Gordon on his game
Guard provides penetrating presence while pairing 21 points with 4 assists in 30 minutes
Eric Gordon, who stepped into the Rockets’ starting lineup for an injured Russell Westbrook on Tuesday night, responded with what seemed a solid Westbrook impersonation.
In truth, Gordon’s performance in the Rockets’ 123-108 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their firstround NBA playoff series was simply his multitude of skills at some of their most finely tuned — and with the experienced guard healthy and rested to boot.
“It’s all about playmaking,” said Gordon, who finished with 21 points and four assists in 30 minutes while making all five of his free throws. “I’m going to continue to attack the rim or knock down a shot. That’s the great thing about my game: I can always attack the rim, and I can always get a 3, and I can always penetrate and kick the ball to someone else.”
With Westbrook cheering from the sideline, Gordon did all three — attacked, shot and passed — in the Rockets’ lopsided victory. Westbrook continues healing from a strained quadriceps muscle that might keep him out of Game 2 as well.
And for the casual NBA fan who tunes in for the playoffs, and who’s aware of Westbrook’s substantial skills but largely unaware of his backup’s acumen, Rockets star guard James Harden offered a little enlightenment for the postseason.
“Eric is more than capable; he’s just battled injuries,” Harden said of Gordon’s ability to shine when called upon. “He’s one of the most skilled guys we have in this league. He’s able to beat his guy off the bounce, create opportunities for his teammates, and obviously shoot the 3 at a high level.”
Gordon, 31 and in his fourth season with the Rockets, sprained his left ankle during a scrimmage on July 28 as the Rockets prepared to crank the regular season back up in the NBA bubble near Orlando, Fla.
He played in only the final two of the eight seeding games in the bubble, looking at times rusty over his combined 43 minutes in the two losses because of the extended layoff. None of it mattered Tuesday with the second season at hand.
“He’s finally healthy, and he’s finally getting his swag and rhythm back,” Harden said. “That’s scary for defenses because they have to guard that.”
Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni, while pleased with Gordon’s performance in Westbrook’s place, upped the ante for the veteran from Indiana for Game 2, whether Westbrook is back by Thursday or not.
“Eric played well, and I think he’ll play even better,” D’Antoni said. “It goes without saying with Russell or without Russell, (the playoffs) just make (Gordon) that much more important.”
How can Gordon be better in Game 2 following the extended layoff ? A higher shooting percentage, for starters, from both the 3point line (2-of-6 for 33.3 percent) and from the field overall (7-of-17 for 41.2 percent) — although both numbers were slightly above his regular season average of 31.7 percent on 3s and 36.9 percent overall.
“I expect him to be even better as he gets more accustomed to his legs and all of that,” D’Antoni reiterated of Gordon’s return. “He’s one of our better defenders, if not our best, and he can go to the rim, and he can shoot long 3s. He’s got the whole package, and he’s just a piece we have to have.”
Gordon, like any player, endures hot and cold streaks from the field, but his solid defense rarely wavers. His lockdown ability was at full throttle Tuesday, helping limit Thunder starting guards Chris Paul, Shai GilgeousAlexander and Dennis Schroder to a combined 35 points on 12of-35 shooting, with Paul (20 points) doing most of his damage in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach.
“That’s the staple,” Gordon said of the Rockets’ strong defense throughout. “We’re a good enough team that whenever we’re shorthanded, we still have to find ways to win games, and our defense really helped us tonight. (On offense) we really attacked and knocked down shots. We had a good rhythm tonight.”
Gordon, who played on some marginal to poor Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans squads prior to his arrival in Houston four years ago, is counting on consistent good rhythms this time around in the playoffs after having been a key part of the three previous Rockets teams that lost in the conference semifinals twice and the conference finals once.
The Rockets and young Thunder are the fourth and fifth seeds, respectively, in the Western Conference playoffs, and each entered the postseason with a 44-28 record. The margin between the two looked much larger, however, after Game 1.
“We’ve been together at least four years now, and we know what it takes,” Gordon said. “We’re an older, veteran team, and we know this is a game full of runs. And as long as we make the (most) runs, we know things are going to go our way. … We’re going to make strides to play even better next game.”