Answering Your BIGGEST Questions About The NBA Right Now - From the Philippines

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

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Brian Windhorst (0:34)

Welcome to the Hoop Collective Podcast. We talk about the NBA, which we're doing today from Manila, Philippines. Joining me in his first visit to Manila and experiencing all of it in its glory is Van McMahon.

Tim MacMahon (0:53)

Howdy, partners. It is a pleasure to be here. As I told you before we started the show, you are living up to the hype and trust me, nobody loves the Filipino basketball community. At least no American, I should say, loves the Filipino basketball community. As much as this man, Brian Windy Winters, he's been talking about you ever since he came here for the World Cup.

Brian Windhorst (1:13)

It's very important to me that when we started this tour that we come to Manila, I've wanted to come back ever since 2023 when I was here for three plus weeks for the World Cup. Fell in love with it then despite it being in the absolute middle of monsoon season, which was an eye-opening experience. But I'm so glad to be here and we have a special guest right out of the gate.

This guy is a Filipino basketball legend.

13 years in the PBA, six championships. Six championships?

Tim MacMahon (1:46)

An MVP.

Brian Windhorst (1:47)

An MVP.

Tim MacMahon (1:47)

Two finals MVPs, a great nickname. They call the man the Mighty Mouse.

Brian Windhorst (1:53)

Oh, man.

I mean, and has had a just tremendous post career now as a coach. He's coached the last six years in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings and the Stockton Kings. Now head coach in the PBA.

Tim MacMahon (2:07)

Listen, I don't know what's more impressive, the MVPs, the championships, or the fact that this man helped the Sacramento Kings make the playoffs.

Brian Windhorst (2:13)

I know. Without further ado, Jimmy Alapag.

Jimmy Alapag (2:25)

Well, Brian and Tim, thank you guys. It's a huge honor to be your first guest here, especially in the Philippines, where our country has a different passion and love for the game of basketball. I'm sure you guys can see it today. So extremely honored to be here with you guys.

Brian Windhorst (2:43)

So MacMahon is so excited about one aspect of the PBA that he just learned about.

Tim MacMahon (2:50)

I just learned they've got a four-point line. This is the first year of the four-point line, and I guess it's like 27 I haven't gotten the official measurement. I guess is it 27 feet from the hoop going from, you know, arc to arc?

Jimmy Alapag (3:03)

I believe so.

Tim MacMahon (3:04)

Okay. And so they used to call that Alapang territory, right?

SPEAKER_1 (3:08)

Once upon a time. Once upon a time.

Tim MacMahon (3:09)

Back in his day when he was a perennial all-star, an MVP, finals MVP, you know, that was your territory. But it is such a fascinating basketball experiment to me.

And I'm just curious, like, how has that changed the strategy? Like, what have you thought about as you guys are, you know, getting into using that as a tool and, you know, as part of your game?

Jimmy Alapag (3:35)

Well, you know, Tim, I think the four-point line definitely adds a very unique dynamic to the game, especially here in Asia. Because, like you said, with the four-point line, now end-game situations, end-of-game, you know, situations, if you're down four, now it only takes one shot to tie the game, or if you're down three, get a four-point shot to win the game.

Brian Windhorst (3:58)

Twelve points becomes a four-possession game. Nine points becomes like, nine points was like, oh man, if you get to nine, you got to game one. Not anymore, you got a few better score.

Jimmy Alapag (4:06)

And so I think it adds a new level of excitement. I'm happy that the PBA is the one who took a little bit leap of faith to try it.

And I think, again, I've been coaching with it and against it for the last three or four months, and so far, so good.

Tim MacMahon (4:22)

How many of you guys have the green light from four-point range?