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LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES – MARCH 2: Eric Gordon of Houston Rockets is seen during the NBA match between Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets at Staples Center in Los Angeles, United States on March 2, 2017. (Photo by Mintaha Neslihan Eroglu/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES – MARCH 2: Eric Gordon of Houston Rockets is seen during the NBA match between Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets at Staples Center in Los Angeles, United States on March 2, 2017. (Photo by Mintaha Neslihan Eroglu/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
The 2019-20 NBA season was quite unpleasant for the Houston Rockets’ veteran guard, Eric Gordon. For somebody who shot 42.5% from the field and 37% on 3-pointers throughout his career, we saw a huge dip in his performance.
They went down to 36.9% and 31.7%, respectively. A lot of it has to do with him being injury ridden. Gordon missed almost half of the 72 games that the Rockets played in the regular season last year.
However, by the time it came to the Playoffs, his shooting gained momentum once again. He played an integral role against Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the first round of the Playoffs. His perimeter defense against Chris Paul was commendable.
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Even during the second round of the Playoffs against the Lakers, he did a good job defending their star player, LeBron James. It is Gordon’s versatility that makes the Rockets defense one of the best in the league.
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 8, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo (9) passes the ball against Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon (10) during the first half of game three in the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
All uphill for Houston Rockets’ Eric Gordon from here onwards?
As Gordon is much closer to being fully healthy now, the Rockets will hope that he continues his improvements in the upcoming 2020-21 season.
According to Kelly Iko from ‘The Athletic’, “Gordon will be looking for a bounce-back year, and there’s real internal confidence that he could be a comeback player of the year type in 2020-21.
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“The Rockets need him to return to his 6MOY [Sixth Man of the Year] days and not the laboring, injury-prone guard we saw last season.
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NEW YORK, UNITED STATES – JANUARY 15 : Sean Kilpatrick (L) of Brooklyn Nets in action against Eric Gordon (R) of Houston Rockets during NBA game between Brooklyn Nets and Houston Rockets at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A on January 15, 2017. (Photo by Mohammed Elshamy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
“Stephen Silas should make this one of his top priorities, as a healthy and firing Gordon not only makes Houston’s rotation that much more potent, it allows you to not lean so heavily on James Harden and Russell Westbrook.”
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For a team that got kicked out in Round 2 of the Playoffs, they need that individual growth from their key players. Gordon has at least 3 more seasons with the Rockets. It is unlikely that they will get a good trade deal for him.
Therefore, it is in their best interest to give Gordon some more time to get back to his form. Will the Rockets live up to the expectations set upon them?
