Houston Rockets: 3 goals for Eric Gordon in 2019-20

Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images
Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images /
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Photo by Brian Babineau/Getty Images
Photo by Brian Babineau/Getty Images /

2. Make at least 250 3-pointers

Before being named to the Rockets’ starting lineup in mid-December last season, Eric Gordon was on the cusp of constructing one of the worst shooting seasons of his career across the board.

On the way to posting career-low numbers, the former Indiana star averaged just 12.8 points per game on 31.2 percent shooting from downtown through the first two months of the year.

Now, Gordon’s initial struggles appear to be nothing but a trend of the past, as the player who was regarded as one of the game’s top scorers off the bench would return to old form after seeing an uptick in minutes.

Gordon — who shot a putrid 29.3 percent from 3-point land through 15 games as a reserve — averaged 16.9 points per game on 37.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc in 53 games as a member of Houston’s starting five.

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While taking his game up another notch for the Rockets during the 2019 NBA playoffs, Gordon averaged 17.8 points per game on 44.7 percent shooting from the field throughout an 11-game stretch.

Although Gordon has developed a knack for utilizing his upper body strength and handles to generate offense around the rim, finding a way to hit 250 or more treys — en route to mixing up his attack should defenders play him tightly — could serve as the official gateway to curating a career year in H-Town.

Showing why Houston general manager Daryl Morey recently sought to sign him to a 4-year, $54.5 million extension last month, the former lottery pick who has worked to extend his range from deep will be called on to let it fly when opponents collapse on Russell Westbrook or James Harden’s drives inside.