________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

http://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2014/07/mens-national-team-sets-the-tone-on-day-1-at-training-camp.aspx

Men's National Team Sets the Tone On Day 1 At Training Camp
Author: Taylor Bern Date: Jul 28, 2014
Las Vegas, Nevada

� Additional Day 1 Quotes

� Day 1 Photo Gallery

If the final scrimmage of Monday�s practice is any indication, it�s going to be a highly competitive and entertaining training camp for the USA Men�s National Team.


The team started its month-long march towards the FIBA Basketball World Cup on Monday at the Mendenhall Center on UNLV�s campus. Between the National and Select teams there were 31 of the country�s best players spread out between two courts, and for players with previous USA Basketball experience it was a chance to reintroduce themselves to the foundation built by head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his staff.

�I learn so much and I soak it all in,� said two-time Ggold-medal winner Kevin Durant. �It�s an exciting time.�

The practices in Las Vegas culminate with an intrasquad scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 1, at the Thomas & Mack Center. Then on Aug. 14-16 the team continues its training camp in Chicago.

Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau ran a majority of the first practice on one court. It started out with a lot of walk-throughs and some specific plays but it didn�t take long to get the group starting to resemble teammates.

�It�s not going to happen in one day,� Thibodeau said, �but when you have the type of talent that we do, if you get them committed to playing basketball on both sides as a five-man group that�s your best chance for success.�

The National Team went 2-0 in a pair of 12-minute scrimmages against the Select Team, although both were close and each required a comeback. In the final scrimmage, the teams were split up more evenly for one 10-minute game. The result was an exciting back-and-forth affair that went down to the wire. The Blue Team, featuring Durant, James Harden and Paul George, among others, held on for a three-point victory.

It was only one day � and an admittedly light one at that � but the highlights are already piling up. From Andre Drummond�s rejection at the rim to Kyrie Irving�s drive with a finesse finish, the competition figures to only pick up from here.

There�s a lot for the coaching staff to figure out as training camp pushes forward. One thing they know for sure, though, is that they have plenty of options.

�We have great versatility,� Thibodeau said. �We�ll find our style.�

Familiar Faces
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook announced earlier this month that he wouldn�t chase a third gold medal on the Men�s National Team. That didn�t mean he was going to stay away from training camp, though.

Westbrook dropped by Mendenhall for the majority of Monday�s practice, catching up with National Team managing director Jerry Colangelo, Krzyzewski and assistant coach Jim Boeheim, and also spending a lot of time on the bench with the current players. Westbrook even carved out some time for an old teammate, new New York Knicks coach Derek Fisher, and when he decided Durant had put in enough media time, Westbrook politely called for one last question before pulling his friend and Thunder teammate out to the court for more shots.

Including Westbrook, the first practice brought out a lot of basketball luminaries. It was also irresistible for a local like Chase Jeter, a high school senior-to-be who earlier this summer won a gold medal for the USA at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship.

Flight School
While many players cleared themselves for takeoff towards the rim at Monday�s practice, upstairs a trio of fighter pilots who do that for real looked on.

USA Basketball extended a practice invite to United States Air Force pilots at Nellis Air Force Base, which is located about a half hour northeast of the UNLV campus. Three pilots, all members of the USAF�s elite Weapons School, and their families were able to stop by. While their kids ran around bouncing basketballs and playing hide-and-seek, Colonel Adrian Spain was watching the court and noticing a parallel between the USA team and the Weapons School, which takes already elite pilots and puts them through rigorous training.

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

http://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2014/07/mens-national-team-sets-the-tone-on-day-1-at-training-camp.aspx

Additional Quotes From Day 1 Of Men's National Team Training Camp
Date: Jul 28, 2014
Kevin Durant:


On committing to the World Cup of basketball:
�I always wanted to be here. My basketball life is short when you look at it in the grand scheme of things. I really want to play as much as I can and try not to worry about my body. I know that sounds a little crazy and a little whacky. I want to take care of myself but at the same time I want to play and experience all this stuff. I learn so much. I soak it all in. It�s an exciting time and right now I am enjoying it. I want to have some memories to look back on because in 10, 12, 15 years it flies by.�
On the players in training camp:
�These guys have been a part of the program for so long. That�s the great part about Jerry (Colangelo) and Coach K. They make sure we have a plan four to six years ahead. These guys have been here before and know the system. They know the coaches and it�s up to us to go out there and perform.�

On representing the USA:
�You dream about representing your country in some type of way. To go out there and do it on the basketball court, something that you love to do, you can�t beat that. All these guys appreciate this opportunity. We never want to take it for granted.�

Derrick Rose:


On missing the game and returning to the court:
�I�m just happy to be here. I missed the game a lot. My appreciation and feeling for the game is bigger. Every time I step on the floor is going to be a show. I�m happy that Coach K invited me to camp. I�m just trying to shake off the rust. I have goals and being on this team is one of them. These guys push me to a whole other level. It�s an honor to be here and to play with these guys.�

On finishing and scoring on his acrobatic layup in the scrimmage today:
(laughing) �Just competing again feels great especially playing against the younger guys and the younger bigs who are all trying to beat your shot. This will knock the rust off for a good year. I just want to improve every day.�

On the health of his knee:
�It�s good. There is no pain. That�s the past.�

Chandler Parsons:


On having a busy offseason and getting back into a basketball rhythm:
�It�s awesome. First of all, it�s a huge honor to be here, to be able to compete against these top-notch level players, in front of all of these very important Hall of Fame coaches. It�s flattering and humbling to be here and I think it�s going to pay off just being able to get in the gym with these guys.�


On if he�s working to play more in the paint:
�Yeah. Just to continue to get stronger and work on my all around game and be a mismatch when I go to the perimeter at the four and play stretch-forward. Just as tough as it is for me to guard those big guys down low, it�s tough for them to guard me on the perimeter. So I think I can present mismatches and just continue to work. I�m willing to do whatever it takes for me to help this team win.�

On putting on a USA jersey this morning:
�Man! It�s a huge honor. I get goose bumps on my arms every time I put it on and every time you see U-S-A across your chest, it means something. It�s flattering. It�s humbling. I look forward to working extremely hard this week and doing whatever I can to help this team win and to make the team.�

On if he was surprised about anything from the first day:
�No, nothing real surprising. It�s kind of the same structure as last year. It�s just so great to be playing against these top-notch players and with these unbelievable coaches. There�s no better way to get better than to come out here and compete against these guys.�

On how he prepared for training camp:
�I�ve been in LA (Los Angeles). It�s difficult for me because going through free agency, I couldn�t really play pick-up. This was the first time I played pick up since Game 6 of the (2014) playoffs. But just keep it in the gym, getting stronger, lifting weights with Gunnar Peterson in LA and doing on the court (work) with Rob McClanaghan. So I�ve been doing that for like two-to-three weeks now. Everyone is a little rusty, but I�m sure as the week goes on, we�ll shake that off.�

On how he felt he played individually today:
�Individually, I thought I did pretty good. My thing is just to do all the little things, do whatever they need me to do. Knock down shots, play defense, rebound the basketball. I�m here to do whatever they need me to do. Whether that�s play point-guard, play power forward, play center, I�ll do whatever to bring the gold medal home.�

On his childhood memories of USA Basketball:
�(I remember) How much pride and passion it is going to the Olympics. That�s always been my dream is All-Star (games), championships and being an Olympian. There�s nothing like playing for your country. Watching all those teams with the Dream Team, watching Vince (Carter) jump over the big dude (7�2� Frederic Weis). It�s just all surreal and crazy to me that now I�m a part of that.�

On if he�s expecting the same type of structure Tuesday:
�Yeah, for sure. I�m sure they�re going to get more extensive. Today was a lot of teaching and a lot of talking. But tomorrow I�m sure it will get more competitive and as the week goes on, it�s going to get more serious and more serious.�

Anthony Davis:


On what he likes most about the USA Basketball experience:
�It�s fun. It�s fun to represent Team USA and I�m just happy to be here. Not a lot of guys can say that they did this, so I�m very excited and ready to get the ball rolling.�

On what type of leadership he displays:
�I�m working on it. I�m still working on it. I�m not sure. (I finished) The end of my second (NBA) year, I haven�t even been in my third year, so I�m still trying to figure that out.�

Paul George:


On Derrick Rose:
�He looked great. He looked like he didn�t miss a beat. It looked like he played last season as well as a full season before that. I�m happy to see him back on the floor. Although he�s in the East and in the Central Division, I still hate to see guys go down. It�s great to see him out here. He looks great and I�m excited to play alongside him.�

On if he changed his preparation when he found out about the camp:
�No, not really. It�s just getting used to the (FIBA) basketball. Learning how to dribble, learning how to shoot with it. And just doing repetition stuff and making sure my body was conditioned well enough. It�s a different intensity playing with this team.�

On if he feels he�s adjusted to the USA Basketball coaching staff this year:
�Yeah, we�re starting to understand what Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) likes and his playing style. We�re starting to transform more and more every year on the way he plays the game. It�s been great for both of us, Coach K as well as the players because he has a different mind and he has a great mind of the game. He helps a lot of us out and myself, I�ve learned a lot from him.�

On going against the Select Team:
�It�s great. They�re still great young pros in this league. We�re still getting the most out of our training going against those guys because all of them, at the end of the day, want to be where we�re at. I started out on the Select Team and I worked my way up to where I�m fortunate to play with the main team. So it�s a great start for those guys. It�s good competition for us as well as a great experience for them and I know a lot of them are going to go back to their (NBA) teams better.�

Stephen Curry:


On being in the gym with some of the best talent in the world:
�It�s a great day. This is something you look forward to all summer. (It�s) the best players in the world preparing to represent our country. It was exciting. A little rusty at first, but we got into the flow of it and had fun competing. The best part of this week is we�re all trying to make the team and figure out how we�re going to play together. But we compete along the way and make each other better, so it�s fun.�

On the challenge of this week:
�We know there�s a lot of talent across the world that we�re going to have to face if we�re going to try and get this gold medal so everybody has to remain the same player that they are on their respected teams, but sacrifice a little bit to become one unit and that�s the mission that Coach K has us on. A lot of us have experience with USA Basketball so it should be a pretty smooth transition.�

On how this experience helps him get better for the regular season:
�I can get a lot better playing against this type of competition day-in and day-out. A lot of people say �you should be resting, this and that� but when you�re able to show off what you�ve been working on all summer, I guess it�s kind of competition. You�re bound to get better, learn some things here and there and take that back to the regular season.�

On the different USA Basketball coaches:
�It�s awesome. You study the game and you know these guys have been leading teams and coming up with these game-plans for years. It is different than philosophies and systems I run in Golden State with other coaches, but as a basketball player, you become more well-rounded having been impacted by these guys along the way. They put together a great staff, and they�re going to do a great job for us.�

Coach K:


On the new dynamic look of the team:
�Well, in 2010, we didn�t have any of those guys (Lebron, Kobe). The dynamic is always changing. There is a dynamic for the Olympics and there is a dynamic for the World Cup because of how people want to be involved with it. The veterans on this team, especially led by Kevin Durant and James Harden, those guys have to provide leadership. Steph Curry has been on our team. Derrick Rose was our starting guard in 2010. He would have been on the Olympic team if he wasn�t hurt. We have to rely on the leadership and start with those guys as the base.�

On evaluating the players:
�For us, we have to take a look at them as who they are as a U.S. player and not who they are as an NBA player. These guys play 35 to 40 minutes and are dominant players on their team. Here you don�t get as many shots or minutes. So they can play defense harder. They don�t need to pace themselves. That�s what we are trying to take a look at: use the 12-man roster which we have done to be successful these last three competitions.�

On representing the USA:
�It�s a great honor to represent your country whether it be a coach, an assistant coach or player. It�s the ultimate honor. These guys realize that. We had a good team meeting last night. Today we are trying to get a foundation defensively and for me and Jim Boeheim to see them in person and see how they react. Tomorrow we will make some changes. It will be a little different practice.�

On the bigs:
�We lost two big guys in the last 48 hours. We are going to have to have active bigs. Our main guy is Anthony Davis and we will see who else fits in. But also how they fit in with the other guys. You have a core group of about eight guys and you hope another big is one of those guys.�

Jerry Colangelo:


On first day of camp:
�I thought it was a great opening day for us just to see the guys back in action again. When you have a former MVP in the league like Derrick Rose who has been out for so long and all the questions surrounding him�where would he be? It almost appeared that he hasn�t missed much in the way of a beat. He played with enthusiasm, some reckless abandon, he went to the basket and he played with a smile. He was just happy to be on the court and we are happy to see him on the court.�

On utilizing prior training camp experiences in prepsaring for this camp:
�It�s almost like repetition for us. We�ve done this enough times that it becomes second nature. It�s a wonderful way for us to prepare our teams for international competition here in Las Vegas.�

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

http://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2014/07/playing-for-usa-basketball-a-surreal-experience-for-chandler-parsons.aspx

Chandler Parsons: Playing For USA Basketball A 'Surreal' Experience
Author: Taylor Bern Date: Jul 29, 2014
Las Vegas, Nevada

Chandler Parsons is unlikely to ever experience another day like July 13, 2014.

The mixed emotions of officially changing teams � from the Houston Rockets to the Dallas Mavericks � would have been enough, but it was that same night that Parsons was invited to compete in training camp for the USA Men�s National Team. With everything else going on, did Parsons need a minute to consider the opportunity?

�Less than half a second,� he said. �There was no way I was going to turn this down.�

While he didn�t necessarily plan on changing NBA teams, Parsons has planned on wearing a USA jersey for a long time. Like most Americans, Parsons has fond memories of the Dream Team. He also remembers Vince Carter�s defining dunk over 7-foot-2 Frederic Weis of France in 2000, and Parsons would like the chance to create his own red, white and blue highlights.

�Watching all those teams as a kid it�s still surreal to me that I�m here but hopefully I can take advantage of this opportunity,� he said.

Parsons, a 6-9 small forward, is one of 19 players competing for 12 spots on the USA Basketball roster for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain. The World Cup doesn�t start for another month but training camp got underway Monday with the National Team and a dozen Select Team players taking over the courts at the Mendenhall Center on UNLV�s campus.

If players like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony had decided to compete this summer, there might not have been space for Parsons in camp. Their absence is his possible gain.

