Rio 2016

admin

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – On the heels of impressive performances at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the U.S. Olympic Men's and Women's Basketball Teams will share the 2016 USA Basketball Team of the Year award.

The USA women captured a sixth-straight Olympic gold medal, while the USA men brought home a third-straight gold.

"The U.S. Olympic Men's and Women's Basketball Teams achieved incredible milestones in Rio. It was the third consecutive Olympic gold for the men and a record-setting sixth in a row for the women," said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO/Executive Director. "Both teams are very deserving of this recognition, and we are grateful for the commitments of everyone involved with these teams."

2016 marks the 21st time USA Basketball has presented its Team of the Year award, which was established in 1986.

Featuring six players who averaged more than nine points per game, the USA women won eight games by an average of 37.2 points per contest from Aug. 6-20.

"What was special was just how incredibly deep and unselfish we were," said Geno Auriemma, head coach of the U.S. Olympic Team and USA Women's National Team and at University of Connecticut, as well as a 2016 USA Basketball Co-National Coach of the Year. "Obviously, we were the most talented team I have ever been around, but everyone was so willing to play their role and to not get caught up in any of the things that can get in the way when lots of good players are on the same team. It's the most fun I've ever had coaching at any level. It's an experience that I don't know if I'll ever be able to recreate and that I will never forget."

Led by four players who averaged double-digit scoring, the 2016 U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team won its eight games by an average of 22.5 points per contest from Aug. 6-21.

"The 2016 USA Basketball Men's National Team stuck together throughout the Olympics, overcoming significant inexperience in international competition," said Mike Krzyzewski, head coach of the U.S. Olympic Team and the USA Men's National Team and at Duke University, as well as a 2016 USA Basketball Co-National Coach of the Year. "Yet, they found a way to win every game. I was most proud that they saved their best for last in the gold medal game versus Serbia. That game showcased their full ability, and to perform that well under the brightest lights in international basketball said a ton about their character, togetherness and passion to represent their country in the best possible manner."

Led by Auriemma with assistant coaches Doug Bruno, Cheryl Reeve and Dawn Staley, the U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team featured Seimone Augustus, Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings, Tina Charles, Elena Delle Donne, Sylvia Fowles, Brittney Griner, Angel McCoughtry, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi and Lindsay Whalen.
"2016 was the best team I have ever been on," said four-time Olympic gold medalist Taurasi, who was the 2016 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year. "Everyone had one goal and that was to make each other better every day."

Among the 12-team tournament, the USA women led in points scored (817), field goal percentage (.577), 3-point percentage (.453), rebounds averaged (45.2), assists (224), field goal percentage defense (.371) and rebound defense (27.3).

The USA women recorded tournament bests for points (121 versus Senegal on Aug. 7); field goals made (47 against Japan on Aug. 16); field goal percentage (65.3 versus Japan on Aug. 16); free throw percentage (26-26 against Serbia on Aug. 10); and assists (40 versus China on Aug. 14).

The squad set U.S. Olympic women's team single-game records for points (121 against Senegal on Aug. 16), 3-pointers made (11 against Japan on Aug. 16), free throw percentage (26-of-26 against Serbia on Aug. 10) and assists (40 against China on Aug. 14).

In the U.S. women's Olympic single-competition record book, the team set records for field goals made (324), field goal percentage (.577), 3-pointers made (58), 3-pointers attempted (128), free throw percentage (.776) and assists (224).

The USA Women's National Team also tallied four exhibition victories, including an 88-84 win over the USA Select Team on July 25 in Los Angeles; an 84-62 victory against France on July 27 in Delaware; an 83-43 defeat of Canada on July 29 in Connecticut; and a 104-89 win over Australia on July 31 in New York City.

Led by Krzyzewski with assistants Jim Boeheim, Tom Thibodeau and Monty Williams and managing director Jerry Colangelo, the U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team featured Carmelo Anthony, Harrison Barnes, Jimmy Butler, DeMarcus Cousins, DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Durant, Paul George, Draymond Green, Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan, Kyle Lowry and Klay Thompson.

"I think the special part about it was our comradery," said Durant, one of the USA's two captains and a co-recipient of the 2016 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year Award. "All of us still stay in contact to this day, and we were such a tight group. We were brothers from day one. We all wanted the same thing, which was to get a gold medal, and we fought for that. I'll be forever linked with those guys, and we are always going to be family."

Among the 12-team tournament, the USA led in points scored (807), 3-point percentage (.369), rebounds averaged (45.5), steals (70), 3-point field goal percentage defense (.286) and blocked shots (28).

The USA recorded tournament bests for points scored (119 vs. China on Aug. 6), field goal attempts (89), free throws made (33, twice), free throws attempted (45 vs. China on Aug. 6), rebounds (54, twice) and steals (15 vs. China on Aug. 6); and tied for first in field goals made (41) and 3-point field goals made (17).

