DraftExpress has compiled a series of retrospectives on this year’s tremendous rookie class. Rick Ditto takes a long-form look at Eric Gordon’s rookie season. Ditto references DE’s past scouting reports on Eric dating back to high school, and offers praise, along with a few critiques:
…it’s pretty clear that Gordon is an incredibly gifted perimeter shooter, and it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see his percentages rise since he only turned 20 in December.
When he gets all the way to the rim, Gordon has been extremely effective. However, his mid-range pull-up jump shot has been absolutely dismal this season, as he’s shooting just 25.4% and averaging 0.68 PPP on jumpers inside 17 feet. One major factor has been poor shot selection, particularly on baseline drives. If Gordon gets a defender to jump on a shot fake and drives baseline, he prefers shooting running floaters off one foot over taller post players rotating from the weak side. He would serve his team better if he pulled up for a fundamentally sound 15-foot jumper instead of forcing up a lower-percentage floater. He shouldn’t eliminate runners from his game entirely, since they can be effective when slashing down the lane since the backboard comes into play, but from the baseline the odds just aren’t in his favor…
Many defenders, concerned with Gordon’s quick release and deep range, tend to crowd him out past the three-point line, daring him put the ball on the floor. While this defensive approach limits his three-pointer attempts, it gives Gordon the opportunity to use his lethal first step and lateral quickness to blow by his man and attack the rim. This is where Gordon uses his strength and low center of gravity to finish through contact. His body control and finishing ability are also evidenced by his 30 “and-one” finishes this season (T-52nd, NBA). If Gordon can continue to finish this well inside the paint, defenders will have to give him an additional step, which will lead to more open three-point looks…
…Gordon, drafted primarily for his offensive talents, has not lived up to his potential as an NBA defender. He still possesses the strength and quickness to become a reliable defensive presence, but playing for the struggling Clippers hasn’t allowed him to develop these raw traits into a polished product. Watching Gordon on film, he remains in an upright stance throughout most possessions, relying on his quick hands and explosiveness to create turnovers. His defensive statistics are respectable (1.0 STL/G, 0.5 BLK/G), but he must improve his fundamentals and focus or he could become something of a liability.
In terms of help side defense, Gordon struggles to play within the team-concept. This might be partially due to the fact that the Clippers rank 26th in defensive efficiency rating, giving up 108.8 points per 100 possessions. Yet, Gordon needs to approach the game with a more cerebral mindset, and learn how to make his defensive rotations more efficient, particularly in pick-and-roll situations.
Another inadequacy in Gordon’s game is his defensive rebounding abilities—he ranks as the 4th worst shooting guard in the NBA in that category. By making a more concerted effort to box out someone – even if it’s not his man – Gordon will help the Clippers limit second chance points, while giving himself a statistical boost over his very pedestrian 3.0 rebounds per-40 pace adjusted…
Eric Gordon‘s scoring prowess and terrific athleticism are unquestionable, and toward the end of his rookie season, Gordon began to establish himself as a floor leader for his club. His Clippers teammates began feeding him on crucial possessions and trusting him in isolation situations late in games. If he continues to develop his guard skills and defensive awareness and intensity, Gordon could become the backbone of an up-and-coming Clippers team after his rookie contract expires.
