Olympic Basketball: Australia Defeats Venezuela Despite Resting Mills

Australia rested Patty Mills for the entire game and Matthew Dellavedova played eight minutes as Australia defeated Venezuela 81-56 in their final Olympic Basketball pool game and head to the medal round with a 4-1 record.

Australia had to play hard Sunday. Venezuela, despite beating only China in the group stage, provided strong competition for the first three quarters. In the last quarter, the Australians broke the elastic band, winning by 25, 81-56.

Last game Andrew Bogut was rested, this game it was Patty Mills’ turn not to suit up. Australia has never been in a position that they can rest key players in the group stages like they have this tournament.

Mills’ replacement was Melbourne United guard Chris Goulding and Goulding took the opportunity with both hands. In 25 minutes, Goulding scored 22 points on 6-of-10 shooting. He was on fire from three, going 4-of-7 from outside.

From the line he was 6-of-8 so had a good shooting night all around.

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His play allowed Australia to also keep Matthew Dellavedova on the bench for all but eight minutes of the game.

This is especially important at this point of the tournament, not just to rest top players but to protect them from injury.

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Unfortunately for Australia, Cameron Bairstow couldn’t avoid being hurt, possibly dislocating his shoulder in an innocuous incident early in the third quarter. This may test Australia’s depth a little, but that does not seem to be too much of an issue these games.

David Andersen has been playing some of the best basketball that he has ever produced for Australia. The man is 36 and he is playing like a 28-year-old. In 17.5 minutes per game he is averaging 9.8 points per game coming off the bench.

The Australian captain scored eight points against Venezuela, also collecting four rebounds. If the Australian commentators are to be believed, Andersen is getting some attention from some NBA scouts. There are a few teams who could use a 6-foot-10 stretch 4 with his shooting touch.

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Andersen had four years of NBA experience at the start of his career but was not able to make enough of his time. He played 103 games in those four seasons, scoring 4.8 points and collecting 2.8 rebounds per game.

Australia dominated the paint, winning the rebound count 45-25 and scoring more points in the paint 46-26. They did this by rotating Andersen, Bogut, Aron Baynes and Brock Motum through the center and power forward position.

The four combined for 31 points and 21 rebounds. However, for the second straight same Ryan Broekhoff played well at small forward. 10 points and eight rebounds, including four offensive was a great output for the European based small forward.

Australia’s passing was something special all game, whether it was Bogut passing from the floor for an easy bucket or Baynes passing from just outside the paint to a hard cutting Joe Ingles for an easy lay-up, the ball was always moving.

Australia need to take better care of the ball if they want to advance to the medal rounds. Venezuela had 12 steals which helped Australia commit 15 turnovers. Fortunately this only cost Australia 13 points from turnovers but better teams will hurt Australia with more points.

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Venezuela is now out of the Olympics. Australia now moves into the next round in the best position that they could have hoped for. Pool B has been so difficult to pick that it will take until the last day of the group matches to know their opponents.