Blake Griffin Selected to Attend Team USA Mini Camp
by Steve Perrin on Jun 25, 2009 12:50 PM PDT
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PrintIn further evidence of Blake Griffin's position in this particular NBA draft, he was the only non-NBA player among the 25 selected to attend USA Basketball's July Mini camp in Las Vegas.
It's an honor for Griffin to be selected. Meanwhile, you have to wonder what USA Basketball is thinking by NOT including Eric Gordon on their list. Of the 25 players invited, seven just completed their rookie season in the league. Eric Gordon finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting - the top four vote getters (Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo, Brook Lopez and Russell Westbrook) will all attend the mini-camp, as will sixth place finisher Kevin Love. Meanwhile, two more guards from his draft class, D.J. Augustin and Jerryd Bayless, got invitations, while Gordon did not.
But of course you'd definitely want Westbrook there instead of Gordon, because the international game is dominated by athletes, and outside shooting is relatively unimportant. Oh, wait a minute. Turns out, it's exactly the opposite. D'oh!
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I'm trying to figure it out...
Point guards is the only thing that you can use to explain it… BUT, if we’ve learned anything from past failures of Team USA, it’s that shoot first points are a DISASTER internationally. Marbury, Baron Davis… these are the guys that have brought home bronze medals or nothing. So these combo-guards that NBA teams are trying to turn into points (Bayless, Westbrook) are terrible choices for international play, as is the shoot-first Augustin (who is tiny to boot). Meanwhile, they’ve got Mayo and Roy as two guard prospects out of 25 players. It just doesn’t make sense.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
Gordon is easily the least selfish out of all of the rookie guards selected. Did they really not invite him or did he decline the invite?
Stuck in limbo.
I don't know.... I'll ask
I am assuming they didn’t ask, because I don’t imagine that EJ would decline. but I’ll see if I can find out.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Jun 25, 2009 1:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Wait Steve
your saying Westbrook is a shooting point guard? I’ve always seen the opposite.!
Mike Smith on Eric Gordon: "The Clippers may have found their go to scorer."
On a second note, I want Novak back!
LOL
Call him a scoring point guard. He’s not a pass first point, but no, he can’t shoot.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Jun 25, 2009 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions
gordon
thats good man… it will only fire him up n motivate to get better….
sure...
Roy would seem to be a great fit for Team USA. but I don’t see the designated shooter, Michael Redd type on this list. Kyle Korver? So they invited a ton of points, with little idea beyond Rose would could be a future Team USA guy after Paul and Williams get tired of the gig… if Paul and Williams both leave at the same time, who backs up Rose at the point? Invite 5 guys, and see who can do it. But the importance of the three point shot would seem to indicate that you need an Eric Gordon type around as well.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Jun 25, 2009 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions
It's good news
Maybe this is sour grapes, but it doesn’t seem that much good has come from playing for Team USA, or any kind of international commitment. The Clippers seem to do very poorly with it. Jaric’s foot was bad after his stint, FElton had a big drop off when he played for USA basketball after his MVP-quality year: he’s never been the same since. Kaman didn’t get better by playing for Germany, and he followed up minor injuries at the end of the 07-08 2.0 season with a slow start in training camp and the preseason and then a foot injury.
The bad news, from this perspective, is that Blake Griffin in on the team.
I have a feeling the EJ/Westbrook comparisons will be around for a while on ClipsNation
I like it. I like that we have pride in our stud rookie and want him to get the respect he deserves.
Truthfully I think EG will far outstrip westbrook.
EG is a pure shooting guard – unlimited range, gets to the basket but is undersized.
Westbrook doesn’t really have a position. He can’t pass like a point guard or shoot like a shooting guard (where he is also undersized).
Truthfully, I’m not sure why he gets so much hype.
Defending Bruin Westbrook
Westbrook is a great basketball player, an amazing athlete, he has great dedication and enthusiasm, a real love for the game and a desire to work hard and do everything he can to improve his game. He’s fun to watch and he will be batlling with guys like Deron Williams and Chris Paul for years.
Eric Gordon is just better. Much better shooter, much better player, very special. I like and respect Westbrook, but I’m really glad that Gordon is a Clipper.
by citizen zhiv on Jun 25, 2009 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Imagine if the mock drafts were right
and we got Westbrook instead. (I mean all draft typically had us with Gordon, but what happens if one of those “other” drafts were right?)
I think we’d be crying because Westbrook probably won’t fit in well with Dunleavy’s gameplan.
Mike Smith on Eric Gordon: "The Clippers may have found their go to scorer."
On a second note, I want Novak back!
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