Derrick Rose and Anthony Davis remain the talk of Team USA training camp after Day 3 from Las Vegas.
The third day of training camp for USA Basketball came and went Wednesday in Las Vegas, with many of the country's best players in attendance. The beginning of the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain is just a month away, and the Americans are looking to defend their world championship. Excitement is building for the big event.
With a healthy Derrick Rose showing his current form and a new generation of Team USA players emerging, this is the best we can do for fans in desperate need of feeding their hoops addiction. Come Aug. 30, we'll finally have some real games to watch again.
All eyes on Derrick Rose
For all the talent that's at camp, Rose remains a major topic of interest across the basketball world. Every tweet, quote and blurry Vine gets dissected and analyzed, and it's arguably for good reason. Everyone wants to know how the former MVP looks on the court, and whether he's truly going to come back from a second major knee injury.
The indications, at least across social media, seem positive:
DRose: "I feel great. I don't have any aches. I'm really taking care of my body." Then he actually knocked on wood.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) July 30, 2014
Rose also did an interview for a USA Basketball video posted on YouTube, where he was his usually, quiet self:
Rose is competing to make the team against fellow point guards Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, John Wall and Damian Lillard. At least one of them seems likely to miss the cut for Spain, although it's increasingly looking like the Bulls guard is going to make the team.
The rise of Anthony Davis
The Pelicans big man has been one of the big stars of the first few days at camp, and for good reason. His inclusion on the 2012 Olympic team was a signal of USA Basketball's future plans for Davis, and it's possible that emergence as a key contributor could come as early as this fall.
USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo on Chicagoan Anthony Davis' chance to start in Spain: "If we were to throw it up today, he would be"
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) July 30, 2014
With the likes of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Love and others sitting out the World Cup, this stands as a key opportunity for Davis to prove himself on the international stage. He showed last season with New Orleans that he's a genuine rising star in the sport, and with the lack of big men on the roster for Team USA right now, he could be in line for a major role.
Defenders likely will have a tough time dealing with the vertical athleticism that Davis brings to the table:
Praise has been flowing from all over the place for the 21-year-old, including this glowing quote from reigning MVP Kevin Durant:
"I know how good he’s going to be," the four-time NBA scoring champion said, after a USA Basketball practice. "I know how good he is now, but I know how good he’s going to be. He’s an MVP-caliber player. So he’s next. He’s next in line — a guy that has grown so much in just a year. I’m excited to see what he does from here. He’s definitely on pace."
Damian Lillard hits big three in highlight-filled scrimmage
We couldn't watch the scrimmage on television, but the team split into two for a little competitive action on Wednesday. The big highlight of the scrimmage was a step-back three-pointer by Lillard with 19 seconds on the clock that extended Team Blue's lead to five:
Did Lillard's three-pointer put away the game? Did the other team put together a stunning, dunk-filled comeback that Team USA has decided to hide from us? Our Internet sleuthing couldn't figure out the answer, but here's to guessing this was the coolest game of hoops played anywhere on Wednesday.
More highlights, because basketball
We're at the point of the offseason where everyone is probably just happy to watch some superlative athletes playing around with an orange ball. So even though Durant took like five extra steps on this play and rim protection was non-existent, KD DUNK HOOPS ARE BACK:
Kevin Durant takes it strong to the rack and throws down the tomahawk jam. #USABMNT https://t.co/9liLpLLvrF
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 30, 2014
Or how about Kyrie Irving setting up teammate-from-another-universe Gordon Hayward for the jumper? Too bad Cleveland got stuck with that LeBron guy, huh?
Kyrie Irving finds Gordon Hayward for the jumper at @usabasketball's scrimmage. https://t.co/QsiTU4x9AN
— NBA (@NBA) July 30, 2014
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