�The dynamic is always changing,� said head coach Mike Krzyzewski. �There is a dynamic for the Olympics and there is a dynamic for the World Cup because of how people want to be involved with it.�

One guy who committed himself to chasing a third straight gold medal is Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant. He emerged from a star-studded lineup to average a USA Team best 22.8 points per game and claim MVP honors at the World Championship in 2010. Now that he�s the leader and face of USA Basketball, Durant said he�s not worried about having to carry the load by himself because of the way Krzyzewski and managing director Jerry Colangelo structure the teams.

�They make sure we have a plan four to six years ahead,� Durant said. �These guys have been here before and know the system.�

Parsons� only previous USA Basketball experience was at mini-camp last summer. Still, he held his own going against Durant for much of Monday�s practices and had to pinch himself to make sure this experience was real.

�Playing for USA Basketball still gives me goose bumps, just saying that and putting on the jersey,� Parsons said. �It will never get old.�

Parsons� best chance at making the 12-man roster is by utilizing his versatility. His outside shooting creates matchup problems on offense, but the key for a demanding, defensive-minded coaching staff will be how well he performs at the other end.

�He can stretch the floor and hopefully play defense on multiple positions,� Krzyzewski. �He wants to be here and he�s going to be in contention for one of those spots where he�s a complimentary player.�

To Parsons it doesn�t matter what kind of role he has on the World Cup roster, just so long as he has one. A lot changed for Parsons on July 13 and doing whatever he can to help USA Basketball win gold would go a long way in defining both that day and his future.

�This is a big summer for me,� Parsons said. �I have a lot to prove.�

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

>
>Parsons, a 6-9 small forward

I thought he was like 6'7

dude needs to develop some post moves. he would be a f*ckin beast if he had an all-around game at that size

_____

shann.email/inbox.pls.

so this article is really a worthless piece of fluff in a slow news cycle...

grassrootsphilosopher

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

either parsons or korver is going to be out but thats not as tough as wall and lillard pretty much being locks to get cut if rose is gonna show up

>either parsons or korver is going to be out but thats not as
>tough as wall and lillard pretty much being locks to get cut
>if rose is gonna show up

Yeah if Rose is really looking as good as the say he is Wall and Lillard are out because Curry and Kyrie are pretty much locks

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

so it wouldn't surprise me if 3 of the other 4 PGs make it.

i think parsons makes it, and they play him as a 'big' along with AD, KD and boog.




>>either parsons or korver is going to be out but thats not
>as
>>tough as wall and lillard pretty much being locks to get cut
>>if rose is gonna show up
>
>Yeah if Rose is really looking as good as the say he is Wall
>and Lillard are out because Curry and Kyrie are pretty much
>locks

___

it is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. - sherlock holmes

He'd put JJ Redick on the squad if it was possible.

<---https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DL9AVTQ

maybe...but go ahead and cushion yourself.

____________________________________________________


Steph: I was just fooling about

Kyrie: I wasn't.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8OWNspU_yE

<---https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DL9AVTQ

see, you wanna act like this shit don't matter, but it does.

by all accounts, lillard and wall have not been impressive this week, especially lillard.

but keep actin like it's a fluke that kyrie always excels when all things are equal. he passing to hayward, beal and klay off screens this week...um, they shoot and catch. they not dion.

____________________________________________________


Steph: I was just fooling about

Kyrie: I wasn't.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8OWNspU_yE

<---https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DL9AVTQ

moved past Kyrie in the PG race based on what each one of them did last (regular) season...

Kyrie actually took a step back last season imo and had me re-thinking the idea of him being a *franchise playet* but he got Bron Bron w/him now so that's going to help him out tremendously as a player...

grassrootsphilosopher

too bad they aren't being picked based on NBA games. they gotta compete against each for spots and whenever they have to do that...we know what happens.

____________________________________________________


Steph: I was just fooling about

Kyrie: I wasn't.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8OWNspU_yE

<---https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DL9AVTQ

____________________________________________________


Steph: I was just fooling about

Kyrie: I wasn't.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8OWNspU_yE

<---https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DL9AVTQ

ShhhEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT.


you see it?

____________________________________________________


Steph: I was just fooling about

Kyrie: I wasn't.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8OWNspU_yE

___

it is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. - sherlock holmes

>see, you wanna act like this shit don't matter, but it does.
>
>
>by all accounts, lillard and wall have not been impressive
>this week, especially lillard.
>
>but keep actin like it's a fluke that kyrie always excels when
>all things are equal. he passing to hayward, beal and klay off
>screens this week...um, they shoot and catch. they not dion.

grassrootsphilosopher

>by all accounts, lillard and wall have not been impressive
>this week, especially lillard.

I don't think Lillard should start in Spain, but if they don't bring him along for his 3-point shooting alone, I'll be shocked. He can sink from anywhere, at any moment, and he doesn't even have to be the primary ballhandler with the lineup Team USA can bring along.

http://forwardcenter.net/lillard-has-his-best-day-at-team-usa-tryouts/

___________

HOPE!
https://vine.co/v/i7JjIBL3Qix
https://vine.co/v/i7JtqEFwxDu

Former Manhattan and Seton Hall head coach Bobby Gonzalez also noted Smart's standout play in a column for SheridanHoops.com

"I did manage to watch the point guards a bit. Damian Lillard was disappointing, and there was a stretch where both Marcus Smart and Victor Oladipo of the Select Team flat-out took it to Wizards teammates John Wall and Bradley Beal...While there is a point guard battle going on with the national team, the Select Team had young point guards who also did some damage today, further stressing that the future of the point position in the NBA is in good hands with Marcus Smart and Trey Burke."

And Sam Amico and Goodman tweeted some shit too, but i don't feel like digging.

____________________________________________________


Steph: I was just fooling about

Kyrie: I wasn't.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8OWNspU_yE

I don't care about Smart v. Lillard in a USA camp scrimmage. I care that we have two years of evidence that the 2nd best 3FG shooter at the PG position, after Curry, is Lillard. I want that freak longball (with NO fear) on the bench in Spain.

___________

HOPE!
https://vine.co/v/i7JjIBL3Qix
https://vine.co/v/i7JtqEFwxDu

____________________________________________________


Steph: I was just fooling about

Kyrie: I wasn't.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8OWNspU_yE

http://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2014/07/day-2-roundup-competition-and-intensity-mounts.aspx

Day 2: Roundup Competition and Intensity Mount
Author: Taylor Bern Date: Jul 29, 2014
Las Vegas, Nevada

� Quotes From Day 2

� Video: Coach K Wired For Sound

� Video: Derrick Rose Alley Oop

They kept coming in waves, groups of five subbing in off the bench like a line change in hockey. There�s little rest to be found at USA Men�s National Team practice as the team continues to add plays and intensity while preparing for next month�s World Cup in Spain.

The second day of practice started without the Select Team in order to give the top guys more court time to build and expand on Monday�s first practice at the Mendenhall Center on UNLV�s campus. By the time the full compliment of both teams were there for the scrimmages, the National Team took turns in groups working to run the plays they spent the past two days learning.

