Hoops Habit
Fansided

Houston Rockets: 3 takeaways from March

By Gavriel Wilkins

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 19: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks on March 19, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 19: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks on March 19, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Photo by Brian Babineau/Getty Images
Photo by Brian Babineau/Getty Images /

2. Eric Gordon has found his stride

Prior to being inserted into the Rockets’ starting lineup in the middle of December, Eric Gordon was on the verge of producing one of the worst shooting seasons of his career.

Now, the former Indiana Hoosiers standout appears to have turned the tide, as the 2017 Sixth Man of the Year has shown signs of molding into Houston’s ancillary scorer come playoff time.

Gordon — who shot 36.4 percent from the field through the first two months of the year — has recently gone on an extended heat check over the last several weeks, averaging 16.8 points per game while shooting 45.3 percent from beyond the arc in 14 March appearances.

"“He’s so offensively gifted and talented,” Rockets guard James Harden told Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston when describing Gordon’s game earlier this season. “Being able to shoot the basketball, being able to get to the rim, being able to make plays for others.” “When you get a guy like that on the floor with you, it makes the game easy for not only myself but for everybody.”"

Although Splash Gordon’s production over the third calendar month of the year should come as no surprise to Rockets fans by now, the 30-year-old has proven to be one of the most critical components to Houston’s offensive attack lately.

Since making his return from a right knee injury in the middle of January, Gordon has shot 43.2 percent from the field en route to knocking down 3.5 triples per contest over the last 31 games. In addition to forcing opposing defenders to ponder whether they should leave him to help out against either Harden or Chris Paul, Gordon’s ability to score via driving or from the outside has helped open up several opportunities for 3-point marksmen and his fellow teammates.

"“I’m getting more shots and touches now,” Gordon told Feigen in regards to his hot stretch last month. “We’re playing a lot faster, so we do a lot of things better than we did early in the season.” “I get the ball a little bit more and they’re looking for me, and it’s all about me knocking down [shots].”"

Should Gordon continue to knock down shots at his current clip, then it could spell trouble for teams in the playoffs and help Houston’s chances of dethroning the Golden State Warriors for Western Conference supremacy once and for all.

Home/Houston Rockets