Eric Gordon: Impossibly Poor Shooting

The New Orleans Pelicans have played four games, building a record of 2-2 with equal parts intrigue and disappointment. Thus, any statement about the direction of the team falls somewhere between overreacting and blind faith.

Unfortunately for Pelicans shooting guard Eric Gordon, facts are facts: he’s off to an impossibly poor start as a shooter.

Through four games, Gordon is averaging 5.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 32.8 minutes. He’s shooting 20.6 percent from the field and 9.1 percent from beyond the arc on an average of 8.5 field goal attempts per game.

That’s right: Gordon is shooting an average of 1.8-of-8.5 per game.

To be fair, Gordon is coming off of arthroscopic surgery on his knee.

As difficult as a recovery process can be, Gordon has been out-of-this-world poor with two games in which he’s shot 0-for-6. The rest of the NBA has four such outings.

Worst of all, his poor shooting is complemented by three total assists in four games. Not only does he continue to miss, but he’s not moving the ball as well as we’re accustomed to seeing.

Nevertheless, head coach Monty Williams maintains faith.

Gordon is absolutely capable. The question is, will he do it?

In 64 appearances during the 2013-14 season, Gordon scored at least 25 points in seven games. He was red-hot from the floor in six of those contests, shooting 52.9 percent or better from the floor.

He scored at least 20 points in 16 of his 64 appearances—exactly 1/4 of the season.

That’s relatively acceptable for a modern shooting guard, but Gordon made approximately $14.3 million in 2013-14. He’ll make just under $15 million in 2014-15, which is an important number to know.

Gordon is tied with Omer Asik as the highest-paid players on the roster.

Asik is reliable for double-digit rebounding and elite defensive play around the basket and against the pick-and-roll. Thus far, Gordon can’t even get a basket to go down.

According to John Reid of The Times Picayune, it’s not about Gordon’s health; it’s his new role within the offense.

"”Yes, the only way you can score a lot of points is shoot the ball,” Gordon said Sunday. ”Like I said, it’s a different role and I’ve got to find a way to try and get shots.”Overall, I don’t get a chance to do some of the things that I do best as far as coming off a lot of pick and rolls, catching and shooting. It’s just different for me. But at the same time, I just can’t have a game like yesterday.”"

It’s no secret that Gordon has been unhappy in New Orleans. This can’t help the problem.

Gordon and head coach Monty Williams have experienced heated clashes on the sidelines. The Pelicans have re-signed Gordon against his will after the Phoenix Suns and their world-class medical staff handed him, a restricted free agent at the time, a max contract.

Through four games, it’s all come to a head.

As the Pelicans look to make a push for the postseason, Gordon’s production will be vital. If he can’t turn it around—he’s not going to shoot 0-for-6 very often, but he’s been inefficient with the Pelicans—New Orleans’ dreams will be dashed.

An impossibly poor shooting start is not very encouraging.