�Today was one of those days where you let the dust settle and you see more of everybody�s game,� said assistant coach Monty Williams. �Put some more structure out there and I thought it worked pretty well.�

While there was some on-court instruction on Monday, the players and coaches agreed that Tuesday was much more focused on those sorts of specific sets. It took the extra day to let a little of the pageantry wear off and get closer to a normal practice environment.

�Coach (Mike Krzyzewski) did a good job of getting guys into playing quicker and I think it settled everybody down,� Williams said.

A lot of eyes again focused on Derrick Rose, who practiced with the Blue Team alongside James Harden and Damian Lillard, among others. Everyone is looking for any small health clues and constantly asking Rose about his knee but the Chicago Bulls guard said he feels good and is more focused on developing as a player than monitoring his health. Krzyzewski agreed, saying that there was no drop-off from day one to day two from Rose.

�It was at a high level yesterday so for him to play at that level and then play at it again shows that he�s worked real hard,� Krzyzewski said. �We�re very, very pleased.�

Victor Oladipo hit a 3-pointer in the last seconds of the day�s final scrimmage to lift his Select Team over the White Team, a shot that will likely be avenged in the coming days. Everyone out on the court is highly competitive and as the National Team continues to add wrinkles the practices and scrimmages should only get more intense.

�It was a lot better today and I expect the same for the rest of the week,� said 2012 gold medalist Anthony Davis. �When guys start figuring out where they�re supposed to be in the plays, it�s going to definitely pick up. It�ll start being more fluent and guys are going to start just playing basketball.�

Familiar Faces

While the National Team was getting into its rhythm during the first hour of practice, 2010 World Championship gold medalist Rudy Gay was on the sidelines pulling crossover moves on a 5-year-old.

Gay dropped by to watch some of practice with two-time Olympic gold medalist Chris Paul and Paul�s oldest son, Chris Paul Jr. Paul Sr. was busy catching up with USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo and others while Paul Jr. was more interested in trying to steal the ball from Gay or making a basket through the hoop Gay made with his arms.

Current training camp participants Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Rose were Gay�s teammates on that 2010 World Championship team.

The Ol� College Try

USA Basketball invited two 2014 draft picks to join the Select Team during this training camp, and so far Marcus Smart and Doug McDermott are making the most of the opportunity.

Smart, especially, has been turning heads during the scrimmages. The Select Team�s job is to make the National Team better and Smart is doing that with tough defense and matching shot-for-shot on offense. He was one of the most impressive guards on the court both days regardless of team, which is saying something considering he has yet to play an NBA game.

�It�s incredible and such an honor,� Smart said of training camp. �It speaks volumes about how much we�re liked by the USA Basketball organization.�

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

>The Ol� College Try
>
>USA Basketball invited two 2014 draft picks to join the Select
>Team during this training camp, and so far Marcus Smart and
>Doug McDermott are making the most of the opportunity.
>
>Smart, especially, has been turning heads during the
>scrimmages. The Select Team�s job is to make the National Team
>better and Smart is doing that with tough defense and matching
>shot-for-shot on offense. He was one of the most impressive
>guards on the court both days regardless of team, which is
>saying something considering he has yet to play an NBA game.
>
>�It�s incredible and such an honor,� Smart said of training
>camp. �It speaks volumes about how much we�re liked by the USA
>Basketball organization.�

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

Marcus Smart giving up and Oladipo cleaning shit up

---
"though time has passed, im still the future" (c) black thought

http://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2014/07/quotes-from-day-2-of-mens-national-team-training-camp.aspx

Quotes From Day 2 of Men's National Team Training Camp
Date: Jul 29, 2014
Coach Krzyzewski

On Derrick Rose�s performance today compared to yesterday:

�I think he kept it at the same. It was at a high level yesterday. For him to play at that level and then play at it again, shows that he has worked real hard. We are very, very pleased. Coming into the camp, you don�t know. He has responded.�

On Kyrie Irving:

�He had a great day today. We�re happy that he�s doing that. Part of it is that he�s gotten older and understanding the responsibility of being a key player (at Cleveland). That�s a large responsibility. I think he has learned from that and he has brought that into this camp. He was destined to be a great player. He has not only ability but he has character and great intelligence.�

On DeMarcus Cousins:

�DeMarcus brings a different big man than Anthony (Davis). Just like Andre (Drummond) does. We have to see how we might be able to incorporate that into what we are doing. All the guys are giving a good effort. I thought today was a great day.�

On Hoops for Troops:

�The (USA Basketball) Hoops for Troops is growing immensely. Over these last nine years, we have developed a great relationship with the military. Marty Dempsey and the NBA have joined forces together this past spring to do even more. Behind the scenes in the NBA is a lady by the name of Kim Bohuny who has really been masterful in coordinating all this. It�s helped our USA Basketball to be with the troops and to know what it is about selfless service and patriotism. Hopefully we have benefitted them in some way too.

�It�s been a huge factor for the growth of our players, not just USA Basketball, but just as Americans. To be cognizant of the sacrifices our servicemen and women make for us and their families.�



Monty Williams:

On his observation thus far of camp:

�Today we put in more structure and got the guys playing more. The dust settled a little bit. The guys were not thinking as much. They played more natural basketball. That was good. Coach (Krzyzewski) did a good job of getting us into more of a normal practice. This atmosphere is a lot different than what you deal with every day. I thought it was a good day because we played more basketball and guys didn�t think as much. Coach gives everyone more freedom to play. That�s a thing a lot of guys like to do in the NBA. Structure but being able to use your game. We saw a lot more of that today.�

On what Anthony Davis can contribute to this team:

�He just affects the game in so many ways. Offensively, defensively, in transition. Unbelievable effect on the game. Blocking shots, distracting shots. He can score in a number of ways. And he�s unselfish.�

On Anthony Davis� experience from being the youngest player on the 2012 Olympic Team and maturing into a more experienced player:

�He knows what to expect going forward. That can only help him. He can lend some advice to the some of the guys who haven�t been in this situation.�

DeMarcus Cousins

On Day Two of practice compared to Day One:
�I believe it was a better day today for a lot of people just because this is the second day of being under a system. We understand the system a lot better today. Still a little rusty, but overall I think it was a better day.�

On having more coaching instruction today:
�Just a lot more explaining of sets, explaining what they want, explaining how they want it done during the run of the game. Early on, there was a lot of teaching. It kind of helped later on with the runs.�

On how the USA Basketball coaches are similar to any previous coaches he�s had during his basketball career:
�You understand the instruction. They�re great at giving detail in what they want. It�s better for the players. It�s a lot easier for us to understand. It�s a lot easier for us to learn it on the fly.�

On whether playing for USA Basketball was one of his goals when he started playing the game:
�Of course, you see it. Of course being a basketball player, you want to be a part of it. Hopefully I�m a member of this team. That�d be a dream come true.�

On how much attending last year�s USA Basketball National Team mini-camp prepared him for this year�s experience:
�You kind of know what to expect. You�re on the other side now. You�re no longer on the Select Team. But at the same time, you kind of have an idea of what to expect.�

On whether it�s an adjustment not being asked to go score a certain number of points or grab a certain number of rebounds:
�It�s an adjustment for everybody because you may play one way with your (NBA) team, but you can have five guys that are franchise guys on the court at one time (here). It�s a lot different, but at the same time if we can have it click, the game would be so much easier.�

