The Los Angeles Clippers And Team USA
- Updated: August 8, 2015
On August 6th Team USA basketball took its first step towards the 2016 Olympic games and released its preliminary list of participants for a mandatory minicamp in Las Vegas from August 11th through the 13th. Thirty-four players were invited to the minicamp, that will mostly consist of non-contact workouts before a conclusion-ary scrimmage on the 13th. Of the thirty-four invitees noticeable names left off the list include Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose and Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard.
Three Los Angeles Clippers made the preliminary roster this season and they include point guard Chris Paul, power forward Blake Griffin and center DeAndre Jordan. For Jordan, this will be his first chance to make the USA Olympic roster. Chris Paul has represented the USA in the Olympic games twice winning gold both times in 2008 and 2012. Griffin was slotted as a player that would receive substantial playing time at the 2012 games in London before a meniscus tear in his left knee resulted in the Clipper missing his first Olympic chance.
In order for Jordan to make the roster he will have to prove to Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski that his rebounding and defense in the low post are valuable enough to keep around as players such as Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins and Dwight Howard will be tough competition for Jordan as they all compete for the limited center position slots available. Paul, whom started at the London Olympics is expected to maintain that same role in 2016 as his distributing skills fit well into Krzyzewski’s system and are ideal for the star-studded scoring talent he will surely be surrounded with. Griffin seems to be a lock to represent his country for the first time in the Olympics in 2016 as his play has improved tremendously from his form in 2012, although his competition to make the roster at the power forward position remains strong.
Predictions: Paul and Griffin each secure a spot to the Rio Olympic Games in 2016 while Jordan’s poor offense holds him back from making the roster while other centers like Davis and Cousins dominate that side of the ball.
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