41% success, including 23% from afar, only two players with 10 points or more, 72 points scored in total…
This is the lackluster picture of Finland’s offensive performance, for their start to the World Cup against Australia. But the defense of the latter, which contained Lauri Markkanen to 19 points at 7/17 on shots, is very much there.
The entry into play of Josh Green, the activity of Xavier Cooks and the pressing of Jack White on the ball carrier tipped the match in favor of the Boomers. They all contributed to the very strong defensive performance of the Australians in the second half, where the match definitely tipped in their favor: 14 points conceded in the third quarter, and 18 in the last.
” Midway through the second quarter, they were limited to one shot per possession. We started chaining defensive stops, that’s where we are at our best, to run in transition. I think that highlight at the end of the second quarter carried us into the third and fourth quarter », enjoy Josh Giddeywhich came close to the triple-double (14 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists).
Known for being a defense-oriented coach, Brian Goorjian is not going to hide his pleasure. The coach also believes that he has never had such a versatile team in defense.
During their previous major international trip, his players had won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, after a last card at 42 points from Patty Mills.
“ Patty’s performance was extraordinary but we didn’t have Dante Exum and Matisse Thybulle. We have never had this size and these athletic qualities. It was different for Australia. Now you add Josh Green, Xavier Cooks and Jack White. We have more depth, we can change in defense, even our playmaker measures 2m03 “recalls the coach, speaking of teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at the Thunder.
“ We lack size on positions 5 and 4, but versatility… I’ve never had such versatility, nor the depth that I have now », Appreciates the coach whose team will seek to confirm this good first impression, tomorrow, against a more formidable attack: that of Germany.
