Basketball On The Internet.

HALL of Famer KEN COLE writes for Basketball On The Internet with a further message for the Boomers: I'VE thought about this a lot prior to the World Cup and it's clarified my thinking.

I suppose it's also because I've seen more of our talent and team again than in a long time.

I do believe we can win at least silver or bronze at the Olympics.

Preparation needs to start NOW.

Andrej can use some specialist help - I'll try to explain.

Firstly, my thoughts on our potential team's base.

Guards:

Patty Mills can lead this team.

He is the key that will take us from good to great.

Starting with him will be Dante Exum. He will be 20 pounds heavier, strong as hell and unstoppable in international competition.

Two years in the NBA will bring him to a level he and others don't see yet.

This backcourt may be the best in the Olympics.

Off the bench - Matt Dellavedova, perfect. Not only is he world class, butT he gives us a huge advantage as that is his role in the NBA.

Having 12 starters can be tough and needs to be handled carefully to have a united team, so Matt is a huge bonus.

My next serious contender,Chris Goulding BUT with a few stipulations.

Chris neads to come back home and play.

I would willingly teach him how to improve his game by 50 percent.

He has the potential not to be good but to be great. But he has to learn how to fully develop and put it together.

The NBL would provide that avenue and he would become one of the league's drawcards.

He will develop the ability to come of the bench, firing - a game-changing player. We have a weapon but we must learn how to use it, Coach and Player.

That leaves one more spot and it must go to someone in our NBL that we can mould.

We have to encourage players to stay home. It can be done but I've got enough problems typing this.

Pivots:

If healthy, start Aron Banes.

In two years' time he could be very good.

Again, coaches should spend time with him now talking about things they would like to see him work on.

I knew how tough and talented he was when I watched him shut down Dwight Howard in a big game and have some great regular season games.

Another KEY - Andrew Bogut.

He has had unbelievably bad luck with injuries.

Last year he played some superb ball, right up with the elites.

Andrew could come off the bench, be the defensive organiser and assess his offensive needs - passing or scoring because he's capable of either.

Now things get serious.

Forwards:

Firstly, Goulding could do some damage here.

I think Cameron Bairstow has the potential to become a legitimate stopper. We don't have one but this young man has the talent.

He also has that inbuilt desire vital if your goal is to slow down superstars.

Cam is also a garbage-man type scorer that is going to improve a lot in the next few years.

Next thought might be a shock.

I'd tell Daniel Johnson to get back to the NBL and show him exactly what is required of him for the Olympics.

I watched him a lot in Adelaide.

He pays a price I think for making things look to easy.

You have a kid who can score inside, has three-point range and can run the floor.

By the way, he's 6-11 and realistically could play 3-4-5.

Again, he needs to be shown what the Coach is looking for.

He needs to show he can average 25-30 with 10 boards to reach his potential. But he could provide constant firepower and look at the attention our guards are going to draw.

I will be surprised if Ben Simmons doesn't make a major push to start.

He is 6-10, really talented and the LSU Coaches will add 20-25 pounds on him.

So that would leave 3-to-5 places up for grabs.

We've got some terrific veterans still there and some more brilliant young talent like Josh Bolden at UCLA.

Coach needs to decide how him wants to play, at both ends, and articulate it to key players now.

I have some thoughts I'd love to run by Coach Lemanis, very close to what he does but very friendly to the talent.

I feel I could really help with some of this.

I could maintain and work with key players we have here in the USA.

We are capable of being a top three superpower.

The time is now.

I've never believed in being reactive. We MUST be proactive.

If we are serious, let's start teaching players now.

I'm getting pretty tired butwould love to talk to Coach or BA on some ideas.

At worst I can only waste a little of their time.

Mine is becoming quite valuable.