Gordon's 2nd year in the league

by Mike Wr on Mar 18, 2010 2:31 PM PDT

I've read lots of comments about Eric Gordon and how he has not progressed as much as expected in his 2nd NBA year. Let's look at his offensive statistics and see how they compare to other veteran NBA shooting guards in their 2nd season of NBA play.

Player	Minutes	Scoring Avg	FGAvg	3-pt FGA	Effective FGA	FTAvg	Rebounds	Assists	Turnovers	Other
Gordon	36	17.0	45.6%	36.8%	53.1%	74.3%	2.5	2.8	2.2	Played 1 year in college

Player A	38	19.1	45.4%	34.0%	48.5%	75.3%	4.7	5.8	1.8	Played 3 years in college
Player B	26	15.4	42.8%	34.1%	46.9%	79.4%	3.1	2.5	2.0	Didn’t play in college
Player C	40	19.5	42.8%	36.4%	45.6%	87.5%	4.9	4.3	3.2	Played 3 years in college
Player D	32	18.1	43.8%	27.4%	45.4%	86.8%	3.1	2.9	2.6	Played 3 years in college

Who are these other players? Is Gordon being held to too high expectations in only his 2nd season of play? I believe so. He's considered the team's best defender. That's the primary reason why he was named to Team USA Basketball's roster of 27. His offensive production is outstanding with an effective FGA of over 53%.

To improve his offensive production, Gordon must get more shots. He averages only 12.5 shots from the field. If he increased the number of FG attempts to 15 per game, maintained his overall FG percentage and shot FTs at his career average of 81%, he would be averaging over 20 points per game.

EJ can also improve his value to the team by focusing on playmaking, reducing turnovers and rebounding.

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I know who the players are

completely unfair comparison’s if you ask me. This is the same reason why people get super excited about EJ, because they look at numbers and think oh it’s exactly like so and so. If you ask me those players are much more aggressive and WANT THE BALL in crucial moments of the game. That is what separates the players listed and EJ; mindset not skills.

I knew 3 of them right off the bat. Took me a minute to figure out player A though.

by bacek on Mar 18, 2010 3:41 PM PDT reply actions

I don't know who the players are

but to defend EJ, how demanding would Brandon Roy have been if he came into the league right after his freshman year as opposed to spending 4 years in college? The post above helps to compare apples to apples.

by Michael White on Mar 18, 2010 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions

I knew player b right away

That’s obviously the Mamba. The others one are Ray Allen, Brandon Roy and I think Rip Hamilton?

His shooting percentages will probably go down if he shoots more, he rarely forces a shot right now. I also think you over simplify it by saying he needs to take more shots, its not as if he is passing on good shots right now but he isn’t great at creating his own shot. His doesn’t have much of a mid range game, he shoots primarily 3s or he attacks the basket and gets a layup or dunk. He also has a low release point on his shot and he’s short for a SG to begin with so that only makes it easier for defenders to challenge his shots. So right now he still relies more on others to create scoring opportunities for him. He should work on a step back jumper, maybe tweak his jumper a bit to improve his release point and that should get him to a 20ppg scorer.

FA in 2010.

by ClipperChuck on Mar 18, 2010 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Good work on identifying the four players

by Mike Wr on Mar 19, 2010 8:52 AM PDT up reply actions

Different teams are built differently

I did a little more research. Ray Allen played for Milwaukee in his 2nd season. They finished out of the playoffs at 36-46. He led the team in shots, 16 per game. He became their primary go-to guy after they lost Glenn Robinson to injury.

Rip Hamilton played for Washington which won only 19 games that year. He led the team in shots with 16 per game. Juwan Howard was their next biggest offensive threat and he was traded mid-season.

Brandon Roy’s team finished 41-41 in his 2nd season, out of the playoffs. He led the team with 15.8 shots per game. The Blazers’ top 3 offensive threats that year were Roy, Aldredge, and Outlaw.

