How Far Can Team Pilipinas Go with Jordan Clarkson in the Lineup?
The past week has been a whirlwind for Filipino basketball fans, and in the eye of the storm is Cleveland Cavaliers Guard Jordan Clarkson.
At first, the news broke out that the 6-foot-5 Filipino-American NBA player was likely to play for the Philippines in the Asian Games. In fact, he was already included in the 12-man lineup of Gilas submitted to the organizing committee. However, a couple of days later, the NBA didn’t clear Clarkson to play in the upcoming tournament. He even expressed his disappointment regarding this decision on his Facebook account last Monday, August 13.
The good news came on Wednesday morning. The NBA released a statement that it’s giving a one-time exception for NBA players like Jordan Clarkson and Chinese players Zhou Qi and Ding Yanyuhang to play in the Asian Games.
And so the journey begins.
Unfortunately, Clarkson wasn’t able to participate in the first game of Gilas against Kazakhstan, as he arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia the same day. He got to watch his teammates in action, though, joining the bench in the second half.
The team that was quickly assembled just a few weeks ago manhandled Kazakhstan 96-59, led by Stanley Pringle who posted 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. With a tremendous start in the tournament, will the arrival of Jordan Clarkson bring boon or bane to the team?
A More Complete Squad?
Gilas is no stranger to playing with NBA-calibre players. Naturalized Gilas player Andray Blatche was arguably still in his prime when he first joined the team. This is the first time, however, that they’re going to play with someone as good as Jordan Clarkson—someone good enough to play alongside LeBron James in the NBA Finals. Given this context, one can’t help but think how much of a green light head coach Yeng Guiao will give Clarkson.
Of course, it’s not a question anymore if he can contribute to the team. Clarkson’s athleticism alone can give opponents fits on the defensive end. He’s fast, even at NBA level, and can finish around the rim pretty well. This is not a surefire indicator, though, that he can boost the team’s overall play.
On paper, the current team has height and defensive presence, which was evident in the game against Kazakhstan. It also has outside shooting with Paul Lee, Chris Tiu, and James Yap. What it lacks is sheer speed and athleticism—things that Jordan Clarkson can provide. Does this make this patch-up team a more complete squad? Perhaps.
Gilas Pilipinas will play China on Tuesday. With little time to practice with the team and to familiarize himself with the style of play of his teammates, it’s going to be a real challenge for Clarkson to mesh with the team while facing a powerhouse opponent. Amidst all the uncertainties, one thing’s for sure on Tuesday, August 21: the whole country will watch, and all eyes will be on Clarkson. Will he cave in or rise to the occasion?
