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Derrick Favors ‘frustrated’ by Team USA snub

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https://www.sltrib.com/sports/2823029-155/utah-jazz-derrick-favors-frustrated-by
Derrick Favors ‘frustrated’ by Team USA snub
By AARON FALK | The Salt Lake Tribune

On Monday, Derrick Favors passed out backpacks filled with school supplies to more than two dozen smiling kids from a local Boys & Girls Club.

But it's no secret the Utah Jazz big man thinks he should have also been packing his own bag this week for a trip to the USA basketball mini-camp in Las Vegas. Instead, the 24-year-old Favors was left feeling snubbed when his name was once again left off the list of 34 invitees.

"I was frustrated for a while," Favors said at the team's practice facility Monday, his feelings somewhat tempered after having a few days to digest the news. "Overall I got over it. They picked the guys who they wanted to get. The only thing I can do is continue to work hard, continue to work on my game and prove my point next season."

Favors' point is that he belongs among the NBA's best.

The 6-foot-10 power forward participated in the USA camp during the summer of 2013 but has not been invited back. Meanwhile, Favors game has grown ever since, and last year he averaged 16 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game for the up-and-coming Jazz. Still, it apparently wasn't enough to secure a camp invite over the likes of big men LaMarcus Aldridge, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, Kenneth Faried, Draymond Green, Dwight Howard, DeAndre Jordan, Kevin Love or Mason Plumlee.

The release last week of the camp's roster-which does include Utah swingman Gordon Hayward-prompted Jazz center Rudy Gobert to sarcastically wonder aloud on Twitter if his frontcourt partner had retired.

Rather, Favors intends to make his case on the court next season, still hoping for a coveted spot on the 2016 Olympic roster.

He has spent his summer working on expanding his offensive arsenal and shooting range to give the 7-foot-1 Gobert more space to operate in the paint. And, before anything else, he's setting his sights on the postseason.

"Everybody wants to get to the playoffs," he said. "That's the whole mindset from the players, coaches, front office, fans. That's the goal we're working on. A lot of guys been committed, coming back to Utah or having group workouts in Vegas, in Indiana with Gordon [Hayward]. Everybody's committed to it. That's the main goal."

Utah's play over the second half of last season had many coaches and pundits picking them to make crack the playoffs next season in the Western Conference. Even with last week's news that point guard Dante Exum had suffered an ACL tear, Favors remains optimistic about his team's chances.

"It was tough. He's a young player. He wanted to go play for his country and he got hurt. But he's got our support and I'm pretty sure he's working hard to get back healthy," Favors said. "… Hopefully we got the players that step up for it. I'm pretty sure we do."

If he and the Jazz can live up to their loftier expectations next season, Favors believes it will help his chances of getting back on the Olympic team radar.

"Hopefully both team success and individual success" will help, he said. "But they gonna pick the players they want. I don't really focus on that. I just focus on helping my team win, keep improving as a player and whatever happens happens."
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As he should be, this is a travesty imo. Hopefully it sparks a fire in him for this upcoming season.
 
Jamezz said:
As he should be, this is a travesty imo. Hopefully it sparks a fire in him for this upcoming season.
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It worked last year for Gordon. He got the invite, but was on the last round of cuts. Pissed him off pretty good. A mad and motivated Favors sounds like a beautiful thing. :)
 
I am loving the slights the players feel they have received. Now Gobert, Favors and Burke all have chips on their shoulders. Plus Burks is back with something to prove as well.

Plus just simple improvement to players like Hood and Ingles. Then there is Snyder.

GO JAZZ!!! ALL ABOARD!!!!
 
It is crazy. But that's the NBA today. Out of this list. i would take AD and maybe Aldridge. But that's about it. Cousins is a waste and the rest are either defensive or offensive minded. Not an all around game that I believe Favors brings. Oh well. better for us.
 
Honestly this is good, even if he got invited he probably wouldn't have been put onto the team anyway so this makes him feel completely disrespected which will put an even hotter fire under his butt for next season....add in Gobert's chip for not being mentioned for DPOY, gotta love it
 
Cy said:
Jazz fans think Favors is better than Mason Plumlee. Not even a part-time troll like you can disagree with that.
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He's clearly a better player than Kenneth Faried. That's for sure.
That guy is sooooo overrated in my opinion
He still got no offensive game other than easy buckets and dunks. entering his 5th year. People think he's a good defender. No he's not. I don't even throw Favors into convo if we're talkin bout defense.
Favors now has a respectable jumpshot and an above average low post game as well as being a better finisher than 6'8, undersized Faried.
Faried is a better rebounder. More athletic.
Creates havoc versus European national teams. And that's why he got the call i think. My friends here in Turkey who don't watch the NBA much think Faried is an all star caliber player just because of his WC 2014 performance and crazy dunks that they see from top 10's.

Overall, Favors any day but we all saw what Faried did last year in World Cup. European Basketball lacks athleticism. You automatically become an elite weapon if you're a freak athlete without any real game just like Faried.

I understand Faried being there, but Favors is better.


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tfivas said:
Honestly this is good, even if he got invited he probably wouldn't have been put onto the team anyway so this makes him feel completely disrespected which will put an even hotter fire under his butt for next season....add in Gobert's chip for not being mentioned for DPOY, gotta love it
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Or it makes Favors want to play for a big market team when his contract is up so he gets more national recognition.
 
fufo said:
He's clearly a better player than Kenneth Faried. That's for sure.
That guy is sooooo overrated in my opinion
He still got no offensive game other than easy buckets and dunks. entering his 5th year. People think he's a good defender. No he's not. I don't even throw Favors into convo if we're talkin bout defense.
Favors now has a respectable jumpshot and an above average low post game as well as being a better finisher than 6'8, undersized Faried.
Faried is a better rebounder. More athletic.
Creates havoc versus European national teams. And that's why he got the call i think. My friends here in Turkey who don't watch the NBA much think Faried is an all star caliber player just because of his WC 2014 performance and crazy dunks that they see from top 10's.

Overall, Favors any day but we all saw what Faried did last year in World Cup. European Basketball lacks athleticism. You automatically become an elite weapon if you're a freak athlete without any real game just like Faried.

I understand Faried being there, but Favors is better.


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Agreed, except with the part that says you can understand Faried being there. Faried was garbage last year with the exception of the end of the season. Personally, I think he is incredibly overrated. Favors deserves it and if he keeps improving, it's only a question of time.
 
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