The 2016 squad set a U.S. Olympic men's team single-game record with 33 made free throws against Serbia on Aug. 12.

In the U.S. Olympic men's single-competition record book, the team set a record for free throws made (168), rebounds (364) and rebounds averaged (45.5).

Additionally, the USA Men's National Team tallied five exhibition victories, including a 111-74 win over Argentina on July 22 in Las Vegas; a 106-57 victory over China on July 24 in Los Angeles; a 107-57 defeat of China on July 26 in Oakland, California; an 80-45 win over Venezuela on July 29 in Chicago; and a 110-66 victory against Nigeria on Aug. 1 in Houston.

2016-u-s-olympic-mens-and-womens-basketball-teams-share-2016-usa-basketball-team-of-the-year-honor

2016 U.S. Olympic Men’s And Women’s Basketball Teams Share 2016 USA Basketball Team Of The Year Honor

indgrapp08

Plenty of big names are floating around Rio for the 2016 Olympic Games, but on Monday night, Pacers forward Paul George came across living legend Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, one of the greatest soccer players of all time.

George, an avid FIFA player, was thrilled to meet Ronaldo, posting a photo of the pair on Instagram.

It wasn't the first run-in George has had with soccer greatness. During the 2014-15 season, soccer super-star Lionel Messi attended a Pacers vs. Wizards game at the Verizon Center in D.C. After the game, George — and several other Pacers players — made sure to get a photo with him as well.

paul-george-links-up-with-soccer-legend-ronaldo

Paul George Links Up With Soccer Legend Ronaldo

indmmontieth

We can call this coming full circle. It's a jagged circle, with no small amount of misery, doubt and frustration along the way, but a circle just the same.

Paul George's selection to the United States Olympic basketball team completes a circuitous path that began on Aug. 1, 2014, a dramatic evening that began as tragedy but turned out to be a prelude to triumph. He suffered a compound fracture of his lower right leg that evening after crashing into a basket support – a support placed too close to the basket – while attempting to block a breakaway scoring attempt by James Harden in a USA Basketball intrasquad scrimmage in Las Vegas.

It was a horrific incident, one still available for online viewing but one most people prefer never to watch again. He later recalled feeling as if someone had set his leg on fire. His bone broken in half and his leg grotesquely misshapen, George lay on his back while training and medical personnel tended to him. USA Basketball teammates watched from the sideline with stunned expressions, some with hands clasped as if in prayer.

The immediate impression was that his basketball career might have ended that night, a brutal blow for a 24-year-old who ranked as one of the NBA's most promising players. But in some ways it began, because it helped further his maturation into one of the NBA's elite players. He's now poised, at 26, to have perhaps the best career in the history of the Pacers' franchise, and become a better player than he would have been without the injury and rehabilitation.

The viewpoint from the bench during the 2014-15 season, when he played only the final six games, helped make him a smarter player.

"You sit out, you become a student of the game," he said. "Before it was instincts and not thinking the game through. Being away, I had that time to kind of just sit back and see what was going on."

He also had time to work on his shooting, ballhandling and upper body strength.

"It's almost been a blessing in disguise that I was injured, to really focus on those points," he said.

Fatherhood helped, too. Having a daughter to help care for altered his perspective as much as his injury did.

"Made me be patient," he said. "I was always a 'my' kind of person. When you have a kid, it's more than that. It definitely slowed me down and made me more mature."

George's first full regular season after his injury was both impressive and uneven. Impressive, considering what he had gone through to be able to play again, but uneven because of its inconsistency. He averaged 23.1 points on 42 percent shooting, 7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.9 steals and 3.3 turnovers. Not many Pacers have had better seasons than that, but it drew criticism for its blank spots.

After a few games to get acclimated again at the start of the season, he went on a 12-game tear through the end of November in which he averaged 30.7 points on 49 percent shooting from the field and 51 percent from the 3-point line, along with 8.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists. He was named Player of the Month for November, and followed a few games into December with a 48-point outburst at Utah.

Given that lead-in, several games over the following 2 ½ months were mysteriously lacking. He seemed disengaged at times, and confused about his role. Should he take over the offense and look to  score 30 every night? Or, step back and get his teammates more involved?

By the end of the season, he had decided. He reclaimed the team, both on the court and off. He had one of the best playoff series an NBA Pacers player has had in the first-round loss to Toronto, averaging 27.3 points while shooting 45 percent from the field, 42 percent from the 3-point line and 95 percent from the foul line, along with 7.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals.

Defensively, he dominated Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan, limiting the All-Star to an average of 17.9 points – 5.2 points below his regular season average – on 32 percent shooting and forcing him into more turnovers (2.7) than assists (2.6). DeRozan averaged 22.5 points on 44 percent shooting in the next two rounds combined.

