Boomers Olympic Opposition Analysis: Nigeria

Sunday, July 25, 2021

Who are the players to watch, who are their x-factors, and what will the Boomers be doing to try to stop them?

Written for nbl.com.au by Tom Hersz

Australia Boomers v Nigeria D’Tigers

When: 6.20pm (AEST), Sunday 25 July

Where: Saitama Super Arena, Tokyo, Japan

Broadcast: 7 Network, 7+

The stage is set for the Boomers after what can only be described as a strange build-up. Following the disappointment of China 2019, another golden chance at that elusive first ever medal awaits this team.

That quest begins in earnest on Sunday when Australia takes on a dangerous Nigerian team in the first game of Group B play in Tokyo.

These two teams had a good look at each other two weeks ago in Las Vegas and while the Boomers dominated on that occasion without their full roster, this is likely to be a much tougher contest.

The Boomers arrived in Tokyo earlier this week with no changes to the final 12-man roster that was announced in Irvine, California earlier this month.

Nigeria on the other hand, only announced their final roster after they finished their exhibition schedule in Las Vegas. It’s a tough looking roster that is well coached by NBA veteran Mike Brown, and even after the blowout loss to the Boomers, the D’Tigers are still riding high on confidence after knocking off Team USA earlier that week.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Your 12-man Olympic roster. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tokyo2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tokyo2020</a> <a href="https://t.co/nUv3MFMEr7">pic.twitter.com/nUv3MFMEr7</a></p>— D’Tigers | Nigeria Basketball (@NigeriaBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/NigeriaBasket/status/1417228850031964166?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Who are the players to watch, who are their x-factors, and what will the Boomers be doing to try to stop them?

Players to Watch - Nigeria

Gabe Nnamdi Vincent: You may know him from the NBA as Gabe Vincent, but he’s playing as Nnamdi Vincent (his middle name) in Tokyo. The reserve guard for the Miami Heat, fresh off his second season as a two-way player, played with extreme confidence in Vegas.

Despite struggling with his shot (30.9 per cent from three) for Miami this past season, he erupted in that stunning win over USA Basketball. Vincent connected on 6/8 threes on his way to 21 points, adding four assists in just 19 minutes.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gabe couldn't miss tonight<br><br>?????? <a href="https://t.co/bWiz0HCtkl">pic.twitter.com/bWiz0HCtkl</a></p>— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1414051010134396933?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

However, that may be a slight case of fool’s gold as he struggled to connect with that accuracy again in their other two games. Vincent had just six points against Argentina on 2/5 shooting (1/4 from three) in 16 minutes and then went 0/3 from long range against the Boomers (five points, two assists), again in 16 minutes.

He seems to be playing with the mindset that he’s needed to be a high-level scorer for this team in the mould of Patty Mills for Australia, only he’s nowhere near the shooter or consistent scorer that Mills is. But the D’Tigers don’t have many others who can fill it up as Vincent did against the Americans, so he may need to play that role in some games.

No matter how streaky he may be, with that ability to get hot, the Boomers will need to close out hard on Vincent to run him off the three-point line and make him put it on the floor where he’s less comfortable, or become a playmaker and dare someone else to make shots.

Precious Achiuwa: Vincent’s teammate with Miami, Achiuwa is coming off his rookie season. The 2020 first round pick played sparingly for the Heat, but proved a capable defender and strong rebounder, especially on the offensive glass (3.6 offensive rebounds per 36 mins).

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">PRECIOUS SEND BACK ? <a href="https://t.co/1rg5Vqg0rH">pic.twitter.com/1rg5Vqg0rH</a></p>— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1380338921549271044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This was evident in the warm-up games in Vegas as Achiuwa averaged 6.7 rebounds in just 14 minutes per game. He pulled down four offensive boards against the Boomers and that is something they will need to be mindful of when he’s on the floor.

He also showed a little range in those games connecting on 2/4 threes after attempting just one the entire season with Miami (a miss). He’s an ordinary free-throw shooter (50.9 per cent with Miami) so is unlikely to do a ton of damage offensively, outside of transition and on the o-boards.

With Jahlil Okafor joining the Nigerians, Achiuwa is likely to come off the bench, but will still play a key role for Mike Brown and gives them some size to anchor the paint when Okafor is off, or in a twin towers line-up on occasion.

Jahlil Okafor: The six-year NBA veteran is still just 25 years old. And while he’s not turned into the star big that the Sixers envisioned when they made him the third overall pick in 2015, he’s still a capable post player and solid rebounder.

Okafor, who missed a chunk of time last season following a knee surgery, averaged 5.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and just 0.2 blocks in 27 games with the Detroit Pistons, where he backed up Mason Plumlee and rookie Isaiah Stewart. He has one more year to run on his two-year deal with the Pistons, so a solid tournament in Tokyo could catapult him into a larger role this coming season.

He missed the game against Team USA in Las Vegas, but was very strong against Argentina with 15 points (7/8 from the field) and seven rebounds in just 15 minutes off the bench. Against the Boomers, Okafor started and had seven points (2/6 FGs, 3/3 FTs) and five boards in 19 minutes. He had two o-boards in each of those two games and, like with Achiuwa, the Boomers will need to keep a body on him defensively to limit those second chance opportunities.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jahlil goes to the shake & spin! ? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WholeNewGame?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WholeNewGame</a> <a href="https://t.co/6aneE71cMW">pic.twitter.com/6aneE71cMW</a></p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1286103423532900354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Otherwise, the likes of Baynes, Reath, Landale and Kay can guard him one-out in the post and just contest his shots. There is likely no need to send a double unless he really gets it going.

