Clippers’ Chris Paul withdraws from Olympic team consideration

Chris Paul scanned the collection of NBA All-Stars, big enough to outfit three countries, and contemplated the possibility of three Clippers as Olympians.

“It would be unbelievable,” Paul said in August during USA Basketball’s minicamp in Las Vegas. “I remember even in 2012 when me and Blake [Griffin] were practicing, trying to get ready for this team, and we talked about how special it would be to actually play on one of these teams with one of your teammates. So to have an opportunity to play with two of them would be even better.”

Paul erased that possibility Monday when he told SI.com that he was withdrawing from consideration for the 2016 Olympics. The two-time gold medalist and 11-year NBA veteran intimated that fatigue was the overriding factor.

“I feel my body telling me that I could use the time,” Paul said.

Paul’s workload has increased appreciably in the three months Griffin has sat out because of hand and quadriceps injuries, particularly during the month backup guard Austin Rivers sat out because of a broken hand.

Paul appeared to be all in on the Olympics last summer in Las Vegas — “I’m here just like everybody else to show my commitment and that I want to be a part of the trip next summer,” he said — and told SI.com that he wanted to give an affirmative response when his son, Chris, recently asked him if he would be part of the contingent headed to Rio de Janeiro.

“Part of me wanted to say ‘Yes,’ because he’s never been part of it,” Paul said. “But I told him, ‘I want to spend more time with you.’ ”

Paul’s withdrawal leaves Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Mike Conley, John Wall, Kyrie Irving and Damian Lillard as the final candidates at point guard. Griffin and Clippers center DeAndre Jordan are also among the 30 finalists.

Getting it right

It was like a multiple-choice question without an incorrect answer.

What was wrong with the Clippers?

Take your pick — effort, intensity, defense, collective spirit. All were missing during a recent stretch in which they lost three consecutive games, two against severely undermanned teams.

“We were going through the motions a little bit,” Jordan said Monday night. “We didn’t have energy from one through 15. We saw it, we talked about it.”

Then they fixed it. It started with J.J. Redick’s game-winning shot against Portland, continued with a strong second half against Denver and carried into a 24-point blowout of Boston on Monday.

The one constant during the three victories has been the defense. The Clippers have given up only 91.3 points per game and held the Celtics to 34.8% shooting.

“These last three games it’s been off the charts — active hands, deflections, creating turnovers,” Coach Doc Rivers said. “When we defend like that, we’re pretty good.”

It’s the one thing the Clippers hope doesn’t change when Griffin returns Sunday against Washington after serving the final two games of his four-game suspension for punching a team assistant equipment manager.

“This has to be something that we have to do consistently,” Austin Rivers said. “It has to be part of our identity. For us to compete and beat those teams like the Spurs, Warriors and Thunder in the playoffs, that’s what we’ve got to do.”

Up next for the Clippers:

VS. MINNESOTA

When: 5 p.m. PDT Wednesday.

Where: Target Center.

On the air: TV: Prime; Radio: 570.

Records: Clippers 46-27, Timberwolves 25-49.

Record vs. Timberwolves: 2-1.

Update: This will be the third of four games Clippers forward Blake Griffin must sit out because of his suspension for punching a team assistant equipment manager. Clippers forward Paul Pierce is also considered doubtful because of the sprained right ankle and bruised right knee he suffered Monday against Boston. Minnesota is bound for the lottery but has been playing better lately, winning three of its last four games behind the strong play of young stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. The Timberwolves beat the Clippers, 108-102, when the teams last met in February.