On what he believes the coaches are looking for most during training camp:
�Play hard. That�s the main thing. Play hard, give a lot of effort and just try to give in to the system. Learn the system.�

On if he enjoys the competition process of trying out for a team:
�Yeah. The competition is crazy. I�d probably say the last time I was in a competition setting was in maybe summer league.�

On whether it�s been difficult getting used to the international basketball they use for FIBA competitions:
�Absolutely. The ball�s a lot slicker. When your hands are wet, it comes right out.�

On if it�s harder to make shots with the ball:
�It�s an adjustment. But once you get used to the ball, the game will get easier. As of right now, we�ve got to get used to the ball.�



Paul George

On whether he�s grown closer to anybody since the start of training camp practice:
�Yeah. I grew closer with a lot of these guy. A lot of these guys I consider brothers so it�s good to come out here, work hard and train together.�

On if he�s gotten closer with anybody specific:
�John (Wall). John is always my guy. It�s good to be here with DeMarcus (Cousin). I enjoy playing with Gordon (Hayward). It�s my first time being alongside KD (Kevin Durant). It�s gaining a little chemistry with all those guys.�

On the similarities and differences between the USA Basketball coaches and other coaches he�s had during his career:
�Monty (Williams) is straight to the point. He lets you know what�s going on. He gives you assignments. His mind for basketball is at an elite level as far as the coaches in this league. It varies. Each coach brings something that another coach doesn�t bring. Not to say that that coach doesn�t have it, but it�s just the way that he delivers that message. It�s great to get coaching from all these guys in here.�

On his relationship with National Team Coach Mike Krzyeswski:
�It�s growing. The more and more I�m around him, the more I get a better understanding of what he wants from me here. And it�s the same thing for him. He gets to learn what kind of player I am and what I can do on the floor for him. So the more we�re around, I think our chemistry will grow.�

On what the coaches are stressing most to the players:
�It�s defense and keeping that intensity. USA Basketball, we rely on our athleticism, our elite speed, our elite quickness to make plays and get out and play a fast-tempo.�

On if he feels today�s practice went better than Monday�s:
�I do. I think yesterday was kind of warming up to everybody and today we understand what we�re doing, we know our plays. So we got after it a little better and a little easier today.�



Gordon Hayward

On how Day Two of practice compared to Day One:
�I thought we were a little more sharp today, especially in the beginning. I think Day One is out of the way for us and we�re getting used to each other a little bit more. I was playing the four today, so that was a newer position for me, but something that I was excited to do. We could really space the floor when we�ve got four guys who can dribble and penetrate and shoot.�

On if he enjoyed getting more instruction from the coaches today:
�Yeah. We slowed it down a little bit. We ran some control, put in some more offensive stuff, so that was good. Anytime you do that and then you execute what they put, that�s always fun to see. It was a good second day.�

On what his most enjoyable part of the USA Basketball experience is:
�I think just all the people, the competition and the coaches. The best players in the world are here all at the same time, so it�s the people here that make it.�

On how the USA Basketball coaches compare and contrast with former coaches he�s had during his basketball career:
�Everybody has a different background, so everybody has some different terminology and they�ve got different things that they�re experts per se on. So it�s cool to see that and hear what they have to say. Anytime you hear, even the same thing from a different person, it�s always good to have somebody else say it, reinforce it and say the same thing. There�s some legendary coaches here as well. The coaches are great and I�ve actually got to meet with Coach (Brad) Stevens. Some of my former coaches are here anyways. I get to see them and talk to them and see how they�re doing.�

On settling in to not being asked to score 20 points a night:
�It�s different when you play for Team USA because you�re not the guy like you just pointed out. But everybody can score, and that�s what�s fun. You never have to take a bad shot. You can swing the ball and somebody will make something happen.�

On if the adjustment mainly just centers around time:
�I think it takes a little bit of time but for me, it�s no big deal because that�s how I like to play anyway. I like being able to share the ball and cut and move and make sure you�re always getting a good shot because we�re capable to.�

On developing friendships with guys during training camp:
�You do. Anytime you do this for two or three years in a row you�re going to come back and see the same guys. You build a friendship, you build a little rivalry, (and) some competition when we go back to our respected (NBA) teams. You get to hang out with some of the guys now too.�



Anthony Davis

On today�s practice:

�It went good. We did a lot better today. We got a lot of time moving up and down. We put in some sets and made sure that everyone was on the same page. Everybody played well. Got used to the ball, got used to the system and got used to the international rules and the way they play. We are coming together as a team and want to make sure we win gold.�

On having a more meaningful role this year than in 2012:

�I want to do whatever it takes to be on this team. Coach K wants me to be one of those guys for USA. I�m here to do my job. Two years ago I didn�t know much. I was new to it. I got a little experience playing last year in the scrimmages and in the Olympics in 2012. I�m just ready to get out there and start competing again.�

On the chances of making the 2016 team:

�I don�t want to jinx myself. I don�t want to say yes and then in 2016 I don�t get that call. It�s definitely an honor to be asked multiple times to play for Team USA. Hopefully I keep getting invited and I get a chance to represent.�

On the experience from 2012 Olympics:

�It was definitely physical. The rules are a little different. It�s a different style of basketball.

�It feels like it was yesterday. I remember everything about that trip and about the experience. I was grabbing towels for guys after games, carrying guys� bags, getting food, and the fact that I was a rookie at that time too. Now I kind of got that experience.�



James Harden

On his improvement as a player:

�I�m always working on my game. Every aspect of my game and in the weight room. It�s non-stop. Consistently every single day. I just try to be the best that I can be. Work ethic and dedication has definitely gotten me here.�

On the development of youth basketball:

�Work on fundamentals. The fundamentals are the base of your game. If you don�t have fundamentals, it�s tough to make it in basketball. That�s your stomping grounds. Make sure you shoot the ball well, pass the ball well and dribble the ball well. The San Antonio Spurs for example. They don�t really have flashy guys but all of them have great fundamentals and they won a championship.�

On today�s practice:

�Today was a little bit better than yesterday. Yesterday we were kind of getting our feet wet and today we were a little better. We felt more comfortable out there. Guys were making plays. The more time we spend together, the better off we will be.�

On being a leader on this team:

�Two years ago in London I was just happy to be on the team. There were so many great guys on that team. Now I�m one of the leaders. I just take the leadership role as far as working hard and just trying to be vocal.�

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

http://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2014/07/anthony-davis-returns-to-mens-national-team-as-one-of-the-leaders.aspx

Anthony Davis Returns to Men's National Team As One of the Leaders
Date: Jul 30, 2014
Las Vegas, Nevada

At 19 years old without a single professional game to his name, Anthony Davis had no idea what to expect when he made the USA Men�s National Team�s roster for the 2012 Olympics.

Davis traveled to London and was mostly seen but not heard. He appeared in seven of the eight games, averaging 3.7 points and 2.7 rebound per game, and afterward he was often in charge of carrying bags or going on food runs for the veteran players. What he got in return was a crash course education in international basketball and memories he still carries with him today.

�It feels like it was yesterday,� Davis said. �I remember everything about that trip and about that experience.�

Fast forward two years and Davis is now one of the veterans at training camp for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain next month. As the team continues practices on UNLV�s campus, Davis joins Kevin Durant and James Harden as the only players on the roster with an Olympic gold. In a very short time Davis has gone from a player just enjoying the ride to one of the organization�s leaders.

