new roles and just try and adjust to the new style of play that we are going to be used to seeing now.

“I think we did really a really good job of adjusting on the fly with only a day’s preparation and now we’ve got to continue it for the rest of the tournament.”

Jock Landale got the Boomers on the board only 13 seconds into the game with a long three-point shot, teaming up with Joe Ingles and Nic Kay to control the ball movement early. Ingles was quick to get on the scoresheet, sinking two points from inside the paint.

The Australian’s defence was strong to start, with the German’s not getting a score on the board until nearly three minutes into the period.

Despite taking a few minutes of play for the German’s to find their feet, they put a challenge to the Boomers, levelling the score and then taking a four-point lead until a huge three from Patty Mills helped the Boomers close the gap.

The lead swung back and forth between both sides until the end of the quarter, with a stunning three-point shot from Chris Goulding in the corner on the buzzer reducing the margin to 18-22 to put the pressure on Germany at the first break.

Matthew Dellavedova helped get Patty Mills on the board again early in the second period of play with another long three-point shot to set the tone. But an unfortunate hit to Dellavedova’s eye caused the point guard to be sent off briefly for assessment, despite his insistence, only to return and get a great steal minutes later.

“Today coming into the game, it was about this group being together for 12 years and it’s got a special comradery,” Coach Brian Goorjian said. 

“It plays with a special team-ship and it has a chance in these games to showcase that.

“The key for us tonight again was that defensive end of the floor, the extra pass, get the ball from side to side and then putting the ball in the right guys hands to finish the clock, which was either Joey (Joe Ingles) or Patty (Mills) where they either scored or made the right play.

“We have a long way to go but there is a nice progression for us from one game, two games and tonight’s third game and all the games are very important.”

The Boomers took control of the game in the second half, playing fast and efficient and both ends of the court, finding a rhythm and tempo that the German’s couldn’t match, and were up by seven going into the final break, 66-59.

Despite a surge of energy from the German’s early in the fourth, the Boomers stuck to their game plan and ended up running away with the game, with 24 points and six assists from Patty Mills as well as 18 points from Jock Landale helping the Australian’s to an 89-76 victory.

After an eventful couple of days for the Boomers, Coach Brian Goorjian said he and the team were grateful and embraced the support and vibe of the entire Olympic Team in the Village.

“We get to know each other and support each other. The Women’s games, the athletics, the swimming, they all come in and everybody is supporting each other, coaches included,” Goorjian added.

“Coming through the elevator we get the comments ‘we’re watching tonight coach’ or ‘good luck tonight’ from all aspects of the entire national team. That’s what makes the Olympics so special.

“The team and all the culture supporting each other, it’s a tremendous thing.”  

Shannon Knaus