Strugg-LEE-ng: Waiting on Paul Lee

Forgive the Quinito/Halili-esque title, but two games into the PBA Commissioner's Cup, it's pretty clear that Rain or Shine's star rookie Paul Lee is underperforming in, quite expectedly, their two losses.

Lee: Sana ibabad ako ni Coach

Averaging an acceptable, yet paltry for superstar standards, 9.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.5 steals, 2 turnovers in 25.5 minutes, Lee appears to be a bit tentative on the floor and is not his usual, cerebral self.

Granted, playing in only 25 minutes and relinquishing lead star role to top-of-the-key, iso-happy, undersized power forward import Duke Crews will do that to anyone but that's where Lee's all around offensive brilliance is being missed. Compared to last conference, Lee was playing catalyst for RoS by virtue of getting to the rim and dishing out kick-out drives. This time? Not so much.


This writer believes that the 23-year-old needs to play more to be effective. Coach Yeng Guiao however, sees the game differently and continues to allow natural wingman Gabe Norwood to masquerade as a lanky, 6"5 version of Jason Webb-- who is/ was a better (though conservative) ball handler by all accounts.

Guiao: still believes
that Norwood is a PG

Norwood's extended minutes at PG eats into Lee's, causing a disruption in the rookie's productivity. Also, it's quite obvious to the educated fan that whenever Norwood tries his darndest to play PG, RoS' offensive sets stagnates and they are reduced to a predictable "whoever has the ball, calls his own number" scheme.

Perhaps the return to health of PG TY Tang will help Coach Yeng reassess his options at the backcourt. Fortunately for them, the conference is still in its infancy and there's plenty of time to adjust.

Now, if only they could/ would do something about that import...

PS

For our stat happy friends, here's how the Top 4 rookies are doing in the young Commish Cup:

Petron, Chris Lutz (2 games played)
12 p 1 r 3.5 a 0.5 s 3 to 34.5 mins

Powerade, JVee Casio (1 game played)
14 p 5 r 13 a 0 s 1 to 34 mins

Powerade, Marcio Lassiter (1 game played)
13 p 7 r 4 a 1 s 2 to 38 mins