The points show how reliant the Boomers were on their back court, despite the return of big men Luc Longley and Mark Bradtke and the emergence of Sam Mackinnon as an international talent. Mackinnon averaged six points, five rebounds and three assists, but it was his defence that was vital. He found a defensive soulmate in Jason Smith, who had a strong first Olympics. Gaze, Longley, Bradtke and Vlahov have said it's over. Heal has hinted it might be, but if Barry Barnes returns as coach he could stay on.
Barnes has a strong record.
That is one disappointment and three equal-best results, hardly deserving of flagellation. But back to the best game of the tournament. Not far behind Lithuania's near miss was a match that was not supposed to matter - the men's classification game for seventh and eighth places. Yes, seventh and eighth. Try telling the Canadians, who won in double overtime, that it did not matter after they spent all they had.