"Unbelievable," Toronto coach Dwane Casey said after Game 7 in Toronto. "I tell you what, I remember trying to prepare for a young Kobe Bryant. And this young man reminds me of trying to prepare for a young Kobe Bryant back in the Laker days, Now that we're finished with him, I'm happy for him because he's a super young man. He represents everything basketball should be about."

George's off-court demeanor was noticeably different during that series as well. He began talking about the team as "my guys" and backed up the declaration on the court. It was a new experience for him, because in previous playoff series he had the luxury of letting older teammates such as David West and George Hill lead the way.

"I'm a talkative person so it's an easy transition, one I feel comfortable with," he said.

So here we are. George emerged from last season a more battle-tested and time-tested player. A leader, as well. And now he's an Olympian, too.

Have a question for Mark? Want it to be on Pacers.com? Email him at askmontieth@gmail.com and you could be featured in his next mailbag.

Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Indiana Pacers. All opinions expressed by Mark Montieth are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Indiana Pacers, their partners, or sponsors.

with-olympic-spot-paul-george-comes-full-circle

With Olympic Spot, Paul George Comes Full Circle

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – USA Basketball announced on Monday that Pacers forward Paul George will be part of the 12-man roster for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team.

"I'm really excited to have this opportunity again to represent my country," said George. "The injury two years ago has added motivation to want to play again!"

Also selected for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team, which is seeking a third consecutive Olympic title, were: Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks/Syracuse); Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors/North Carolina); Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls/Marquette); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings/Kentucky); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors/USC); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder/Texas); Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors/Michigan State); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers/Duke); DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers/Texas A&M); Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors/Villanova); and Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors/Washington State).

The U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team was approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors and is pending final approval by the United States Olympic Committee.

"I think I can speak for the entire coaching staff and say we're extremely excited about the team we will field for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro," said Jerry Colangelo, who has served as managing director of the USA Men's National Team since 2005. "I love our depth, which is another indication of the depth of talent our national team program is blessed with. We've got a great mix of talent, scorers, past gold medal winners and outstanding youth."

"I'm anxious to get on the court, and along with my great coaching staff, get to work," said USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who by serving as head coach of his third Olympic squad is now tied with coaching legend Henry Iba for the most U.S. Olympic basketball head coaching assignments. "Since 2006 and including the last two Olympics, our players have represented themselves, the game and our country in an exemplary manner. I know this team will continue that standard.

"Looking at this team, our overall balance is what strikes me. We have lightning-quick guards who can score as well as distribute the basketball. We have great shooters and explosive scorers, we're big and athletic, and I think we'll really be able to defend."

The U.S. roster features the return of two members from the 2012 gold medalist U.S. Olympic Team (Anthony and Durant) and five players who have been members of USA World Cup gold medalist teams; Cousins (2014), DeRozan (2014), Durant (2010), Irving (2014) and Thompson (2014).

With his selection to the 2016 Olympic Team, three-time Olympic medalist Anthony becomes the first United States male basketball player selected to four Olympic teams.

Durant, who collected MVP honors in leading the USA to gold at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and finished as the U.S. team's leading scorer at the 2012 London Olympics by averaging a U.S. Olympic record 19.5 points a game, was named to his second Olympic team.

The average age of the 12 U.S. players will be 26.8 years at the conclusion of the Olympics (Aug. 21, 2016).
Included among the named 2016 U.S. Olympians were 2015-16 All-NBA first team selection Jordan; second team choices Cousins, Durant and Green; and third team picks George, Lowry and Thompson. Additionally, Jordan and Green collected 2015-16 NBA All-Defensive first team honors, while Butler and George were second team selections.

Nine players -- Anthony, Butler, Cousins, DeRozan, Durant, George, Green, Lowry and Thompson -- were named as 2016 NBA All-Stars, while Irving, who was named MVP of the 2014 World Cup after helping lead the Americans to gold, recently helped Cleveland capture the 2016 NBA championship.
The 2016 USA coaching staff is led by Duke University Hall of Fame mentor Krzyzewski, who since being named in 2005 head mentor of the USA National Team program has compiled a spectacular 75-1 record and led the USA to 2008 and 2012 Olympic gold medals and 2010 and 2014 FIBA World Cup titles. He will be assisted by Syracuse University Hall of Fame mentor Jim Boeheim, Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau and Monty Williams.
The USA National Team will train July 18-21 in Las Vegas, Nev. The Americans' Las Vegas training concludes July 22 (6:00 p.m. PDT) with the USA Basketball Showcase presented By Verizon that features the USA facing Argentina at the T-Mobile Arena.