�When I talk to guys about different situations they definitely listen,� Davis said.

In just more than two years, Davis has won a college national championship, become a No. 1 overall pick, won an Olympic gold medal and become an NBA All-Star. It�s a rapid rise that Monty Williams, New Orleans Pelicans coach and a USA Basketball assistant, has witnessed first hand.

�Understanding how to deal with success is tough and he�s done a really good job,� Williams said. �He�s getting more and more experience, and that�s stuff I can�t teach him.�

Training camp started with 19 players on the 2014 USA National Team roster. While none are technically guaranteed one of the 12 final spots, there are guys like Durant who know they�re not going anywhere. Thanks to a little help from the guys who dropped out of consideration before camp, Davis appears to be in that group.

�We are going to have to have active bigs,� coach Mike Krzyzewski said Monday. �Our main guy is Anthony Davis and we will see who else fits in.�

Even with quotes like that and the private conversations he�s had with Krzyzewski and managing director Jerry Colangelo, Davis said he didn�t want to jinx himself by looking past camp.

�It�s definitely an honor to get picked multiple times to play for the USA,� he said. �Hopefully I keep getting invited.�

That�s not something Davis likely has to worry about, especially if he continues to develop. After practice on Tuesday, Davis and Williams spent some extra time working on one-on-one dribbling moves facing the basket. Adding those kinds of skills and jump shots to his arsenal would be the next major development in Davis� game, and with his head coach on the USA Basketball staff there�s no time like the present to work on the future.

�As the camp progresses you�ll see him blossom more and more as he gets more comfortable,� Williams said.

That�s great news for Colangelo and the coaching staff. Davis only made the 2012 Olympics roster after an injury to Blake Griffin, but because of that experience and last year�s USA mini-camp he�s way ahead of schedule and figures to be key piece of the organization from this point forward.

�Coach K wants me to be one those guys for USA,� Davis said. �I�m just trying to do my job.�

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nba/story/_/id/11282855/jim-boeheim-calls-derrick-rose-chicago-bulls-most-impressive-player

Derrick Rose draws more praise
Updated: July 30, 2014, 12:20 PM ET
By Nick Friedell | ESPNChicago.com

Derrick Rose Back On Court For Team USA

LAS VEGAS -- Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose continued to open eyes Tuesday in Team USA's training camp as he makes his way back from the torn meniscus in his right knee that cost him all but 10 games of the past season.

Rose, who has played in just 49 games over the past three seasons because of various injuries, including two severe knee injuries, earned praise from all corners of the Mendenhall Center on UNLV's campus.

"That's my biggest surprise coming in here," Syracuse coach and Team USA assistant Jim Boeheim told ESPNChicago.com, in reference to Rose's performance. "The one thing I was worried about is whether he would be able to step in after so much time . He looks, to me, as good as when we had him in the world championship in '10, when he was at full strength coming an MVP year. He looks very, very good. Obviously, he gets in some games, it will be a little different, but it's not like he hasn't had success in games. He had a lot of success.

"He's been the most impressive guy here."

In just two days, Rose seems to have reminded the basketball world just how talented he can be when he's healthy.

Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski echoed Boeheim's praise.

"He was phenomenal , and he was today, too," Krzyzewski said. "He hasn't held anything back. The neat thing about today was we went hard and we went hard today, and he hasn't been in this environment, and he was as good or better today."

The thing that has impressed Krzyzewski most is the way Rose has attacked the competition. The former MVP is trying to be one of the 12 players who will make up Team USA at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in late August in Spain.

"He's gone after people," Krzyzewski said. " ain't happening. He's going after everybody, and he's really going hard. His movement on defense has been spectacular. When we started practice , what he did defensively -- whoa. It picked everybody up. You don't play that type of defense in the NBA because you have to play 40 minutes and 100 games, but here if you play 20 minutes, that's a lot, but you don't have to play consecutively, so you can go to an extreme -- that's what he's doing. I think he's shown he has great balance and strength. He's stronger, and he has better balance, and he's shooting the ball great. I think he's been absolutely terrific these first two days."

For his part, Rose maintains he isn't surprised by his performance. He points to the work he has put into his rehab over the past eight months as the reason he is playing so well early on.

"I can be more aggressive, but I'm picking and choosing just trying to see what the game needs," he said. "Just trying to play my type of game. I think when I first came in the league people were wondering if I could score, but on my team, I have to score. Here I can be really a point guard and really get guys in a groove and really get them in a rhythm to shoot the ball. So my job is to play defense, move the ball up the court and get guys open and shoot open shots."

Rose's teammates can see his game is starting to return as well. Team USA counterpart Kevin Durant believes Rose is a better player than he was during the 2010 world championships, when the pair helped the team win a gold medal.

"He's definitely grown since then," Durant said. " has blossomed into a superstar, MVP of course after that. He's just had a few setbacks with some injuries, but he seems like he's the same player. But his confidence -- that's what it's about in this league. You experience things, you go through them, you gain confidence, and that's what all these guys here have gotten."

Boeheim said people have to be a little surprised at how well Rose has played to start camp.

"They know Derrick's talent," Boeheim said. "You have to be a little surprised at seeing what he's doing. He's looked great. And I'm happy for him because my experience with him in '10 was great and he's just a great kid. A great kid to coach being part of the world championship team. I'm happy to see a kid come back. All the rehab, all the work -- people don't realize how hard that is. That's not easy. And to see Derrick Rose back, I think it's a great thing, and it will be great for Chicago."

Rose is trying to take all the extra attention in stride. He knows the eyes of the basketball world are focused on him this week, but he doesn't seem too concerned. He joked that the biggest key from Monday to Tuesday was that he had no pain, just the regular soreness that comes for every basketball player after participating in five-on-five full-court scrimmages.

"Waking up not sore, man," he said with a smile. "Waking up kinda sore. I feel like a basketball player now, man. I'm happy to be here and happy to be getting attention, but at the same time, I know that I have a long journey and just trying to take it one day at a time."

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

can't remember where we left off in the last post.

-The Knicks’ coaching search still includes a lone frontrunner, Kurt Rambis, whose qualifications for the position include a strong relationship with Jackson and a willingness to take the job.

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

Day 3 Roundup: Pleased With Progress
Author: Taylor Bern Date: Jul 30, 2014
Las Vegas, Nevada

The play developed so beautifully and quickly built so much anticipation in the gym that the scorekeeper put two points on the board while Kevin Durant�s alley-oop pass attempt was still sailing towards Anthony Davis.

Alas, this is practice and not everything goes to plan. Davis� finish would have been a thunderous one-hand slam but he couldn�t control the ball and the points were erased from the scoreboard at the Mendenhall Center on UNLV�s campus.

Still, that was one of the first plays of Wednesday�s scrimmage, which wrapped day three of the USA Men�s National Team�s training camp. The sets and instruction coach Mike Krzyzewski and his staff have been doling out are starting to take hold and the 19 players competing for 12 spots are starting to resemble something closer to a team than a collection of talent.

�It�s about a process and building each day and getting better,� said Stephen Curry, who joined Durant and fellow guard Derrick Rose on the 2010 World Championship gold-medal team.

