Chris Pike’s Boomers Olympics Preview: Game 1

Posted on July 26, 2024July 26, 2024 | Posted by TABtouch

Game 1 v Spain (5pm WST Saturday 27th July)

Coming off winning bronze in Tokyo, there’s plenty of spotlight on the Australian Boomers at the Paris Olympic Games and their campaign gets underway against Spain on Saturday evening at 5pm WST.

The Boomers have found themselves in a tremendously tough group featuring the world No. 2 ranked Spain, No. 7 ranked Canada and No. 14 ranked Greece.

First up is a tough match up with Spain who are perennial medal contenders at the Olympics while the Boomers look to make a winning start to back up what they did in Tokyo winning bronze for the first ever medal by the men’s basketball team.

The lead up has attracted plenty of attention just with the selection of the 12-man squad alone with gun NBA defender Matisse Thybulle missing the cut along with NBL sharpshooter Chris Goulding and former NBL MVP and Washington Wizards NBA forward Xavier Cooks.

However, that’s all done now and the 12 men striving for a medal get things underway on Saturday night on the back of impressive lead up form including a win against the Olympics hosts France and a heartening performance against the USA.

Coach Brian Goorjian looks set to back in the heart and soul of Australian basketball, Patty Mills, in the starting line-up and should Australia win, he’ll comfortably need to cover his 16.5 points at $1.80.

This is Josh Giddey’s team though. Recently traded to the Chicago Bulls in the NBA, he’ll be the one with the ball in his hands most of the time and as long as his teammates finish his passes, he’ll look to clear 6.5 assists at $1.70.

Another NBA player, Jock Landale of the Houston Rockets, was missing in a disappointing World Cup for the Boomers last year, but he’ll be the main force inside and will need to over the 6.5 rebounds at $1.85.

Spain is always tough, but for this to be a successful Olympics campaign for the Boomers they need to get a winning start and winning at the line of -5 at $1.85 looks a good option before they face Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Canada, and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece to close the pool stage.

Verdict: Australia (-5 Line at $1.85*)

*Odds correct as at 12pm 26th July 2024.

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