Finally, Kobe started only 1 game his 2nd year in the league and averaged 11.6 shots per game. Eddie Jones started in front of Kobe, although Kobe got his share of minutes. That Lakers’ team was swept by Utah in the conference finals.

Gordon ranks 3rd behind Kaman and BD in average shots taken per game. If he was featured more prominently in the offense and if the Clippers played a more uptempo pace, he would have better offensive numbers and fans wouldn’t be talking about how he’s regressed in his 2nd season.

by Mike Wr on Mar 19, 2010 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions

Roy Comparison

Actually Yahoo recently had a article about this, as Roy isn’t all that demanding either. It is a bit of a personality issue. For all his faults, Kobe has never shied away from taking the big shot, even when he wasn’t very good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws2yhBzJjis

FA in 2010.

by ClipperChuck on Mar 18, 2010 4:10 PM PDT up reply actions

apples to apples?

EJ has a completely different playing style from all of those guys. How is this apples to apples. Not only that he has a different body type from all of them. The only apples to apples comparison is the position each play. The player he most resembles happens to share his namesake. I hate to break it to you guys who think he will be a superstar, but Ben Gordon with defensive skills is the best we can hope for out of EJ. Now this isn’t a slight at all as I think Ben Gordon is a fantastic player, but I think EJ is best suited coming off the bench for instant offense. He can make a huge impact ala Jason Terry for Dallas or even Ben Gordon in last years playoff series against the C’s

by bacek on Mar 18, 2010 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions

The point of the excercise was to evaluate their statistics absent “knowing” who the guys were. That’s the apples part. Pontificating as to each guys demeanor is a touch outside the scope of the post. The stats are what they are.

I agree with a lot of what you are saying about EJ and acknowledge that the dude has flaws, but you are taking the tangible things (his statistics) and disregarding them by saying that he doesn’t have the intangible things (demanding the rock, whatever.)

by Michael White on Mar 18, 2010 5:06 PM PDT up reply actions

EJ is deffinately more like Pippen than Jordan

but he is not a 6th man. When i think 6th man, i think J.R. Smith, Jamal Crawford. 1 dimensional guys. EJ does everything we ask except rebound.

by big0lbad on Mar 18, 2010 5:15 PM PDT up reply actions

really?? Terry? Gordon? If this guy gets better handles and gets the ball more he is borderline superstar. If he gets those things and refined his post game this kid is a stud.period. Funny how you say ben gordon but with defensive skill, basically, a really good player. All the best players play good D. He does that already. Terry and Ben will never because A. they can’t…B. If they could they wouldn’t, not focused. I still have really high hopes. He is only 21.

by Spontane on Mar 19, 2010 3:04 AM PDT up reply actions

Ben Gordon with defensive skills? That's really good!

And he will probably get better (a better handle, better, quicker decision-maker, and the refs will also give him more calls). I’ll take it. I think it’s only our expectations that are flawed.
He’s way too important as a defensive anchor (the best wing defender on the team) to be a bench player.

by John Raffo on Mar 19, 2010 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm glad others think

Jason Terry or Ben Gordon with defensive skills is a great compliment. i think they are both great players, and contribute at a high level. Jason Terry has been the top 2 or 3 6th men in the league for a couple years now. It is no slight to EJ at all, some people just undervalue Ben Gordon and Jason Terry.

by bacek on Mar 19, 2010 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions

Ben seems so frail to me

EJ is built like a line backer

by big0lbad on Mar 19, 2010 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions

you couldn't be more wrong

I sat courtside for my bday for the game on feb.24. Ben is much bigger than EJ. Baron is bigger than EJ. The only time EJ isn’t the smallest guy on the court is when Steve Blake is on the court.

by bacek on Mar 19, 2010 5:05 PM PDT up reply actions

oh and frail?

if the Pistons didn’t suck he would be toughing it out. Same with Rip and Tayshaun. Guy played with multiple injuries down the stretch and in the playoffs last year for the Bulls.

by bacek on Mar 19, 2010 5:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Uh...

