Gordon expands duties to point
BOSTON — With Kevin Porter Jr. out for the final three games of the road trip, veteran Eric Gordon not only moved to the starting lineup, as he often has when starters were unavailable, but also played as the point, a role he has relatively rarely played.
Gordon had five assists in each of his first two games starting at the point, after not topping three assists in any of his first 11 games coming off the bench this season. The emphasis on playmaking was not unintentional.
“It’s definitely different,” Gordon said on Monday before the Rockets lost to the Celtics to complete their four-game road trip. “I’m the type of person, I want to try to get people involved. We’re still trying to find a good flow. We have yet to have a game where offensively we’re all clicking on all cylinders.
“Nothing’s going to be smooth, but my goal is to try to get people going early, try to get JG ( Jalen Green) going early or C-Wood ( Christian Wood) going early. I’m going to go to them first before I start creating shots for myself.”
Though he has been filling in with the starter at the position out, Gordon said he imagines playing some point guard even after Porter returns.
“I think I need to,” Gordon said. “I’m going to be more unpredictable if I play point guard some, shooting guard some. That mixture, I think benefits me and the team.”
Rockets coach Stephen Silas said he has been pleased with Gordon’s play at the point, though Gordon struggled with his shot in his second game at the position. After making 6 of 13 shots and 3 of 6 3-pointers in Oklahoma City, Gordon made just 5 of 17 shots, hitting just 2 of 9 3-pointers against the Knicks.
“He has played downhill, he has really helped our defense a lot,” Silas said. “His one-on-one defense is great. Also, his switching … has been very good. Overall, I’ve been satisfied with him playing the point. It’s probably harder (to be in a rhythm when playmaking at the point) when the role that he’s had has been to come in and be the guy, the guy that scores points and the guy that puts pressure on the defense. It is an adjustment.”
Defensively, Gordon’s contributions have remained much as they have been in recent seasons. He was ranked third (among players that have contested at least 100 shots) in the NBA in the shooting percentage allowed in his matchups, with opponents making just 33.7 percent of their shots. In the previous two seasons, he led the NBA with opponents making 36.8 percent of their shots. He was the only player in the top 15 in that category that did not make an All-Defensive team.
“With me, I’m not a gambler,” Gordon said. “I like to keep my man from driving. I believe in whoever I guard, they got to have an off night. If they’re going to have a high-scoring night, they got to take 30 shots to do so.”
The Rockets are hopeful that Porter will play Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls after workouts Sunday and Monday.
Theis enjoys ‘special’ return
Rockets center Daniel Theis had played against his former team three times before Monday’s game against the Celtics. He had played in Boston before.
But Monday’s return to TD Garden was different. It was the first time he was back where his career began with fans in attendance, making the game “special.”
“I only came back here one time and there were no fans,” Theis said. “I played here for four years, so it’s going to be special. It was almost my whole NBA career so it’s something special, for sure.”
Ex-Rocket Kojis dies at age 82
Don Kojis, the Rockets’ first All-Star, died on Friday in San Diego at age 82, his alma mater, Marquette University reported.
Kojis played 12 NBA seasons, including three with the Rockets, enjoying his best season in 1968-69 when he averaged 22.5 points per game for the San Diego Rockets.
Kojis was an All-Star again, along with Elvin Hayes, the following season. In three seasons with the Rockets before the team’s move to Houston, Kojis averaged 19.6 points and 9.1 rebounds. His contract was sold to the Seattle SuperSonics following his third season in San Diego.
A 6-5 forward, Kojis was a two-time All American at Marquette, where he averaged 21.4 points and 17.1 rebounds and remains the school’s all-time rebounder.