It�s not like every player has been playing consistently their best, but across the board the coaches are happy with the progress. And considering the World Cup in Spain doesn�t start for another month, the organization leaders know there�s time for everything to fully round into form.

�Very pleased with the intensity level and the effort has been great,� said managing director Jerry Colangelo. �We�ve had players up-and-down like yo-yos during the three days but you expect that.�

After each practice, Colangelo said, he and the staff gather to evaluate that day�s workout and discuss any changes to their expectations or evaluations of individual players.

�I can promise you that each day there�s a change,� Colangelo said.

Sometimes that�s good news for a player and sometimes it�s not, but it�s all a part of the evaluation process as USA Basketball works towards finding its best group of 12. That doesn�t mean the best 12 players, either. Colangelo again emphasized that they�re trying to put together a team, not an all-star team, and the players know that.

That�s why Durant has talked about getting everyone to buy in defensively, and why after Wednesday�s practice Rose said he�s working to learn the other players� tendencies and where shooters want the ball. Those are the things that both help the players make the roster and that will help that roster during competition in Spain.

And while that�s the ultimate goal, the players are enjoying this day-to-day process as well. Guys like guard Kyrie Irving have an almost omnipresent smile and they�re clearly enjoying being together.

�It�s a pleasure to come out here and compete at the highest level,� Irving said.



WILDCAT COUNTRY

Before he got down to the business of coaching at the USA Basketball Fantasy Camp, Kentucky coach John Calipari had some catching up to do.

If there was still any question that Calipari�s players succeed at the next level, the answer is on the National Team roster. Four of his former players � Memphis� Rose and Kentucky�s Davis, DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall � are competing for spots on the roster. Davis and Rose already have gold medals from the Olympics and World Championship, respectively.

Calipari spent time talking to all four of them at various points after Wednesday�s practice. Calipari said it was clear that Davis and Rose benefitted from the USA Basketball experiences, and now he�s hoping for the same from Cousins and Wall.

�Being a part of this absolutely helped them do what they�re trying to do with their careers,� he said.



ONE-ON-ONE-ON-ONE

People would line up around the corner for tickets to the series of post-practice one-on-one games that took place on one court at the Mendenhall Center.

Durant, Paul George and James Harden took turns rotating in for one possession at a time. A made basket meant you kept the ball and the next person jumped in for their turn on defense. A defensive stop meant you took over on offense.

The assembled media, coaches and even several other USA Basketball players crowded around for a good view. While it�s impossible to say which of the three technically won, it was even more difficult to walk away and come up with a player who could prevent any of these guys from taking gold.

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

http://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2014/07/quotes-from-day-3.aspx

Quotes From Day 3 Of Men's National Team Training Camp
Date: Jul 30, 2014

Kyrie Irving:

On Lebron James coming to Cleveland:

�I feel great about it. The excitement has kind of died down because I�m getting asked this question a whole bunch. I can�t smile anymore when I say I�m pretty happy. I�m ecstatic just to be playing with him. Like I said, he�s the greatest player coming back home. I feel like we are going in the right direction.�

On Coach K�s comments about Kyrie destined to be here at camp:

�It�s amazing. Just to hear that from coach after playing for such a short time for him (at Duke). Obviously we stayed in contact over the last three years since I left. I look up to him and he�s like a mentor to me. I have tremendous amount of respect for the things that he does; not only for USA Basketball but as a man and what he has accomplished. I am so proud of him. It�s a great feeling hearing what a great coach said about you.�

On his growth as a player since 2012:

�It�s different because I�m on the National Team roster now. It�s a great honor and a great pleasure to be a part of something bigger than myself.

On practice so far:

�It�s been a tough three days but I am really excited. The guys are just trying to figure out their roles. Guys are not necessarily playing tentatively but I think guys can give a little bit more including myself. But that will come as we get to know each other more.�

Damian Lillard:

On his role:

�Just giving me a chance to be a part of this team I know I�m going to have to be able to defend. I�m not going to be out there for eight minutes straight. It will be for four maybe five minutes. I have to be able to leave it all out there whether that�s picking guys up full court and wearing them out or trying to cause turnovers. I�ve just been trying to let them (coaches) see what I can do to help this team.�

On what he has been most happy with at camp:

�How hard I play. I know we are learning defensive schemes and offensively shots won�t always fall. But I�ve been playing hard defense. One thing I know that I can hang my hat on is that I�ve been defending. I�ve been playing hard. I�m playing team basketball and doing what�s asked of me. I think the biggest thing is not being able to do everything perfect but still being able to do what they ask of me.�

On chemistry with other players:

�It�s kind of unspoken. You don�t go out and try to play to fit somebody. Like Kyle Korver. He runs the floor because he�s trying to find a space on the floor to get his shot and I see that. So I like playing with people who find a spot and I can get them a shot. It�s just natural. Same with DeMar DeRozan. I know what he likes to do.�



Klay Thompson:

On how he feels after three days of camp:

�I think it�s gone well. It�s real intense at these practices. I�ve been fortunate enough to be a part of USA basketball for the last three years. I feel like I�ve gotten better from the experience. I�m excited for Friday night. It�s been a blast.�

On what it would mean to make the final roster:

�It would be a dream come true anytime you can represent your country. It would be something that I can cross off my bucket list.�

On four Golden State Warriors in camp:

�It just shows the depth that we�ve got. Two other guys (David Lee and Andre Iguodala) were invited but they were hurt so they couldn�t play. It shows that we are deep and we have talent. If we stick together and play as a team, we will be alright.�





Mike Krzyzewski:

On the third day of practice:


�I think we had another strong day. The attitudes have been unbelievable and the work ethics. We have actually gotten more in, in the first three days of camp than we have in the previous three camps. I think (USA assistant coaches) Monty (Williams) and Tom (Thibodeau) are terrific. It�s worked out well. Tomorrow is a non-contact day, so we don�t get good ol� injuries and whatever and that they�re prepared for Friday. You get another chance on Friday to see, with the lights on what goes on.�

On the team�s defensive effort:


�The defensive effort has been outstanding. We have great quickness, lateral quickness. And although we don�t have the bulk, we have outstanding athleticism and quickness and effort. Just in a couple days, defensively, they�ve embraced it. When you coordinate that and play as one, that�s when we�ll have a chance to be really good and we�ve seen signs of that happening.�

On Paul George and Kevin Durant playing on the same team during practice:


�Part of it is we know that those guys are going to be on the team. We�re not going to rev it out of a hat too quick or anything. It�s about Chemistry and we can see different groups with them. The thing though that we haven�t been able to do is take a look at Paul at the four, which he can also be at. We wanted that with different guard tandems, like with (James) Harden and (Derrick) Rose, Irving and Curry and Damian Lillard. So you get them all a chance to play with those two guys and with Anthony (Davis).�

On the importance of last year�s mini-camp:


�Yeah. I think the big thing is their familiarity with me and this coaching staff. We�ve had guys who have played for me. That helps. They know what to expect. We�ve obviously had good stuff happen. With the guys in the mini-camp, we spent a lot of time trying to get to know them. It lends toward familiarity and with familiarity, it means that you can hit the ground running a little bit better.�

On how much last year�s time was worth:


