Tokyo Olympics 2021: Australian Boomers news, results

Boomers fans requested Ben Simmons.

Instead, they have American-born Philadelphia 76ers teammate, who spent seven years in Australia as a child.

And really, no one complained.

Three matches in his life as a Boomer, Matisse Thybulle has felt himself to be one of the most important parts of the hunt for an Olympic medal; 24 years old, a big reason behind Australia’s impeccable preparation in Tokyo, including victories over Argentina, Nigeria and of course, Team USA.

Thybulle told News Corp: “I think it feels better to win as an Australian than to win the US team.” So I’m happy to give it to them. “

When search Boomers end up on their first podium at a major international tournament, they can do so with the knowledge that they have something they’ve never really had before: a Sports freak whose skill set is rare among rarity.

Head Coach Brian Goorjian et al. could be planning a rivalry noticed by the likes of Kevin Durant, Luka Doncic and Damian Lillard knowing Australia has a ‘best’ player in some field. It is no exaggeration to say that the Boomers have the best defender at the Olympics.

Australia has a guy who can do it this .Source: Getty Images

While the advantage of having Simmons would come with having to completely change the Australian way of playing, Thybulle’s integration was as seamless as possible.

“What he can do defensively is just some of the things that no one else can really do,” Boomers defender Matthew Dellavedova said of Thybulle, who offers the kind of length and sport that is rare. seen in blue and yellow Boomers like Simmons himself.

Thybulle can defend, run lanes, and do what Simmons certainly can’t: hit his three pointers.

“He’s really perfect,” Shane Heal told News Corp. “…He was just the perfect player to be able to really help the Boomers win that first medal.”

What makes him so good? It’s the wingspan, the speed, the elusiveness. He’s Mr. Elastic, just not skinny.

“He cannot be tested… [he goes] over, under, over, whatever, but he’s like Matrix,” explains Boomers assistant coach Matt Nielsen.

Thybulle averaged just 20 minutes a night out of the pine tree in Philadelphia this past season. And that still hasn’t stopped voters from placing him in the All-NBA Defensive’s second team. In terms of talent, he is a first team. Possibly Defensive Player of the Year.

Dellavedova, Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Aron Baynes, and in past competitions, Andrew Bogut, have all elevated Australian basketball to a level where the Boomers finished 4th in the last two major tournaments. But they all did it the same way: effort, basketball intelligence, veterans’ wisdom, among other things.

In Thybulle, Australia there’s an X-factor that fits just about any role possible.

“For me, it’s pretty simple,” says Thybulle. “I know my role; I know what I bring: defensive energy and court spread from the three-point line.

“I don’t think sport is an important factor for this team, and I feel like I’m going to bring some of that.”

On defense, Thybulle put the Boomers and FIBA ​​basketballs like an incredibly healthy duck in the water. Hard to believe, it was as promised.

First recruited by former Boomers and Sixers head coach Brett Brown, Thybulle was later recruited by Mills, Ingles, who had been “seeded” during the NBA season.

If the Boomers were the quasi-men of the last decade, then Thybulle might just be the one to help them get over the hump.

Australia kicks off their Olympic campaign with Nigeria on July 25.