Gabe Norwood's New Year Resolution

For RoS to win it all, Norwood needs to be aggressive

Granted, this may not actually be Norwood's NY Resolution (pretty sure he has other, more important concerns in mind) but what kind of basket-blogger would this writer be if we didn't make one for him?

Four years since coming into the PBA as an MVP-prospect from the now defunct-PBL team Happee Toothpaste, Norwood has become an enigma of sorts to local basketball fans. At 6"5,  210 lbs., he has the body and height to dominate a still growing league where an athlete of his nature is hard to find. His NCAA Division 1 - George Mason University pedigree is also another thing to consider, as not all basketball players get recruited to Division 1 schools (only prodigees, never projects-- that's what Divisions 2 to 4 are for).

And yet, we are given a guy who averages somewhere around 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists a game. Superb, had he been just another role player but in a league of 6"4 power forwards and centers, Norwood sticks out as a player who has yet to reach his full potential and dominate the way we've seen him do from time to time (when he's focused or gets fouled hard and goes out to prove a point).

Is he a point guard?

He has the handles and speed, but just like any other tall man going against smaller defenders, he's bound to turn the ball over by being ripped by speedbugs. Also, he doesn't seem to have the ability to create situations for his teammates (the difference between a PG like Jayvee Casio who runs plays, and Jimmy Alapag who creates). Another minus for Norwood is his lack of a consistent jumper. We've seen him hit a couple of clutch, long baskets here and there, but never enough to convince defenders to guard him from the outside-- is it a matter of confidence or form, we leave that to him.

Is he a small forward?

Yes, but only on offense where his freelancing and activity helps him put up the numbers. Rebounds wise, 7 is acceptable enough for a 6"5 wing. 12 points? Could be better given the guys he played with prior to this year's Rain or Shine rising.  On defense, Norwood is more liability than ace. You'd think his elongated wingspan, foot and hand speed would more than make him an ace defender, but Norwood hardly plays with enough concentration and consistency on this end to even put him in the same class as teammates Ryan Arana, Jireh Ybanes and even the flat footed JayR Quinahan.

Shooting guard? Uhm, the guy can't shoot (James Yap, PJ Simon, Chris Lutz, Gary David) and doesn't go hard to the rim (Sol Mercado, Jayson Castro, Mark Caguioa)- so no.

Also, the biggest factor that is keeping Norwood from making that big leap into superstardom is his knack for avoiding contact. Anytime his team needs him to step up (when Paul Lee commits another rookie mistake and gets in foul trouble, Jeff Chan is being locked up and Ronjay Buenafe is being, well, Ronjay Buenafe), Norwood would rather keep trying to find the open guy instead of trying to force his way into the defense and get fouls.

Yes, Norwood is a great team player (on offense), but his failure to take the lead is what's keeping his team from getting to the top and why rookies and unheralded players are being tagged as Rain or Shine's saviors instead of its 2008 top pick who sticks out like a sore thumb given his credentials and out of this world athleticism and God given talents.

Now, I only say this because I've seen Norwood back in the PBL and the guy was just flat out beastly. Not the dominating type like other Fil-Ams, but an all around, Jack-of-all-trades that was just hard to stop (think Los Angeles Clippers' era Lamar Odom).

Hopefully, Norwood's resolution this year is to reward his team with a championship run by being "The Man" like he's supposed to be.