The biggest potential benefit to the Houston Rockets from the NBA’s multi-month hiatus (due to COVID-19) before the 2020 playoffs is likely the opportunity to let reserve guard Eric Gordon get healthy.
The 31-year-old’s production has fallen off from his first three seasons, largely owing to a nagging right knee injury that prompted him to get surgery in November. Even though he returned in late December, Gordon acknowledged recently that he still wasn’t at peak fitness.
In a Facebook Q&A on Thursday, Houston GM Daryl Morey put it bluntly: If Gordon isn’t healthy, the Rockets probably can’t win the 2020 championship. Morey’s comments:
We can’t really win the title without Eric being himself. It hasn’t happened this year, except for a couple times when he’s been healthy.
He’s apparently doing great, according to our training staff and coaches. Eric knows you make your money in the playoffs. He’s been a huge playoff performer for us. In our 2018 run, amazing. Last year against Utah, he was the key against Donovan Mitchell. I think that’s going to be important.
https://www.facebook.com/houstonrockets/videos/2736276753258833
Gordon has missed 30 of Houston’s 64 games this season due to injury. When he plays, Gordon is the third-leading scorer on the Rockets (40-24), averaging 14.5 points in 28.6 minutes per game.
While limited by injury, Gordon’s shooting percentages have dipped from 40.9% overall and 36.0% on 3-pointers in the 2018-19 campaign to 37.0% and 31.9%, respectively, this season.
“People have to understand, when you have a surgery during the season and you’re trying to come back as fast as you can, you’re not really 100%,” Gordon said recently. “You may feel good enough to be able to play, but you still have to overcome obstacles because you’re putting a lot of force and pressure on your knee.”
The 6-foot-3 guard added that the league’s extended hiatus due to COVID-19 has finally given his knee the time off that it needed.
“Now, it’s really nothing but positive, because I’m allowed to rest and recover in the way that I really want to,” Gordon said.
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