Brian Goorjian stresses on final selection for Boomers as young stars look to new NBA teams

Goorjian is expected to notify players if they have made the team for Paris in the hours after that game and there will be some strong hints as to who has made it as he will treat the game as a full dress rehearsal after only using Giddey and Patty Mills for a handful of minutes on Tuesday.

“We have to start getting that group playing together,” Goorjian said referring to his starting lineup.

“And we have to whittle it back to a group of eight or nine (who will play the bulk of games).

“Landale, Giddey, Patty – we have to get that group playing together whereas tonight we had 60 or so points from guys who we don’t know if they will be on the team.”

Goorjian is facing some enormous selection dilemmas with veteran Joe Ingles trying for a fifth Olympics but appearing to be right on the edge of the roster while NBL shooter Jack McVeigh has taken his NBL Grand Final form into camp and is pressing for a spot.

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McVeigh starred with 24 points in 13 minutes on Tuesday but Goorjian admits he is looking for players who can complement the NBA stars.

McVeigh could end up in a head-to-head selection battle with Joe Ingles who is chasing his fifth Olympics.

Matthew Dellavedova (seven assists in 14 minutes) and Chris Goulding (14 points in 10 minutes) both did well in the second half while Will Magnay is pressing his case as a third centre behind Landale and Duop Reath (21 points in 19 minutes).

Dellavedova was subbed out late after hurting his knee; Goorjian didn’t have an update on his condition post game.

“I do feel we are going to get the right group and the tenacity, the spirit – some of the stuff that was missing from the World Cup [last year] is there this time and that is an aspect,” Goorjian said.

“This ball juggle is not about making tough cuts, it’s about how do you win games.

“Every time you play, it gets a little more cloudy when I want it to be clearer.”

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