Josh Okogie: One of the D’Tigers primary defensive stoppers, Okogie just finished his third year with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Drafted 20th overall in 2018, he’s coming off a disappointing season where his game, and minutes, regressed somewhat.

For the third straight season, Okogie floated between starting and coming off the bench, but played a career-low 20.3 minutes under Ryan Saunders (fired in February) and Chris Finch. He also continued to struggle with his shot, hitting just 26.9 per cent from deep and 40.2 per cent overall from the field.

But Okogie is a very talented defender. He’s averaged 1.1 steals per game over his short career, has strong defensive advanced metrics indicating he’s a net positive on that end of the floor, and he doesn’t foul much or turn the ball over a lot.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">T'Wolves rookie Josh Okogie absolutely smothered James Harden ... ? <a href="https://t.co/fpsznUPK2v">pic.twitter.com/fpsznUPK2v</a></p>— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/1095891956167782401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In Vegas, he was solid, but not spectacular, averaging 8.0 points and 2.3 rebounds, but connected on just 1/7 from long range across their three games. He will spend time on Mills, Ingles and Goulding and use his length and athleticism to make life difficult for them.

The X-Factors

Caleb Agada: The Nigerians have plenty of length and proved against Team USA that they can get hot, even if they won’t do it consistently. One such player who showed that is Caleb Agada. He is a streaky shooter who shot just 32.7 per cent from three-point range last season in Israel, but he can get on a roll.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Caleb Agada left him searching for what went wrong on the floor <a href="https://t.co/mQ5ubFDAKG">pic.twitter.com/mQ5ubFDAKG</a></p>— #NBBF (@nbbfonline) <a href="https://twitter.com/nbbfonline/status/1414034967928217600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Against Team USA, he hit 3/3 from deep and 7/10 overall on his way to 17 points. He then went a combined 2/10 (0/4 from three) for seven points in the next two games. Agada though, is more comfortable in the midrange and is also a strong rebounder for a guard who likes to grab d-boards and then push in transition. He can create off the bounce and make plays for teammates, as he’s a very capable passer.

He averaged 22 points, six rebounds and four assists with Hapoel Be’er Sheva in Israel’s Premier League last season and will play for the Denver Nuggets at this year’s NBA Summer League, so he has to be respected.

Jordan Nwora: One player whose role on this Nigerian team is not yet known is Nwora. Fresh off a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks, he has only just joined the team in Tokyo and missed their entire training camp in Las Vegas.

Nwora, a second round pick in 2020, played in 30 games for the Bucks averaging 5.7 points and 2.0 rebounds, but he made an impact when he played. He hit 0.9 threes per game at clip of 45.2 per cent in just 9.1 minutes per game and made 28/62 from long range. Nwora also shot 45.9 per cent overall from the field, which is impressive for a rookie wing.

Nwora saw limited action in the playoffs but did connect on his only three-point attempt in the Finals and he becomes the second Nigerian to win an NBA championship after Hakeem Olajuwon.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Jordan Nwora. NBA Champion. <a href="https://t.co/9XyJtV03Dr">pic.twitter.com/9XyJtV03Dr</a></p>— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/1417748741310799872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Nowra is a big body at 6’8 and 225lbs (102kg) and could ultimately be a big part of what the D’Tigers run, but it’s also possible we’ll see little of him in this game given the limited practice time he’s had. Still, his range and size has to be respected and he’ll prove a tough matchup.

Boomers Keys to the Game

Many will point to the Boomers 39-point win over Nigeria in Las Vegas without Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Matthew Dellavedova and Aron Baynes, and assume this game will be easy, but that would be foolish.

Firstly, you should never read too much into one exhibition game as the intensity instantly lifts once the Olympic spotlight starts shining. Secondly, there is a lot of talent on this Nigerian roster.

The D’Tigers sport nine players with NBA experience, with eight of those in the NBA this past season. And yes, it was only an exhibition game, but they did beat Team USA just two weeks ago.

While they got hot in that game, hitting 20/42 from long range, they went just 16/62 across their other two games, so treat that game somewhat with a grain of salt. However, they do have that ability to catch fire and so have to be well contested on the perimeter.

The Nigerians are long and athletic, which is the type of team that has given past Boomers’ teams trouble at times. But this team is slightly different with the additions of Dante Exum, Matisse Thybulle, Josh Green and Duop Reath, giving us our own athletes to counter that.

What the Boomers don’t want to do is get into an up and down transition game against this team. That is playing into their hands, while the Boomers are much stronger at executing in the half court. So, controlling the tempo of this game will be important.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chris Goulding led the way for the Boomers against Nigeria, putting up 21 points and 7/7 shooting from deep ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoBoomers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoBoomers</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tokyo2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tokyo2020</a> <a href="https://t.co/HkU0Zkgcv6">pic.twitter.com/HkU0Zkgcv6</a></p>— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ/status/1415157981247799302?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Limiting their impact on the o-boards will also be a key focus to ensure that the possession game stays in our favour. It also negates the ability of the likes of Okafor and Achiuwa to contribute offensively, forcing them to the perimeter where they are inconsistent.

In short, if the Boomers truly embrace their newfound defensive focus under Brian Goorjian, staying at home on shooters, playing honest straight up defence with good help rotations and the ability to switch when needed, then they should be able to control the pace and dictate the flow of the game.

The Boomers will still need to make shots, but the weapons on this team are plentiful, so even if one of Mills, Ingles or Baynes struggles, there are plenty of others to cover.