Ben Gordon is listed at 6-3, 200. EJ is 6-3 222. There’s absolutely no way in hell Ben Gordon is “much bigger” than EJ.

Are you talking about Ben WALLACE?

by madglove on Mar 19, 2010 5:11 PM PDT up reply actions

you have to

see them up close. Rodney Stuckey is more the size of EJ. Ben Gordon is 100% muscle. Much broader shoulders, bigger arms, bigger chest, he even looked slightly taller but that might just have been posture.

by bacek on Mar 20, 2010 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions

Ticky tack point but...

B-Roy played four years at UW, not three.

by ReignMan on Mar 18, 2010 5:31 PM PDT reply actions

Thanks for the correction, I appreciate it.

by Mike Wr on Mar 19, 2010 8:50 AM PDT up reply actions

I think he's doing better than a lot of his draft class!

His team mates don’t get him the ball enough.

by ENCUEROMAN on Mar 18, 2010 8:02 PM PDT reply actions

Maybe if he grabbed more rebounds

he could initiate the fast break himself and get more shots. Still don’t see how his teammates are the ones holding him back. Scorers figure out ways to get the ball and shots.

FA in 2010.

by ClipperChuck on Mar 18, 2010 9:04 PM PDT up reply actions

people say that

because they want to believe the hype that EJ is going to be a superstar, so they blame others when it looks more and more like he isn’t going to be one. He will be a good player, a very productive one in that fact, but people need to realize he just doesn’t have “it”

by bacek on Mar 19, 2010 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions

Totally agree

Assuming that by “it” you mean that superstar quality. There’s just no way he gets to that level. He won’t be a perennial All-NBA 1st team guy.

I think people point out his flaws as a bit of a backlash to others who try to paint him out to be an elite level player. I understand Clips fans wanting to latch on to any bright spot they can given this team’s putrid history, but he’s simply not as good as people expect.

I think EJ will be a solid role player for years to come. Not like a bench role player, but a solid starter who can have a big night in any given game. But he’ll never be a first or second option on an elite team.

by madglove on Mar 19, 2010 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions

and I'm completely fine with that

but I am in the realistic fan boat

by bacek on Mar 19, 2010 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions

for what its worth

A certain Gonzaga pg had his flaws. John stockton dominated at what he was good. Was athletic enough. He never had the super star it mentality but he did do what he did very well. He was confident in his abilities and alone got better. In that sense EJ isn’t too different. Both were quite off the court and deadly on it. Niether demanding the last shot but playing well within the team. EJ will get there.

by Takebb909 on Mar 19, 2010 6:12 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

FWIW that's wrong

he didn’t have to demand the ball. He always had the ball. John Stockton is one of the dirtiest, hardest competing players ever. EJ is best as a 2 right now because of his limited ball handling skills. So working off the ball he has to demand the ball like a great 2 does. He just doesn’t have that attitude. This is something a player can work on, they are either born with the “I’m the f’n man” mentality or they aren’t.

by bacek on Mar 20, 2010 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions

That’s simply my point. You don’t have to have "I’m the man mentality to be very good. Hence my Stockton example, dirty or not, ball handler or not.

by Takebb909 on Mar 20, 2010 5:23 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

no

Stockton did have the I’m the man mentality. He always had the ball in his hand in crunch time, he always took the big shots. It wasn’t Karl Malone, or Jeff Hornacek, or any other player he played with. You must be a little too young to remember that he hit the biggest game winning shot in Jazz history.

by bacek on Mar 21, 2010 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions

He's having a sophmore slump

if kaman didnt get his touches ej could get more.He’s not bad he just is’nt all about taking bad shots he’s not a star he’s a great 2nd tier guy.Let’s just hope blake is that somebody that wants to be able to take over the game. And roy came out when he was a sr or jr not a freshmen.And playing for the clips seem to do that to you ricky buckets was a selfish (the worst triple double ever)he came to play for us and would pass the ball.

by clip shot on Mar 18, 2010 8:52 PM PDT reply actions