Tale of two imports

So far, only five teams have stuck to their original imports in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup – Kia with Peter John Ramos, Barako Bull with Solomon Alabi, Barangay Ginebra with Michael Dunigan, Meralco with Josh Davis and NLEX with Al Thornton. Blackwater’s first import pick Chris Charles hasn’t played because of a hamstring strain and there’s talk that he’s on his way back to the US, his spot taken over permanently by once interim replacement Marcus Douthit starting the Elite’s second game.

Globalport has switched from C. J. Leslie to Calvin Warner, Rain Or Shine from Rick Jackson to Wayne Chism, Talk ‘N’ Text from Richard Howell to Ivan Johnson, San Miguel Beer from Ronald Roberts to Arizona Reid, Purefoods from Marqus Blakely to Daniel Orton to Denzel Bowles and Alaska from D. J. Covington to Damion James.

Changing imports has to do more with chemistry than playing ability. No doubt, every import who comes to town has talent. The question is whether he fits within his team’s system and coaching philosophy, whether he gets along with teammates, whether he respects the league and whether he’s willing to play team ball. It’s not just about collecting his paycheck. If it is, then an import is nothing more than a heartless, cold-blooded mercenary who’ll play only as far as the greenback takes him. Once an “ugly” import thinks he’s in a losing situation, meaning no bonuses because it’s likely his team isn’t advancing to the playoffs, then it’s down to playing through the motions, avoiding possible injury and doing just enough not to be embarrassed.

Two new hires Johnson and James were teammates with the Texas Legends in the NBA D-League before jumping to the PBA. Both are NBA veterans. Johnson, 30, was measured 6-7 1/2 while James, 27, checked in at 6-7 flat. Talk ‘N’ Text and Alaska are allowed to recruit an import with a height limit of 6-9. The shortest is 6-3 1/4 Reid who is staying on to play for San Miguel Beer in the Third Conference where the import ceiling is 6-5 for the first eight placers in the Commissioner’s Cup. Blakely, who stands 6-4 5/16, will be back for Purefoods in the Governors Cup.

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James is the third NBA first round pick to play in the Commissioner’s Cup after Thornton and Orton. He played four years with the University of Texas varsity and teammates included Kevin Durant and D. J. Augustin. Every collegiate season, James improved his scoring clip from 7.6 to 13.2 to 15.4 to 18.0. Writer Dan Feldman said he was known in Texas for his “high motor and willingness to create contact.”

Jeff Sullivan, in the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, said “inch-for-inch, pound-for-pound, James might have been the best rebounder in the country as a sophomore in 2007-08…James can guard anyone on the court, from the point to the five, he can knock down a three and is even a decent passer.” Varsity coach Rick Barnes said James has a sixth sense for the ball.

James has played four years in the NBA with the New Jersey and later Brooklyn Nets and the San Antonio Spurs, averaging 3.8 points in 39 total games, including 17 starts. A Nets teammate was Gilas naturalized player Andray Blatche. He has earned over $2.4 million in the NBA. James has also tried out with Milwaukee, Miami, Denver, Detroit and Washington. With the Legends, James averaged 18.3 points and 10.1 rebounds in 29 games. The PBA is his first overseas league.

With the Nets, James played sparingly because of a broken foot. He had to undergo surgery to readjust the screw inserted into his foot. Scouts said James was an undersized power forward in college and had to transition into a three or two in the NBA.

Johnson played only a season with the University of Oregon and also a season with the California State at San Bernardino varsity. Jimmy Alapag is also a San Bernardino alumnus. Johnson wasn’t drafted in the NBA and drifted to China, Puerto Rico and South Korea before getting a call-up from the Atlanta Hawks in 2011-12.

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Johnson was described as “a low-risk, high-reward situation” by James Hsu in the Sheridan Hoops website. He averaged 9.4 points and 4.6 rebounds in seven games with Texas in the NBA D-League then transferred to the PBA. Johnson saw action in two seasons with the Hawks, averaging 6.4 points in 56 games in 2011-12 and 6.6 points in 69 games in 2012-13. In terms of efficiency over 48 minutes expanded from his 2012-13 statistics, Johnson garnered 26.1 points to tie Luis Scola and ranked higher than Boris Diaw and Derrick Williams. He was the second highest power forward in steals per 48 minutes with 2.8 and fifth in field goal percentage at a 56.5 clip, outranking Diaw and Serge Ibaka.

Johnson welcomed his NBA career on the wrong foot, drawing a technical foul two minutes into his pro debut with the Hawks. Bradford Doolittle and Kevin Pelton of Pro Basketball Prospectus, however, called it just a minor blip. “A chiseled, menacing player, Johnson’s skill set belies his appearance as an enforcer,” they said. “He showed the ability to heat up quickly off the bench with his energetic bursts to the basket where he finished about 2/3s of his looks. Johnson is a quick, active rebounder and was one of Atlanta’s better performers on the offensive glass. He also runs the floor well.”

In Johnson’s first game with the Texters, he compiled 32 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and three turnovers in 33:49 as Talk ‘N’ Text beat NLEX, 98-96. He shot 7-of-11 free throws and 11-of-25 field goals. Johnson committed five fouls but 13 were called off him. As for James, he wasn’t as successful in his PBA debut despite collecting 28 points, 16 rebounds and three blocked shots in 38:21. Alaska lost to Rain Or Shine, 99-89. James hit 3-of-6 threes, 7-of-11 foul shots and 9-of-26 field goals in a creditable showing.

Teams may change imports at any time during the conference, even in the middle of the finals so expect more new faces to emerge with 31 games left in the eliminations calendar before the start of the playoffs.