Is Leon Rodgers as good as advertised? Import says he's out to make 'best basketball decisions' for Ginebra

Is Leon Rodgers as good as advertised? Import says he's out to make 'best basketball decisions' for Ginebra

IS Leon Rodgers as good as advertised?

That question lingered in minds of Barangay Ginebra fans after the highly touted import's PBA Commissioner's Cup debut on Friday night - a 108-104 overtime win over Barako Bull at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Rodgers, of course, had raised fans' expectations owing to his glowing credentials, being a three-time Dutch League MVP and a go-to-guy for the Jilin Northeast Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association with his 29.1 points per game average prior to coming over.

The basketball globetrotter also wasted no time turning heads with a seemingly effortless 39-point effort in a practice game just days after coming over.

However, Rodgers fell short of convincing doubters after his debut. He did score 31 points to go with eight rebounds and four assists, but at times looked sluggish and was unable to dominate as he was left in the shade by Barako Bull counterpart Joshua Dollard who had 45 for the night.

Still, the 33-year-old import was quick to point out that he came to the Philippines not just to showcase his scoring prowess but to make the “best basketball decisions” for Ginebra, a team that is aching to end its six-year PBA title drought.

“When it came down to the last shot, my job is to make the best basketball decision,” Rodgers told Spin.ph.

Nowhere is that more apparent than in the final play of regulation when faced with a double-team, Rodgers elected to pass off to Chris Ellis who buried the three-pointer that sent the game into overtime.

With 12 years of professional basketball experience that has brought him to countries like Germany, France, the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and China, Rodgers now likens his job as an import to superstar Lebron James' job with the Miami Heat.

“It was almost like a play Lebron has to make. Everybody wants him to shoot it. But the best way (in the regulation play) was to pass it to Chris (Ellis),” said the former Northern Illinois standout.

“And Chris was able to knock down the three. Chris had the confidence to take it and send it to overtime.”

As for the other facets of his game, Rodgers said he’s adjusting to his long playing time considering that he averaged no more than 36.5 minutes a game with the Tigers in the CBA. He played for 45 minutes for the Gin Kings in his debut.

Rodgers assured he'll be a better player once he gets his legs back.

“It’s getting there (conditioning). That (long playing time) definitely has affected my shot a little bit, but my legs are starting to settle in, but no excuses,” he said.

Rodgers, however, will have little time to rest and recover as Ginebra plunges back into action on Sunday in a highly awaited clash with San Miguel Beer in the main game, also at the Big Dome.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava

spin.ph

Medyo hindi pa sha mashadong nakakapagpakitang gilas especially beyond the arc sana sa susunod na game umulan na ng tres.hehe

sana pagpahingain naman xia, 47 mins ata ang laro nya nun 2nd game ........ kaya tumitirik kapag last quarter na ..........

coaching staff talaga naten EWAN. kahit 3x MVP yan, hinihingal din yan at napapagod. tssss

mahina sa diskarte ang coaching staff..

kaya hinihingal at napapagod klasmeyt dahil matanda na ...... ahahahah

kala ng coaching staff nasa 23 yrs old pa lang ......... ahahahha

hindi pa nagagamit sa ilalim ung malalaki.. nkakainis tlgang panoorin ang ginebra ngayon.. kompleto naman ang team pro bakit ganyan ang laro.. sistema din tlga ang sisira sa kanila..

magulo ngaun sa coaching staff ng ginebra ..... kahit sino pwedeng magcoach, kaya nababago ang systema ......... parang nagpapraktis lang sila ..... ehehehe

I agree boring panoorin ang laro ng ginebra, parang nagpapractice lang, walang intensity at parang pinag-aaralan palang yung mga play, ang nakikita ko lang consistent sa locals ay si Chris Ellis, ibangko ba naman si Japeth e, kitang-kita din na walang ganang maglaro si Greg, tapos ang daming nababangko, e SF naman laro ng import natin bakit pati si Japeth naapektuhan sa PT? bangko pa si JFlight, MacBac, Ababou - sayang 'tong mga batang 'to!

un nga rn npancn q..prang ayaw pgsabayn c japeth at greg hbng nsa loob ung import..sa tingn q nmn ms ok kng ndun cla tatlo..prang nbabangag ang coaching staff nla

Mahina talaga coaching staff naten mag maximixe ng talent ng Ginebra, hanggat ganyan sila di muna ko mashado mageexpect ng mataas sa team naten pero sana talaga maresolve ang issue regarding sa distribution ng playing time ng bawat players.

tsaka naman, wag mashadong ibabad si Rodgers daming pwedeng rumelyebo sa kanya. ang lalim ng line up ng team naten kahit yung 2nd unit pang starter ng ibang team

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/sports/ginebra-may-also-part-ways-rodgers


Share ko lng to mga kabs, DJ White o Josh Powell dw possible replacement ni Leon....opinion nyo mga tsongs?

tinignan ko sa wiki career stats nila, mas quite impressive yung DJ White kesa ky Powell, im not against Rodgers pero mas maganda cguro kng my angas at intensity yung mgging import natin, at di kinakapos sa dulo, para mahawa yung team mates, tipong brumfield at vmack ba,opinion lng mga tsong...Peace out! NSD 

dapat ipush yung Jaworski ibalik sa ginebra....walang kabuhay buhay ang laro ng ginebra talaga, walang nakilos, puro ubos oras kahit tambak na...palitan ang coaching staff....alfrancis balik ka muna habang wala si Jawo..

Last game na ba ni Leon kagabi?