Gordon an X-factor in series
Eric Gordon didn’t hesitate to take his first shot of the night Sunday.
He stopped outside the 3-point line and while drawing contact from Utah’s Joe Ingles, released the ball off his fingertips.
It was a perfect shot followed by a made free throw.
The fired-up crowd at the Toyota Center went wild. When Gordon got off to that start in Game 1 of the Rockets’ first-round playoff series against the Jazz, it was a great sign.
Certain things needed to happen for the Rockets to be successful against the Jazz.
Gordon bringing his A-game was one of those.
“I am ready to go at all times, and it’s the playoffs,” Gordon said. “I wanted to get out and get going early.”
Gordon did just that and kept it up. From timely, big shots to his impressive defense, Gordon was key in the Rockets’ 122-90 Game 1 victory.
The Rockets could rely on a few things happening as they started their postseason journey.
NBA scoring leader James Harden, who is impossible to stop, was going to put up points. And he did. Harden led all scorers with 29 points and 10 assists.
Clint Capela, who has developed into one of the league’s premier big men, was going to be tough to guard in the paint. And he was. Capela finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
NBA veterans Chris Paul and P.J. Tucker were expected to bring the tough edge on defense that has helped the Rockets become one of the top defensive teams in the league since the All-Star break. Both made several impact plays and were crucial in never letting the Jazz offense take off.
A question mark
But after Gordon finished the regular season with a subpar performance in Oklahoma City, there were questions on whether he could be himself for this series, especially considering what the Rockets needed from him.
The former Sixth Man of the Year has to be a key in this series. Not only do the Rockets need him to score, they need him to take on one of the toughest assignments against the Jazz and guard star Donovan Mitchell.
Gordon is capable of big things. He’s been an Xfactor so many times before for the Rockets. But he hasn’t always been the picture of consistency.
On Sunday night, he exactly what the Rockets needed.
Gordon was dialed in. His shot was on. He scored 17 points against the Jazz on 5-of-10 shooting from the field.
And he was all over Mitchell.
Mitchell came into Game 1 averaging 23.3 points against the Rockets. On Sunday, he scored 19, but four of those came in the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach for Utah.
Keeping Mitchell at bay kept the whole Utah squad under control.
“You have to try to be aggressive with him,” Gordon said. “He is a really good scorer. He can score in a lot of different ways. I was trying to be a little physical with him and stick with him throughout the whole game.
“I like this assignment. I have guarded a lot of the top perimeters this year. You have to try to break the rhythm up with (Mitchell). He is the one guy that can really get them going.”
Gordon blocked a Mitchell shot and one from Jae Crowder when he was switched on to him.
If Gordon can be this locked in defensively and continue to hit timely shots in this series, the Rockets will have no trouble knocking the Jazz out.
He can be one of the Rockets’ deadliest weapons.
“Eric is one of the best defenders in the league,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He is. No one really talks about it that much because he is understated. You can’t post up on him. He puts his chest on people and gets in front of the play. He is really, really good.”
Has laser focus
“Understated” is certainly a good word to describe Gordon.
Even when his game is up and down, Gordon is not. He is an even-keeled player who rarely shows emotion.
When he’s in the game, he has laser focus.
Gordon’s assignment won’t get any easier. Mitchell is likely to heat up at some point in this series.
Gordon said he will be ready for whatever comes.
“It’s the playoffs,” he said. “I will be ready for anything.”