Jordan Clarkson shines in 2018 Asian Games finale

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jordan Clarkson shined against Syria in Gilas Pilipinas’ final appearance of the 2018 Asian Games.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jordan Clarkson played spectacularly in Gilas Pilipinas’ final game of the 2018 Asian Games, scoring 29 points and dishing out 6 assists in just 24 minutes of playing time as the Philippines defeated Syria 109-55.

Clarkson shot 12-16 from the field and 5-8 from three-point range, while adding 4 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 assist without any turnovers. He scored 23 points in the first-half, catapulting Gilas to an insurmountable 60-34 lead while playing under control and with a great pace.

Clarkson would end the 2018 Asian Games with averages of 26.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.0 steal and 0.7 turnovers per game while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 39.0 percent from three.

For fans wondering how Clarkson’s performance for Gilas Pilipinas could translate to the NBA, or to the Cleveland Cavaliers specifically, although there’s a clear talent gap between the players in the Association and those participating in the Asian Games’ basketball tournament, Clarkson’s growth from the opener to the finale is symbolized by the pace he played with against Syria.

Known as an attacking guard who gets downhill in a hurry, Clarkson took his time against Syria and it paid off.

Most, if not all, of Clarkson’s shots were open attempts and though his speed and quickness will always help him create separation, it seems like he’s often rushing an attempt because of how fast he usually plays.

Not on Friday.

Furthermore, Clarkson’s focus on facilitating will pay off because it’s the building of the habit that’s important in this instance.

The highlight of Clarkson’s game against Syria was a sequence in which he completed a nice no-look shovel pass in transition to get his teammate an easy layup. Almost immediately after that assist, Clarkson found himself on the receiving end of a lob in transition.

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You often hear about the push-and-pull, tug-of-war type power struggles that exists with ball-dominant players and how teammates start freezing them out. A sequence in which Clarkson assisted his teammate in transition and then receives an assist when his team got a fastbreak opportunity is the epitome of unselfish play.

For a young team such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, unselfish play will be key to both team success on-the-court and locker room chemistry.

As a result, while his numbers may not translate, Clarkson’s growth can and should; it would only help the team.

An “under control” Clarkson, especially one who is fixated on being a complete playmaker, is the type of player that you would love to have coming off your bench as a Sixth Man.

He’s a microwave scorer with a tendency to play too fast but every team could use a player that can pressure defenses with the threat of their speed and ability to penetrate the perimeter, like Clarkson.

Working on his awareness, on both ends, will be the next step in his progression but at 26-years-old, Clarkson is already making strides to become a dynamic playmaker rather than just a pure scorer.