Sydney-raised Josh Green,who was a first-round pick by Dallas Mavericks in last year’s NBA draft,andNBA free agent guard Dante Exum have also made a difference as hasshot-blocking centre Duop Reath.

The Boomers were undefeatedin three exhibition games in the US but face possibly the most explosive side in the Olympics when they face an NBA player-laden Nigeria to open their campaign on Sunday.

“Goorj has unleashed these wings[Thybulle,Green and Exum] to be more aggressive and on the front foot,” Dellavedova said.

“Previously we would sit back a bit more because we had Andrew Bogut and Aron Baynes,they’re big bodies that protect the rim but with a more mobile team,sometimes we are smaller and flying around but everyone has bought in and are making the extra rotations defensively.”

The Boomers thrashed Nigeria in a lead-up game in Las Vegas but that result will mean little considering both sides rested players and the Nigerians,coached by NBA veteran Mike Brown,beat Team USA a couple of days earlier.

There are expectations this Boomers team can break through the glass ceiling between fourth place and the medals but the veterans are also trying to make sure the newcomers carry on the team’s culture to future campaigns.

“We’ve been excited to show these guys what this is like and make sure they want to come back every year and feel the same way we do,” Dellavedova said.

“I think they have had an awesome time so far.”

The Boomers will also play Italy and Germany in their group. They need to finish in the top two or be one of the two best third-place finishes to make the knockout quarter-finals.

The Boomers play Nigeria on Sunday at 6.20pm AEST.

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