The ESPN Aussie Hoops Hour

Welcome from the NBL Blitz! As all teams converge onto Queensland's Gold Coast, ESPN's Olgun Uluc and Pete Hooley take you inside the NBL Blitz 2024 and explain how it feels to be in the hub of NBL!

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The Opals are back on the Olympic podium! In a game that was fitting of the Opals resilient campaign, the team lost the lead early in the fourth quarter before recovering to close out Belgium. Ezi Magbegor was dominant with 30 points, while the key veterans that stood up all tournament came up clutch. Kane and Olgun breakdown the wildly entertaining game and praise a tough group of Opals who worked through adversity to ensure Australia were once again medalists at an Olympic games.

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Outside of a short period to end the first quarter, the Opals were comprehensively beaten by Team USA in the Olympic semi final. Kane and Olgun discuss the loss and the challenges now facing the team with a quick turnaround to Sunday’s bronze medal game. Will the loss be difficult to mentally overcome? How does this compare to the semi final loss at the World Cup? Could Australia overcome the potential loss of Steph Talbot? The Lauren Jackson factor? Rotation things to watch? All this and more as the Opals need to respond to collect their first Olympic medal since 2012.

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What a difference nine days can make. After starting their campaign with a bad loss to Nigeria, the Opals are now ensured of a place in a medal game at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Australia dominated Serbia from start to finish, behind the dynamic duo of Jade Melbourne and Alanna Smith. Kane and Olgun break down the result, praise the resilience of Melbourne, the physicality of Smith and the squad’s ability to withstand the pressure defence of Serbia. Lauren Jackson, Cayla George and plenty of the key Opals are also talking points on a great day for the program.

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Leading by 24 points in the first half, the Boomers were unable to sustain the level, falling to Serbia in overtime. Patty Mills and Josh Giddey combined for 51 points on the night, but it wasn’t enough as turnovers and defensive lapses cost the team a place in the semi finals. Kane and Olgun discuss what went wrong after the first 15 minutes, and bounce around a variety of topics on what the result means. Is Patty done? How can Australia find a way to compete against superstar talent? What direction does the program go with a new coach? How should we look back on the tournament?

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Tough. Gritty. Courageous. The Opals sent 27,000 French fans home quiet in an iconic Olympic win to punch their place in the Quarter Finals. Kane and Olgun react to the performance, praise Tess Madgen’s leadership, discuss the mental challenges the Opals overcame, Ezi Magbegor steadily improving and plenty more. Australia will now face Serbia on the men’s and women’s side with a win ensuring they will play in a medal game in Paris. How will the Boomers attack Nikola Jokic? Will Matthew Dellavedova play key minutes? Who guards Bogdan Bogdanovic? All that on more on today’s show.

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The first half was described as “diabolical” by head coach Brian Goorjian, but a push to reduce the deficit proved pivotal as the Boomers advance to the Quarterfinals after a loss to Greece. Kane and Olgun discuss the rollercoaster game, breakdown a poor first half and identify what changed in the third. How did the Boomers defend Giannis? Why was the offence struggling to function? What is going on with Josh Green? Is Matthew Dellavedova going to be a key rotation player now? Also, what are some of the likes and dislikes of the group stage. Plenty to work through as the Boomers unconvincingly move on.

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The Opals needed a response desperately and while it wasn’t perfect, they registered their first win at the Olympics. The 70-65 win over Canada keeps their Paris dreams alive and sets up a matchup with host nation France on Monday morning. Kane and Olgun react to the win and particularly the performances of the veteran core. Sami Whitcomb, Cayla Geroge, Marianna Tolo and Steph Talbot all had a big impact on the game, with plenty to discuss when it comes to the rotation. How have the youngsters played so far? How important is Talbot? Also, how will the Boomers handle Giannis Antetokoumpo and Greece on Friday night?

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The Boomers fell short against Canada 93-83, with a costly turnover count hurting the green and gold in the second half. Kane and Olgun bring instant reaction, discussing the offensive struggles after the half. Other story lines to surface from the game included Patty Mills being put in the Dorture Chamber, Dante Exum making a positive return, the Dyson Daniels-SGA matchup and rotation patterns from Brian Goorjian. What adjustments could Australia have made? Is there reason for panic ahead of a critical game against Greece? All that and more on the ESPN Aussie Hoops Hour.

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It could hardly have gone any worse. The Opals drop their opener to Nigeria 75-62, committing 26 turnovers and missing 10 free throws in the process. Kane and Olgun try to make sense of the performance, find any positives, and discuss how the team can turn it around and keep their medal hopes alive. Also, the Boomers prepare for Canada as Dante Exum is slated to return in what would be a key boost for the team. How will Exum slot into the rotation? should there be a starting lineup change? How do they slow down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

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