The Boomers have wrapped up their preparation for the Paris Games in dramatic fashion, securing a last-second 83-82 victory over France in their final warm-up game.
Australia was trailing 82-81 with 2.5 seconds on the clock before Josh Giddey, who was called the ‘SLOB Wizard’ during his time at Oklahoma City, proved why that nickname will continue to stick as he picked the perfect moment on the sideline out of bounds pass to find Dyson Daniels for the go-ahead score.
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Boomers win soured by Exum injury | 01:04
It was surprising though just how open Daniels got, with a quick spin move from the Bendigo product seeing him get in front of the France defence before hitting the game-winner.
Daniels has been a revelation in Australia’s four warm-up games after making the World Cup squad last year but playing limited minutes.
It is clear Brian Goorjian has more trust in Daniels this time around and he is giving the Boomers coach no reason to question that, finishing the game against France with 14 points, five assists and just as many steals.
Daniels has been an absolute game-changer on defence but that was always expected to some extent given he has already established himself as one of the NBA’s most underrated players on that end of the floor.
Giddey shines, as Exum cops injury scare | 00:49
It is Daniels’ development and growing confidence with the ball in hand which is an added bonus for the Boomers.
It makes it easier for Goorjian to commit to more minutes for Daniels and his disruptive defence without sacrificing too much scoring, with the 21-year-old going 2-for-4 from deep and shooting 6-for-9 from the field in Monday morning’s win.
Daniels’ defence, of course, will also only further allow the Boomers to play the style of basketball they want to, with his stops creating transition opportunities as was the case in the first quarter when he broke up a pass which then led to a Patty Mills four-point play.
Speaking of Mills, he is starting to catch fire at the right moment after another impressive shooting display.
The veteran guard had a team-high 24 points, going 3-for-7 from downtown and 7-for-9 from the field, as he continues to put a concerning shooting slump earlier in the month behind him.
Mills had looked a shadow of his former self in exhibition games against China and was similarly ineffective as a shooter in Australia’s loss to Team USA in Abu Dhabi.
But Mills has since rebounded in a big way, first inspiring the Boomers to victory against Serbia before adding 15 points in the win against Puerto Rico.
Giddey, meanwhile, continued to impress with his ability to get downhill and into the paint as the Bulls guard recorded 20 points, six rebounds, eight assists, two steals, just as many blocks and seven turnovers.
There are injury concerns to come out of the game though, with ESPN’s Olgun Uluc reporting Dante Exum suffered a dislocated finger.
Jock Landale also only played nine minutes and was spotted sitting on the bench in the second half, although Uluc reported there is no injury concern for the Boomers big man.
Australia opens its Olympic campaign on Saturday evening against Spain.
BOOMERS’ PARIS OLYMPIC DRAW (Times AEST)
Group A:
Saturday, July 27: vs Spain from 7pm
Tuesday, July 30: vs Canada from 9.30pm
Friday, August 2: vs Greece from 9.30pm