Paul and Griffin named to Team USA pool of 28

[mkwest]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/LAClippers/status/426380648618545152[/tweet]

GRIFFIN, PAUL NAMED TO TEAM USA POOL

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (January 23, 2014) – USA Basketball today announced that Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin and guard Chris Paul have been selected to the initial 2014-2016 USA Men’s National Team roster, from which the 2014 USA World Championship Team and, if the U.S. qualifies, the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team will be chosen.

The 2014-16 USA Basketball National Team coaching staff features USA head coach and Duke University’s Naismith Hall of Fame mentor Mike Krzyzewski. Serving as assistant coaches are USA Basketball and Syracuse University veteran coach Jim Boeheim, Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau and New Orleans Pelicans head coach Monty Williams.

A smaller group of U.S. National Team members will be selected to participate in the 2014 USA National Team’s opening training camp in July and the 12-man roster for the World Championships will be chosen from that group. Exact training dates and locations for the USA National Team training in 2014 will be announced at a later date.

Clippers.com

Backcourt
Brad Beal
Steph Curry
James Harden
Kyrie Irving
Damian Lillard
Chris Paul
Derrick Rose
Klay Thompson
Russell Westbrook
Deron Williams

Forwards
Carmelo Anthony
Kevin Durant
Kenneth Faried
Paul George
Gordon Hayward
Andre Iguodala
LeBron James
Kyle Korver
David Lee
Kawhi Leonard

Bigs
LaMarcus Aldridge
Tyson Chandler
DeMarcus Cousins
Anthony Davis
Andre Drummond
Blake Griffin
Dwight Howard
Kevin Love

DJ participated for the minicamp last summer, but was left out of the pool this time around.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/deandrejordan/status/426391444119515136[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/ArashMarkazi/status/426398584007688193[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/426392829381074945[/tweet]

[Quake Griffin]

expect my 2 goons to be on thurr.

I want it for DeAndre...I want it for him bad.
but I also hope (probably) not getting all star and this will make this dude the most bitter, evil, vindictive center in basketball.

lol wow...evil.
yea i said it...evil....on the court.

[Nutella]

I prefer evil over discouraged. I hope he continues his improved play, he was definitely deserving to be in that pool.

[mj_shoefanatic]

Sucks that he couldn't play on that 2012 team due to injury.

Hope he gets selected from this pool.

[okpistolpete]

Maybe I'm biased (I mean...I definitely am), but I'm taking Jordan over Drummond and Farried in a HEARTBEAT, and would even consider him over David Lee and Tyson Chandler.

Feel real bad for the kid. No all-star love, no most improved player talk, no usa team. He's done everything right this year and the results are there. I know how much it meant to him be a part of Team USA with his two teammates. Hopefully he won't get too discouraged.

[mttwlsn16]

Ya why the fk was DJ left off the USA squad here? He's done nothing but improve, you'd think he would have at least gotten a chance.

[okpistolpete]

With all the scoring that Team USA will have, you'd think they'd want their bigs to rebound, block shots, and finish around the rim...

DeAndre Jordan: 9.6 ppg, 13.9 rpg, 2.5 bpg, 1.0 spg, 64.1% FG, 40.3% FT
Kenneth Faried: 10.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 0.9 bpg, 0.7 spg, 54.4% FG, 57.3% FT
Tyson Chandler: 8.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.4 bpg, 0.7 spg, 55.7% FG, 62.7% FT
Andre Drummond: 12.6 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 1.8 bpg, 1.4 spg, 60.4% FG, 40.0% FT

Tyson Chandler I might get just because he's a veteran presence who's been with the team. But he's also going to be nearly 34 years old at the next Olympics. As for Drummond and Faried, that's just not right. There's nothing those guys do better than Jordan. Shoot, Jordan even has a higher FT% than Drummond!

I imagine politics played a big part in how they rounded out the roster. Only thing I could think of was that they didn't want too many guys from the same team, but Golden State has 4 players: Curry, Thompson, Lee, and Iguodala.

[mttwlsn16]

ya faried over DJ is just plain stupid

[mkwest]

Breaking down Team USA’s roster for Spain

Three More Virtual Certainties

Sources told ESPN.com on Thursday that Blake Griffin, James Harden and Dwight Howard have all expressed a desire to USA Basketball, health-willing, to make the trip to Spain. Given the stature of those three players – and the fact that injuries prevented Blake and Dwight from going to London – expect all three to be there alongside Durant, Love and Aldridge.

Best Of The Next Gens

The glowing manner in which Krzyzewski spoke of Anthony Davis during Thursday’s conference call should have slammed home the notion that Davis, at a mere 20, is already regarded as a USAB cornerstone thanks to his stint as the 12th man in London after Griffin got hurt.

The Race For The Last Two Spots

There are seven names on the 28-man roster that you can safely rule out for World Cup participation thanks either to their veteran status or health concerns.

LeBron, Melo and Chris Paul all consented to be included in the player pool that was announced this week with the understanding that they’re only candidates for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. Deron Williams and Tyson Chandler likewise hope to be considered for the 2016 squad even though they’re expected to take this summer off to rest their bodies. And star guards Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook are bound to be left home by USAB for their own good – even if they’re healthy and willing to go to Spain – after the knee traumas both have endured this season.

Marc Stein, ESPN

According to Stein, Paul wouldn't participate in the World Championship this summer, but would be eligible for the 2016 Olympics. I agree with you guys about players like Faried or Chandler. Chandler gets the nod because he's already been a part of it. Drummond probably got the edge because of his age. I wonder if the coaches watched him match-up with DJ on Monday. Faried just seems kind of out of place to me.

[TheNewEra]

Things hopefully can change and DJ will be brought in as a replacement. Congrats to Blake.

[Neddy]

I imagine politics played a big part in how they rounded out the roster. Only thing I could think of was that they didn't want too many guys from the same team, but Golden State has 4 players: Curry, Thompson, Lee, and Iguodala.

and yet the fearsome foursome can't beat out the thunder, spurs, blazers, clippers, or the rockets.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

I'm really surprised that DJ was left off. Maybe he could be reconsidered somehow. I really hope that he makes the squad some day.

[TheNewEra]

This will challenge him mentally he can rise from all the let down or sulk.