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Boomers ordered to move on for bronze shot

Murray WenzelAAP
Coach Brian Goorjian wants the Boomers to bounce back in their Tokyo Olympic bronze medal playoff.
Camera IconCoach Brian Goorjian wants the Boomers to bounce back in their Tokyo Olympic bronze medal playoff. Credit: AAP

Brian Goorjian is willing to accept some short-term disappointment from his Boomers but says they are in the wrong business if they can't re-focus for Saturday's Olympic bronze medal game.

The Boomers led the United States by 15 in Thursday's semi-final in Tokyo, but lost their way in a disappointing 97-78 fadeout with the Americans at one stage scoring 20 consecutive points.

Unbeaten until that point, Australia will now need to oust the loser of the Slovenia-France semi-final to return with the country's first men's basketball Olympic silverware.

It will be the side's fifth third-placed Olympic playoff.

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Their 19-point loss on Thursday is incredibly the closest of their five Games semi-final appearances.

The Boomers lost to Serbia by 26 in 2016, France by 24 in 2000, the US by 28 in 1996 and Yugoslavia by 21 in 1988.

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They also coughed up a 15-point lead to lose to France in the battle for third at the 2019 World Cup.

Four-time Olympians Patty Mills (33 next week), Joe Ingles (33), the injured Aron Baynes (34) and Matthew Dellavedova (30) have long been the core but might not still be together in two years for the World Cup that'll end in Manila, or the Paris Olympics in 2024.

"These guys have put 12 years into this; the more you're willing to commit, the harder it is to retreat and accept it," Goorjian said of their lofty gold ambitions.

"When I walked out of that locker room the message was loud and clear; back straight, head back and walk out proud.

"We've got something right now in front of us that has never happened and let's get excited about that."

He said the thought of "demons" from previous failed medal tilts would not be a factor.

"Life, this is an extension of it, you get dealt disappointment," he said.

"If you can't handle disappointment then don't be involved in sport.

"It's a new day. Are you serious about being in the top four, in this world, these Games and having an opportunity to step to the plate and take a swing at something?

"Lithuania's not here, Serbia's not here (because they didn't qualify).

"I'm not going to cry, feel sorry or thinking about past demons. I'm excited ... and I know my team will be."

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