Blake Named One of 20 finalists for the 2012 USA Olympic Team

Today, Blake was named to the pool of finalists that the Olympic team will be chosen from.  Of the 20, 18 of them were on the gold medal teams from the 2008 Olympics and the 2010 World Championships

Returning from the team that won gold in Beijing are:

Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade,Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard,Chris Paul and Deron Williams. 

Back from the reigning world champions are: Kevin Durant,Derrick Rose, Tyson Chandler, Eric Gordon, Rudy Gay, Kevin Love, Lamar Odom, Chauncey Billups,Russell Westbrook and Andre Iguodala.(ESPN)

The only 2 new additions to this list are Griffin and LeMarcus Aldridge because they have had a lack of big men in the past.

Of these 20 players, 12 will be on the official roster and 6 will be tabbed as reserves.  After discussing with some buddies, I believe that the 12 will be Chris Paul, D. Rose, and Deron Williams at the point, Kobe and D Wade at the 2, LeBron, Carmello, and Durant at small forward, Kevin Love and Blake at power forward, and Dwight Howard and Tyson Chandler at center.

I think ultimately, if injuries aren't a factor, the 2 that will be eliminated are Chauncy Billups (he's clutch, but old and there are too many point guards) and Lamar Odom who's mind isn't entirely into basketball at this point after reports of him considering a year off from the game have emerged.

This team is as nasty as we've seen since the original Dream Team in 1992, so expect big things out of this squad.

Blake Griffin is a Monster!

After the Clippers beat the Lakers last night, I felt compelled to start a blog focused on the monster that is Blake Griffin. Today, right now, I'm watching the Clippers take on the Pacers and Griffin has 30 points and 8 rebounds with 10:41 left in the 3rd quarter. He's on pace to score over 50 points the game after he scored only 2 in the first quarter against the Lakers.

The Lakers game will be an inflection point in the meteoric rise of Blake Griffin's career.

Sidenote, Blake grabbed his 10th rebound at about the 9:30 mark adding to his record streak of double-doubles by a rookie.

The Lakers were well aware of what Blake Griffin was about when the game started last night. For most of the first half, the Lakers had their way with him and he old managed one basket (a sweet dunk of course). After starting the second half slowly, he got out on a fast break and started licking his chops as he looked to throw down a monster dunk over little Derek Fisher. The veteran Fisher knew this so he put Griffin on his ass. Blake picked himself up, brushed himself off, hit the free throws, then "punked" the Lakers according to Kobe himself. The lesson: don't wake a sleeping dragon.

Then Lamar Odom decided to grab his Jersey and try to throw him around, but Blake is too big and he just walked away. Barron Davis and his teammates jumped in to defend Griffin.

With about ten minutes left in the game, there are some interesting stats to look at. It's a close game at 88-88. Griffin has 36 points and 12 rebounds. Barron Davis has 11 assists, Gordon has 23 points, Granger has 29 for the Pacers and Collison has 24 points and 7 assists. The Pacers big shot blocker, Hibbert has been neutralized on the bench with 5 fouls. Griffin is sitting on the bench resting up for a big finish.

Griffin just checked back into the game and got his first touch at 8:07 left in the game. When he entered, they posted on the screen that he's shooting 15-19 today. His energy is contagious, as his team ran off a quick 7 points before Blake his a jump shot off the glass.

At the 5 and a half minute mark, Griffin made a play that shows his tenacity. He took a shot, missed, got to the other side of the glass to attempt a tip, grabbed the loose ball, and fought his way up to make a little hook shot and finished off the 3 point play for his 41st point with 14 rebounds.

At the 2 minute mark, the announcers start to worry as they question the coach's decision to not take another timeout. He lets them play because they already know the strategy: Give the ball to Blake Griffin and let him do what he does. They do and he backs his man down and scores on a tough little jump hook. The lead is back up to 5.

With a nice move he scored to put his team up 114-107 and score his 47th point, the most in the league all year. As the clock runs down with the game in hand, the Clippers fans stand and cheer for a team that is truly deserving. 47 points and 14 rebounds with plenty of highlights.

Blake gets the post game interview and he does a great job giving plenty of praise to his team and teammates. Everyone else is starting to talk about him so there's little reason to him to talk about himself.