Houston Rockets: Eric Gordon Wins 2017 3-Point Contest
The rejuvenation tour of Eric Gordon continued this weekend as the former New Orleans Pelican guard won the Three-Point Contest crown back in The Big Easy.
What a season it has been for Eric Gordon. Finally in a happy, stable situation with the Houston Rockets, Gordon has accepted a bench role and is a crucial part of the Rockets’ success. He is the frontrunner for Sixth Man of the Year, and is launching three-pointers left and right this season.
Seriously, the man is shooting 9.2 three pointers per game, which is way more than his previous career high of 6.5 attempts per game. Gordon’s prowess behind the arc landed him a spot in the 2017 JBL Three-Point Contest, and boy did he not disappoint.
Gordon came out firing, scoring 25 in his first round. His slow release prevented him from finishing every rack, yet he was still able to lead all competitors after the first round. In the (first) final round, Gordon scored 20, tying Kyrie Irving and forcing an overtime round.
Gordon initially struggled in this overtime period, but overcame any fatigue to win comfortably:
This is another great result to add-on to Gordon’s stellar season. Previously riddled with injuries and frustrated during his tenure with the Pelicans, Gordon has remained relatively healthy while providing a much-needed scoring boost for the Rockets.
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For the season, Eric Gordon is averaging 17.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 38.5 percent on three-pointers. He has attempted 478 three-pointers already, blowing away his previous career high of 337 attempts back in his rookie season.
Gordon is a key cog in the Rockets’ well-oiled offensive machine, and will be crucial to the Rockets success both in the second half of the season and the playoffs. During Gordon’s absences (of which there have been six this season), the Rockets’ second unit has struggled to score and generate good looks on offense.
Gordon has developed good chemistry with both James Harden and Patrick Beverley, allowing him to seamlessly play alongside both the bench unit and the starters. Gordon also provides enough playmaking to handle the ball on occasion, but is most effective spotting up off the ball alongside Harden.
Next: 2016-17 NBA Power Rankings: Week 17
Eric Gordon is enjoying a rejuvenation tour. His win at the 2017 Three-Point Contest was just one stop on the tour. Hopefully for him, the next stop is the Sixth Man of the Year award. What a great story this has been this season for Gordon and the Rockets.