The Bay Area Dragons are hardly missing their super import, Myles Powell. That is thanks to the super effort of their other import, big man Andrew Nicholson.
It turns out, Andrew Nicholson is quite all right.
The 33-year-old Canadian import was in uniform in Bay Area’s only two losses, and it appeared the Dragons were far superior with their other import, the electric and explosive Myles Powell of the USA. Bay Area with Powell had a flawless record and looked unbeatable. Bay Area with Nicholson got beat twice.
And with Powell sidelined in the playoffs due to an ankle injury, it seemed as if the Nicholson-led Dragons would be vulnerable, especially to a loaded squad like the San Miguel Beermen.
That Nicholson-led Dragons are now a win away from barging into the Commissioner’s Cup Finals. They are undefeated in three playoff games so far. And they are looking unbeatable after their 114-95 shellacking of the Beermen in Game 2 of their semis bracket.
Yes, it has been a team effort for these Dragons in these playoffs. But at the center of it has been Nicholson, who put up monster a double-double in each of the first two games of these semifinals — 30 points and 15 rebounds in Game 1 and 34 points and 16 rebounds in Game 2. That is called making an impact. It is winning basketball.
Unlike Powell, though, Nicholson’s impact is more muted, but it is there. It is undeniable. It could be making a timely three or converting on a jump hook. It could be making the right read and making the right pass. It could be bodying up June mar Fajardo or walling off the point with his 6-9 frame. It could be anything the Dragons need, and Nicholson has delivered it.
Nicholson’s teammates, perhaps unsurprisingly, have responded in kind to the Canadian’s solid play and are playing their best basketball this tournament. Together, these Dragons are on the verge of making history — and they are doing it with the import with whom they have lost twice already.
And yet that import, Mr. Nicholson, is doing quite all right.