The U.S. will play two exhibition games versus 2015 FIBA Asia zone champ China, the first at the Staples Center in Los Angeles at 5 p.m. (PDT) on July 24 and the second at 7 p.m. (PDT) on July 26 at Oracle Arena in Oakland. Continuing its exhibition tour in Chicago, the USA will play on July 29 at 8 p.m. (CDT) at the United Center versus 2015 FIBA Americas gold medalist Venezuela and will conclude the USA Basketball Showcase facing 2015 FIBA Africa zone champion Nigeria on Aug. 1 at 7 p.m. (CDT) in Houston at the Toyota Center.
Tickets for the USA Basketball Showcase exhibition games are on sale now. VIP ticket packages available in select markets. For ticket information visit usab.com/showcase.

The U.S. men have collected a medal in all 17 Olympics in which they have competed, including 14 gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals. The American men own an impressive 130-5 (.963 winning percentage) all-time record in Olympic action, and since NBA players began representing the United States in 1992, the USA is 45-3 in six Olympics, capturing five gold medals and one bronze medal.

Since the formation of USA Basketball's national team program in 2006, USA National Teams have compiled a spectacular 75-1 record and claimed top honors in five of six FIBA and FIBA Americas competitions. Currently, USA national teams enjoy a 63-game win streak (45 straight wins in FIBA and FIBA Americas competitions and 18 consecutive wins in exhibition games). The streaks dates back to the bronze medal game (Sept. 2, 2006) of the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan.

The USA also currently enjoys a 17-game Olympic win streak that dates back to the bronze medal game of the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Since first fielding a USA Basketball team of legendary NBA stars in 1992, USA Basketball National Teams comprised of NBA players have claimed gold medals in 14 of 16 major international basketball competitions, while compiling an impressive 126-7 overall record (.947 winning percentage) in those competitions and a record of 46-1 (.979 winning percentage) in exhibition games.

The 2016 Summer Olympic Games will be held Aug. 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Twelve nations will compete in the 2016 Olympic men's basketball competition. Nations qualified for the Olympic competition include the host country, Brazil; the United States, which earned its berth by virtue of claiming the gold medal at the 2014 FIBA World Cup; Africa zone champ Nigeria; Venezuela (gold medalist) and Argentina (silver medalist) from FIBA Americas; FIBA Asia gold medalist China; Spain (gold medalist) and Lithuania (silver medalist) from FIBA Europe; and FIBA Oceania gold medalist Australia.

FIBA will host three Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQT), from which the remaining three nations will earn a berth to the Olympics.  A total of 18 nations, six teams in each tournament, will compete for the right to advance to Rio. Turin, Italy, will host one OQT from July 4-10, and the field features Croatia, Greece, Iran, Italy, Mexico, and Tunisia. Belgrade, Serbia, will host the second OQT from July 4-10, with hopefuls Angola, Czech Republic, Latvia, Japan, Puerto Rico and Serbia. The third and final FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament will be held in Manila, Philippines, July 5-11, and countries competing there are Canada, France, New Zealand, Philippines, Senegal and Turkey. The gold medalist from each of the three FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments will punch its ticket to the 2016 Olympic men's basketball tournament.

Men's basketball preliminary play at the '16 Olympics will be held Aug. 6-15, with the quarterfinals scheduled for Aug. 17, semifinals on Aug. 19 and the gold and bronze medal games on Aug. 21.

Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA Basketball, chaired by Colangelo, is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men's and women's basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA-sponsored international competitions, as well as for some national competitions, and for the development of youth basketball initiatives that address player development, coach education and safety.

USA teams are the current men's and women's champions in the Olympics; men's FIBA World Cup and women's FIBA World Championship; men's and women's FIBA U19 and U17 World Championships; men's and women's FIBA Americas U18 Championships; men's FIBA Americas U16 Championship; the FIBA 3x3 Women's World Championship; and the women's Youth Olympic Games. USA Basketball currently ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA's world-ranking categories, including combined, men's, women's, boys and girls.

For further information about USA Basketball, go to the official Website of USA Basketball at www.usab.com and connect with us on facebook.com/usabasketball, twitter.com/usabasketball, plus.google.com/+usabasketball, instagram.com/usabasketball and youtube.com/usab.

Managing Director:  Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball

Head Coach:   Mike Krzyzewski, Duke University

Assistant Coach:  Jim Boeheim, Syracuse University

Assistant Coach:  Tom Thibodeau, Minnesota Timberwolves

Athletic Trainer:  Gregg Farnam, Minnesota Timberwolves

Athletic Trainer:  Joe Sharpe, Oklahoma City Thunder

Team Physician:  Dr. Lisa Callahan, Hospital for Special Surgery

*Note:  Age is as of completion of the 2016 Olympic Games, August 21, 2016.

Rio 2016

2016 U.S. Olympic Men’s And Women’s Basketball Teams Share 2016 USA Basketball Team Of The Year Honor

Paul George Links Up With Soccer Legend Ronaldo

With Olympic Spot, Paul George Comes Full Circle

Paul George Named To 2016 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team