Mitch Creek at a Boomers squad training session earlier this week.Credit:AAP
With Melbourne United captain Chris Goulding picked for his shooting and experience and Brisbane guard Nathan Sobey for his ability to play both guard spots and make an impact off the bench,the last call was between an extra shooter and ball-handler in Gliddon or a swingman in Creek.
Many Australian fans would think Creek should have earned that spot,but Lemanis said Gliddon started shooting the lights out in the last two days of camp.
Gliddon shoots 39 per cent from the three-point line in the NBL and can play either guard spot.
Like Creek,he has played in the majority of Boomers games in the past three years and like Creek can defend at a high level. Shooting decided this spot.
Whether having Goulding,Sobey and Gliddon as bench guards and shooters proves overkill remains to be seen.
"Glidds missed practice the first two days with a hamstring issue,he thought he had missed his opportunity but he came in on days three and four and went whack,whack,whack,whack[making threes],"Lemanis said using the local slang for making a basket.
"It was a perfect example of what we wanted from that role. You might sit for game one and two but in game three need to come out and be able to put the ball in the basket when we need it."
"So it was a pretty easy choice after that."
What Lemanis knows,what Creek knows,what Gliddon knows and what any sensible observer knows is that the coach makes the final call and lives with the consequences.