To say that Eric Gordon was struggling to start the season would be an understatement. Then, just as he was starting to play decent, he suffered a painful injury that threatened to keep him out for the rest of the year if he opted for surgery. Courageously, however, Gordon decided to rehab his shoulder and attempt to play through it. Even the mediocre version of Gordon would have been an upgrade over Austin Rivers, who had an especially bad stretch once Gordon went out. But then something surprising happened as Gordon returned in January. Not only has Gordon been passable upon his return, but he has been good. Really good.
Gordon is putting up 15.3 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.3 rebounds in just under 35 minutes per game. He is shooting 46.3% from the field and 40.4% from three. He is creating offense for himself and others. Nearly 80% of his 2-point field goal makes have been unassisted and his mid-range shot has been money (67% since return). And when he is being set up, he is knocking down his shots too, as evidenced by his 51.5% shooting from three in catch-and-shoot situations since his return, which is far better than the 34% he was shooting prior to getting injured. He is shooting 47.4% on wide open threes since returning, again way up from the 30% he was shooting prior to injury.
Perhaps the most important change in Gordon has been his ability to maintain his high level of play throughout the entire game. Over the course of the last few years, we have seen several games where Gordon looked great in the first half but disappeared in the 2nd half. In this stretch, however, he is actually shooting a higher FG% in the second half of games. In fact, in 3rd quarters, he is averaging 10 minutes and is shooting 54.8% from the field.
And in the 4th quarter, Gordon has become more of a facilitator, averaging around 2 assists in that quarter despite playing just 8 minutes. He also has his lowest turnover rate in that quarter. Since Gordon’s return, he has a 13:1 assist to turnover ratio in the 4th quarter, which is nothing short of remarkable. The key to his productivity seems to be the fact that he is playing on the ball more, as opposed to him just sitting in the corner and being a decoy like he was early in the season. He is setting the tone early by knocking down his jumper, then getting to the hole in the 3rd and setting up his teammates in the 4th while taking care of the ball.
Effectively, since return, Eric Gordon has been a slightly better version of what Aaron Afflalo or Bradley Beal has been this season. He has been more of a playmaker, as evidenced by the fact that he has 3 or more assists in every game since his return. In the 12 games prior to his injury, he failed to reach that threshold 8 times. And quite frankly, the Pelicans playoff hopes would have already been buried if Gordon didn’t come back and play this well. They weren’t getting anything from Rivers or Fredette in his absence, and the Toronto and Minnesota games would have likely been losses without him, and perhaps the Memphis game too.
With Jrue Holiday likely out until the All-Star break, Eric Gordon’s recent play gives the team hope that they can remain in that playoff picture as they anxiously await his return. He has given the Pelicans another creator to help out Tyreke Evans and his defense is also better than anything the other guards on the bench could give them. And not only does his recent play give the Pelicans hope for the upcoming stretch, but it is easy to envision a consistent and impressive offense once Holiday comes back if Monty staggers his three high usage guards properly.
Gordon finally has his confidence back and he has a clear role as well. By all accounts, Tyreke will move to the bench once Holiday returns, and Gordon’s role as a secondary creator will continue for the rest of the season. If that is in fact the case, and if Ryan Anderson could break out of his road slump, then the Pelicans can be an incredibly dangerous team over the second half of the season that has a chance to make some noise in the loaded Western Conference.
10 responses to “What Has Gotten Into Eric Gordon?”
This is an excellent article, chock full of stats that aptly demonstrate Eric Gordon’s significant contribution since his return from injury. It’s important — especially with a player with Gordon’s history — that you have given credit where it’s due: Gordon is back on the court now instead of rehabbing from season-ending surgery. What I think is also important to note is that Gordon’s role has changed in light of Jrue Holiday’s absence. Eric is being asked to do more, and he has responded. The Pelicans coaching staff is to be commended for understanding Gordon’s strengths and putting him in the right role and position to help replace some of Holiday’s lost contribution. I remain concerned that Holiday’s injury is more serious than we fans have been told; I now have come to doubt he ever played a single game this season where you would say was fully recovered from last season’s injury. Sam Bowie’s name is starting to creep up in the back of my mind when I think about Holiday’s situation. I pray that’s just a fleeting thought that never really materializes. Let’s hope Jrue gets back to 100% soon and resumes his important role on this team. We miss you, Jrue, and we’re looking forward to your quick and complete recovery.
Agree with all but Jrue part.
Nice! I was waiting for an article about Eric Gordon’s better play. I’ve noticed that his 3 point shot is a lot better, I’ve wondered what his percentage since returning was because I’ve been impressed. I think it’s funny that everyone would say we just need him to play better so that someone can be interested and we could trade him. But since he’s been playing better no one is mentioning that yet, we’re just enjoying some refreshing and surprising good play. Keep it up!
Sam Bowie?! Relax man! Lol
Yes, and if you concentrate on Eric’s last four games, the ones Jrue sat out, his per game stats look even better: 1.3 scoring efficiency, 17 points, 6 assists, and 3 rebounds. Except for rebounds/game, Eric’s stats are all much better than Alfalo’s or Beal’s. No one knows what Eric’s level of performance will be in the future, but it sure has been great for the team and a credit to Eric Gordon. Maybe the Eric you all saw at the watch party was the real Eric, and he is a lot more together than any of us realized.
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Any chance if Gordon keeps this up for another two weeks we can swap him before the deadline for anything remotely redeeming? I know he has another option year on that albatross contract.
isthisyourhomeworklawrence I think you answered your own question with the last statement you made there
Great job on giving credit where credit is due…and if he does not hit that 3 from the corner late in the 4th to tie, I think we lose as the lull we all were feeling up to that point in the game after Dallas took the lead was being exhibited by the Pels, as well. Huge clutch shot…
If Gordon continues to play at or near this level and the Pelican’s make the playoffs this year, then one would have to credit him as a contributor toward that end. To make the playoffs this year would be a sound achievement for this team, one for which even his contract would not be too high a price to pay. Yes, he would need to play at an even higher level to truly match his contract, but at least he is currently an important part of a good number of recent wins, and even a “too high” contract is worth it if he continues to help put the team in a position for future success. Being a playoff team this year could go a long ways toward establishing a winning culture for a team that has probably the best rising star in the league. Nothing would be worse than having a player of Davis’ quality on a losing team that never sees the post season. Holiday and Evans are certainly players capable of serving that role of helping to get there, but both have had some history of being unavailable. Gordon may be proving his worth now as an insurance player to step in when that is the case, at the very least. Sure, you would want to see the contract match the play to date better, but at the rate he is playing and the success it is helping to bring, it takes a lot of the sting out of that contract.