YouTube Gold: US-Aussie Exhibition Highlights!

As we’ve said before, the Boomers play a beautiful game of basketball

In recent years the Australian National Team has given Team USA some cold reality checks in international competition, winning exhibition games in 2019 and 2021.

The teams met again on Monday in Abu Dhabi and the Aussies again gave the U.S. fits, losing by just six, 98-92.

Team USA had 18 turnovers, which is far from ideal but even worse? The Yanks gave up 68 points in the paint.

Anthony Davis will be the primary paint defender, but no one can do it alone.

Still, as we’ve argued for some time, basketball is worldwide now and the Boomers have a deep roster. Check it out:

• Dyson Daniels
• Jock Landale
• Patty Mills
• Josh Giddey
• Dante Exum
• Joe Ingles
• Matthew Dellavedova

There are others but these are the names most of us are most familiar with.

As you may remember from previous games, the Aussies play very well together and while they do have an excellent three point game, they cut and pass extremely well.

What we’ve seen in past years is that the U.S. has a big advantage when it gets out and presses defensively. Having both Jrue Holiday and Derrick White. However, White just joined the team and didn’t play and neither did Kevin Durant. Both would have obviously helped (Durant is out with a calf injury).

And of course it’s only a tuneup. There are still about two weeks before the Paris Olympic starts and all the data and feedback should help.