Peter John Ramos

Peter John Ramos - 31 games, 37.5 mpg, 24.6 ppg, 14.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.7 spg, 1.1 bpg, 3.9 TOpg, 64% FG, 0% 3PT, 73% FT

Ramos returned to the team for whom he put up 17/13 last season, and has put even better numbers this year. He hasn't developed a whole lot as a player in recent years, but he also hasn't had to. Ramos stands 7'3, is pretty fluid for that size, gobbles up rebounds (4th in the league), is a defensive presence if only through size alone, and is a capable finisher. His turnover numbers above are testament to his limitations, but the other numbers are true to his strengths. Only thrice has Ramos missed a double-double; a 7 point, 10 rebound performance on January 2nd, a 23 point 9 rebound performance in only 25 minutes on February 16th, and a 9 point, 8 rebound performance on March 6th.

Peter John Ramos - Ramos is coming back to the NBA this summer. I can't tell you where; not because I'm being coy or anything, but because I don't actually know. The story, though, is that Ramos will return to the NBA in the next couple of weeks, with a team you'll know about as soon as I do. Maybe even before.

Peter John Ramos - 17 games, 31.4 mpg, 19.1 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 1.5 apg, 3.0 fpg, 0.4 spg, 0.5 bpg, 59% FG, 0% 3PT, 56% FT

Former Wizards centre Ramos is the best big man Puerto Rico have, which is reflected in the numbers above. He didn't do anything in the NBA; despite signing a four year contract with three years guaranteed, after being drafted as high as #33 in 2004, Ramos played only 6 games and 20 minutes in the league, which was not a great return. In the years since then, Ramos has spent every summer back home in the BSN, while also playing in Spain and China. And wherever he's gone, he's rebounded. A lot. As if to make that point, this season for the Zheijiang Lions, Ramos averaged 17.5 points and 13.0 rebounds in only 30.7 per game, grabbing less than 10 rebounds only once in 38 tries (and that was a 9 rebound performance). He was a rumoured target of the Houston Rockets last summer, and, even though his offensive game hasn't expanded a great deal, he's still a 7'1 rebounding machine. NBA teams like that, and quite rightly so. So it would not be a surprise if Ramos gets more NBA looks this summer.

- Peter John Ramos

Former Wizards big man Ramos has pulled off the China/Puerto Rico combination this year with aplomb. It's a beautiful combination that many players engage in, although it helps Ramos no end that he is actually Puerto Rican. This season for the Zheijiang Lions, Ramos averaged 17.5 points and 13.0 rebounds in only 30.7 per game, grabbing less than 10 rebounds only once in 38 tries (and that was a 9 rebound performance). Zheijiang were knocked out of the CBA playoffs at the semi final stage last week, and Ramos returned to Puerto Rico to play for the Quebradillas Pirates. He is making his debut at the very moment that I'm typing this.

- Peter John Ramos: 28.8mpg, 16.5ppg, 12.9rpg, 1.4apg, 3.9fpg, 0.3spg, 1.2bpg, 69% FG, 0% 3PT, 66% FT

The Lions are, clearly, heavily dependent on their imports for rebounding. The next highest rebounders on the team are starting power forward Bo Wang (10.5ppg, 4.4rpg), then Taiwanese starting shooting guard Chih-Chieh Lin (11.8ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.1apg), and a couple more guys off the bench grab as-near-as-is 4rpg. But that's pretty much it; the Lions (so termed here so as to not to confuse them with the other Zhejiang team) play basically a 7 man rotation, and the two imports average more rebounds together than the other 5 guys combined. This hasn't stopped them from compiling a 23-5 record, and Ramos's rebounding ranks third in the league. It's particularly impressive considering it comes in only 29mpg.

(Note; Ramos has already committed to signing back in his native Puerto Rico for their league, which takes place in the summer and which started yesterday. However, he won't join until his CBA commitments are over.)