Has Aaron Gordon turned the corner? In year 4, Orlandos talented, hybrid forward is breaking out on both ends of the floor.
On a squad desperately seeking* a #1 option, Gordon's aggression is at an all-time high - most importantly, he's confident enough to take & make the right shots & help close out meaningful 4th quarters.
Last year, Gordon thrived playing PF full-time. This year is no different, as his strength & athleticism is above par in comparison to his counterparts - with the league going smaller & smaller, Gordon was literally a three ball away from stretch 4 status at the very least. Combine his physical attributes w/ a better jumper, a nice handle, aggression (& confidence) and creativity off the bounce...you've got a varied scorer.
Aaron Gordon
Top DOG of the Night: 41 pts (5/5 from deep), 14 rebs, W
Last night, Gordon's triple was on full display, he finished perfect on the night (5/5), didn't hesitate to fire when left alone.
• 41 pts (5/5 from deep) & 14 rebs
Count the many ways Gordon scored. A few:
• elbow & straightaway triples
• post up into driving dunk
• one dribble pull-up going right
• putback dunk
Frank Vogel can plug A. Gordon almost anywhere defensively. On offense, the 4 spot is where he makes his biggest mark - Gordon's ability to beat his man cannot be understated. And if the three is falling like last night, ORL's offense will continue to thrive.
*it's not a glaring weakness as ORL has a solid, "by committee" framework...but someone in their core must develop into a Top DOG