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Patty Mills has had a low-key build-up for the Paris Olympics, but Boomers coach Brian Goorjian is adamant his veteran point-guard will be up for the fight.
Boomers coach Brian Goorjian has backed Patty Mills to rediscover his groove at his fifth Olympics after the veteran guard's subdued build-up.
Mills will feature alongside a raft of fellow NBA stars in what is set to be the most talented Australian basketball line-up ever assembled, as they seek to add more hardware to the bronze medal won in Tokyo.
But the 35-year-old is coming off an NBA season in which he didn't see a lot of court time with the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat, and was below his best in the Boomers' two comfortable warm-up wins over China in Melbourne this week.
Mills shot a combined 1-of-13 from the field in almost 30 minutes of action across the two games, but Goorjian isn't concerned about the point-guard's ability to have an impact in Paris.
"He started that way last time," Goorjian said, noting Mills went on to be Australia's best scorer at last year's World Cup.
"I'm more looking at how he's moving and what's his conditioning. I just think the more he plays (the better he gets).
"He's getting his shots, he's active defensively, he looks quick as s*** ... he hasn't lost anything.
"He's not shooting the ball well, but I feel like he's getting shots and (Josh) Giddey's getting him the ball, and there's a better synergy between those two right now.
"I think he's in a really good place, so I'm excited about him."
NBA star Matisse Thybulle is set to be a shock omission when the Boomers' 12-man Games roster is announced on Sunday, with Melbourne United sharpshooter Chris Goulding also among the unlucky players to miss out.
Goulding's club teammate Matthew Dellavedova has reportedly made the cut, along with Tasmania JackJumpers NBL championship-winning duo Will Magnay and Jack McVeigh.
NBA players Josh Green, Dante Exum, Dyson Daniels, Duop Reath, Jock Landale, Joe Ingles, Giddey and Mills are set to form the core of the team.
Goorjian has been buoyed by 21-year-old Giddey's continued improvement and Green's form on return to action in the second game against China.
Houston Rockets centre Landale also shone in game two and gives the Boomers an edge they lacked at the World Cup, having missed out with an ankle injury.
"A lot of the grit, the energy ... it's an exciting piece," Goorjian said.
As well as the Boomers roster, a medal-chasing Opals line-up featuring all-time great Lauren Jackson is also set to be announced on Sunday.
The 43-year-old Jackson will join Mills and Ingles as five-time Olympians, returning to the Games stage she last featured on in 2012.
Jackson was solid in an Opals team that registered two comprehensive wins over China this week, despite the absence of seven stars who are competing in the WNBA season.
Ezi Magbegor, Sami Whitcomb, Steph Talbot, Rebecca Allen, Alanna Smith, Kristy Wallace and Jade Melbourne are all tipped to be named on the Opals' Games roster.