�I don�t know what it equates to, but it�s a huge help. And also just the continuity of having all the same USA Basketball people. Jim (Boeheim) and I being here for the last nine years. But also last year, when we had the mini-camp, I wanted for Tom (Thibodeau) and Monty (Williams) to have an active role. So we got to know one another. As a coaching staff, we hit the ground running and we�ve obviously had some teleconferences before we ever got here. But it�s a big summer. It provides a foundation of relationships and knowing one another that�s invaluable.�

On the team�s big�s:


�First of all, Anthony (Davis) plays a lot of the four so his extra bulk in that is good. We think he�s one of the top players in the league and we need for him to be that five that nobody has. Everyone talks about things that we don�t have, well they don�t have him and how comfortable can we make him? Who will be the backups? What kind of backups? Do you go to a different style of play when someone else goes in, or do you continue to do it the style that you have with Anthony in there with the guys backing up. So the big guys have given good efforts. (Andre) Drummond, (DeMarcus) Cousins, even like (Kenneth) Faried and then (Mason) Plumlee, we didn�t expect that. He�s going to be in the scrimmage on Friday, so we�ll take a look at that. Again, you make the best of what you have. What we have is good. It�d be different if (Blake) Griffin and (Kevin) Love were here, but they�re not here. So it doesn�t mean it�s bad though. We�re still pretty confident about what we can do.�

Paul Millsap:

On getting after it defensively at practice today:


�It was great. The whole practice pretty much was about defense and defense intensity. I think the intensity was definitely there. The guys were really out there competing on the defensive end, so when you�re on the floor, that�s what needs to happen.�

On how the intensity at today�s practice compared to an Atlanta Hawks practice:


�It�s a little bit more intense (here). You�ve got some of the best players in the world, so things are going to be a lot more intense. It�s going to be a little bit better. But we do similar things (in Atlanta). We haven�t had a practice in Atlanta where we went 40 (minutes) to an hour long on defense. It was a little different in that aspect.�

On if he enjoys being that locked in defensively:


�As I got older, I realized defense wins championships. Your defense has got to be top-notch. So you learn and you grow to love it. For me, I love being on the defensive end. I love getting stops.�

On the team�s defensive potential:


�Like I said, this is some of the best players in the world. On their respected (NBA) teams, you know, they�re not really asked to play defense like that. But when they come to Team USA, it�s a little bit different. They�re asked to play defense and guys are actually taking on the challenge to play defense.�

On the importance of being vocal on the defensive side of the ball:


�Being a good defensive team, it starts with communication. We�re smart players and we understand that. So we know we have to go out there and communicate with each other to be a good defensive team.�

On if he�s learning anything since training camp began:


�Yes. Me personally, I�m a sponge. So I�m going to take what I learn here and try to take that back to Atlanta and try to help our team.�

On if he�s grown closer to any players since the start of camp:


�Oh yeah. Throughout the course of the season, you don�t have the opportunity to spend time with these guys, especially since you�re competing against them. You have a different outlook on them during the season. But when you come here, and they�re actually your teammates for a week or for however long it�s going to be, you look at it in a different perspective. So I�ve had the opportunity to get to know a few of them, and hopefully I�ll get the opportunity to know a lot more.�

On if playing for the USA was always a dream for him when he started playing basketball:


�I think it�s everybody�s dream. I think that�s the motive. If you can get to this point, to put on a Team USA jersey for your country, that means that you�re elite and that�s what I take from it. I take it as an opportunity to go out there and help my country in a different way and that�s through winning a (FIBA Basketball) World Cup for us.�

On his individual play:


�Individually, I feel like I�ve been playing pretty well. You know I haven�t been able to showcase pretty much probably what they brought me out here to do, and that�s shoot the 3-point shot. But they know I can do that. It�s just everything else. I think I�m more focused on playing defense and helping on the defensive end than anything else right now.�

Bradley Beal:

On having a practice focused primarily on defense:


�You have to be able to accept that because on this team everybody can score the ball but not everybody can defend. I think that�s probably what coach was trying to show and see in these guys and I think everybody did a great job picking up that intensity and really focusing in. Some drills we were dead tired, but I think we did a great job locking in and really getting stops when we needed to. It�s just going to continue to be that way because these international teams are very tough to beat, man. They can score the ball just like we can, so we�ve got to be able to get stops and try to win games.�

On hoping to bring the same type of defensive energy each day moving forward:


�Most definitely because on any given night any player can get hot on another team. You have to be able to go out there and have the confidence and the belief that your defense is always going to come first. Your offense is always going to be there regardless of what happens. Sometimes you can�t control what happens on offense, but you can control how you defend your guy. So I think as long as we just defend the way we know we�re capable of doing, continuing to stay intense and confident, I think we�ll be fine.�

On the importance of communication on defense:


�I think communication is key for any defense because you have to be able to talk and point and know where your man is and know where your teammate�s man is. If a mishap happens, you have to be able to have your teammate�s back at all times and let him know that your man is cutting, or your man is getting open, or a screen is coming. So being able to communicate is very important, and I think everybody on this team is doing a great job of that.�

On if the team�s defensive potential is off the charts:


�It definitely is because one thing, I feel short as I don�t know what in this gym and all these guys are 6-7 and above. So everybody is long and athletic. I think we can use that to our benefit because when we get our arms out and our hands up and we�re talking, we�re going to be pretty tough to beat on the defensive end because we have guys who can block shots, who can get deflections, can get steals and can get in the passing lanes like that. It�s definitely going to be to our benefit.�

On whether he learned anything from being injured and not being able to participate during last year�s mini-camp:


�I think the biggest thing is that you don�t have to carry such a large load on your shoulders. Just the fact that the guy right next to you is just as good as you are, if not better. So you have to be able to have that mentality, that it�s a huge sacrifice more than anything, because everybody can do pretty much the same thing. But are you wiling to give up something for the benefit of the team?

On if giving up something for the benefit of the team is a tough challenge to get used to:


�I think the good players are able to do that. As long as you�re able to have that confidence in knowing that, �OK I can still impact the game in other ways than scoring the ball then you�re going to be pretty good.� And regardless, the offense will always come to you no matter what because everybody on this team is good and great and have All-Star capabilities. But I think as long as we just have that sacrifice and that passion and energy to be able to believe that, �I can give up something for the benefit of the team,� it�ll definitely help the team.�

On how much he�s grown as a player and as a person from his experiences with USA Basketball:


�It�s been terrific, man. I have a huge journey that I�m definitely proud of, I must say. It started when I was 15 and playing with the USA team and winning two gold medals on the 16 and 17 year-old teams. And now to be a part of the National Team, it�s like a dream come true. It just shows that the hard work paid off. And regardless, if I make this team or not, I�m still going to be happy in the fact that I was able to be a part of this. Because there�s a ton of NBA players, a ton of college kids who have the capabilities of being on this team and I�m fortunate to be one of them to be a part of the National Team.�

On the toughest adjustment in the international style of play:


�I think the biggest difference is there�s no defensive three seconds. It�s very physical and the 3-point line is shorter. Just in terms of knowing that you could be in help-side and not have to clear the lane. You can stand there as long as you want. And on top of that, you can knock a ball off a rim until it hits the rim.�

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"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
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