Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon was a dynamic defender in the 2018 and 2019 NBA playoffs, with considerable success against the likes of Donovan Mitchell of Utah and Klay Thompson of Golden State.
Leg injuries largely prevented Gordon from regaining that form in the 2019-20 regular season. But with the 2020 NBA playoffs finally starting with Houston’s first-round streak against Oklahoma City, the 31-year-old looks set for a flashback performance.
Rockets manager Mike D’Antoni said ahead of Sunday’s practice that Gordon would equalize the opening defensive assignment against All-Star guard Chris Paul. While D’Antoni warned that men’s assignments would often change in the heavy defense used by the Rockets, he speaks clearly of Houston’s confidence in the NBA’s 12-year veteran.
“I’ll be ready to go,” Gordon said on Sunday.
On the second Spectrum data, Klay Thompson scored 4 points out of 1-8 FG in the 125 possessions that was defended by Eric Gordon.
Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points on 13-41 FG (31.7%) with 9 turnovers in 180 possessions defended by Gordon in the first round.
– Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) 6 May 2019
Although Gordon remains the No. 3 of Houston with 14.4 points per game, his shots have dropped from 40.9% overall and 36.0% on 3 points a year ago to 36.9% and 31.7%, respectively, this season . He lost 36 of the team’s 72 games in 2019-20 – exactly half – due to injury.
But Gordon says he is in good health now, and with that he hopes to go back in time. “The regular season doesn’t matter at this point,” said Gordon, whose upper body strength helped make him a strong playoff defender. “It’s time to go. This is the real thing and every game is important.”
If anyone tells you Eric Gordon wasn’t worth the extension, show them this video.
He was the second best player of the Rockets in the playoffs and averaged 18 PPGs shooting 45/40/86 while blocking top scorers at Mitchell and Klay pic.twitter.com/7YP0D53y7R
– Rob (44-28) (10-10) (@ Hou5ton4L) 31 August 2019
With All-Star guard Russell Westbrook out to start the series with proper quad strain, Gordon will take his place in the Houston starting lineup. This role also makes it easier for Gordon’s minutes to mirror those of Paul, who averages 17.6 points (48.9% FG) and 6.7 assists in 31.5 minutes per game for the Thunder. Now 35, the future Hall of Famer is in ninth place in the entire NBA in Win Share this season.
A positive aspect for Gordon is that he knows Paul very well, having played with him the previous two seasons in Houston. As such, Gordon offered this scouting report on how to deal with his defense:
He is a very smart player. What we need to do is try to pressure him as much as possible. You don’t want his game intelligence to have much of an effect. We certainly know how it is. We know who he is. We will do our best to make sure it doesn’t have as good an impact.
You have to try to pile it up and play with your hands up. You have to put as much pressure on him as possible. He can shoot – better now, it seems, at this point in his career – but sometimes you want him to put the ball on the floor too. As I said, you don’t want his intelligence to take over the game. You just have to pressure him and amass him a little.
While Houston manages to limit Paul, he’s not the only defense priority. Fellow guards Dennis Schroder (18.9) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (19.0) actually average more points per game than Paul, so other perimeter defenders like Austin Rivers and Danuel House Jr. will also need to step up for the Rockets during the series.
There is also the issue of the substitution, which means that frontcourt players like Robert Covington and PJ Tucker will also play key roles.
“If they make a move or move, we change,” D’Antoni said. “So everyone will guard everyone. And then, when you come back to defense sometimes, you confront the man closest to you. So, above all, it will be evenly distributed throughout the team. “
With four players averaging over 17 points per game (three guards and striker Danilo Gallinari), the Thunder have one of the most balanced scoring bouts among Western Conference playoff teams. However, slowing down “The Point God” and Oklahoma City’s lonely All-Star would be a great place to start, and it’s Gordon who’ll get the first shot.
“You have to love moments like this when things get tough,” said Gordon, who noted that he also expects to take on a greater load of directing in attack during Westbrook’s absence. “During this period, you have to try to play your best every game. I have to play well, and so do many other guys. It will take a collective effort.”
When supervised by Eric Gordon in the 2019 playoffs:
Klay Thompson:
14 points in 222 possessions (6.3 per 100)
4 assists to 4 turnovers
23.8 FG%
20 3PT%
106.8 ORTG
Donovan Mitchell:
38 points in 180 possessions (21.1 per 100)
4 assists to 9 turnovers
31.7 FG%
12.5 3PT%
96.7 ORTG pic.twitter.com/46FpZvF7T6– Disney Gary Clark (@ Itamar1710) 25 June 2019
While Gordon believes the 2019-20 Rockets have league potential, he says the key for his team is to take them one game at a time.
“Starting Tuesday, it will be a good opportunity,” Gordon said. “We just have to focus and do what we do. Just worry about Race 1 and focus on the things we really need and need to do to win. As long as we do, I’ll take our chances on anyone. “
With all games inside the fanless NBA “bubble” at Disney World in Florida, Game 1 between the Rockets and Thunder will begin Tuesday at 5:30 pm Central. TNT will broadcast the national broadcast, with a regional version (with Houston announcers) broadcast on AT&T SportsNet Southwest.
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