With how Wendell McKines has been playing at a tremendous level as of late, it is hard to imagine he was also the same person lost in Rain or Shine’s offensive sets during the early part of the season.
The Elasto Painters dropped four of their first five games in the PBA Governors’ Cup but after McKines defined his role, the team won five straight and are now at the upper half of the team standings with a 6-4 card.
Paul Lee attests to the success Rain or Shine had achieved since McKines played on the same page.
“Mas nakilala na lang ng import namin ‘yung mga game namin isa-isa,” Lee said. “Mas naging komportable kami sa kanya ngayon at kung ano ang gusto niya sa loob [ng court], so mas madali nang hanapin ‘yung import namin.”
McKines was averaging 29.4 PPG, 13.6 RPG, and 1.6 APG in Rain or Shine’s first five outings, but has learned how to share the ball in the squad’s system that emphasizes on ball movement.
In the Elasto Painters’ five-game winning run, McKines’ production dipped slightly to 25.6 PPG but his rebounding and assists totals increased to 16.2 RPG and 2.2 APG. His usage rate also dropped from the 30s to around 27.
During that run, McKines has provided his team with a solid post up option who scores most of his points inside the paint. According to HumbleBola Stats, over 66 percent of McKines’ field goal attempts have come inside the paint. In addition he is also shooting almost 84 percent around the rim.
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Lee added McKines jumpstarts what happens on offense, and together with solid defense, the team has improved vastly.
“Yung depensa namin mas dumidiin na ngayon lalo na kapag kailangan ng crucial stop at yung offense, alam na ni Wendell ‘yung gagawin kaya mas madali. Sa kanya manggagaling ‘yung opensa,” he said.
With the Elasto Painters surviving early struggles and now looking forward to making the quarterfinals, Lee hopes the team can sustain the effort shown on both ends.
“Sakay lang kami sa mga nangyayari and i-continue lang ‘yung mga ginagawa namin.”
