Aaron Gordon’s goal is to turn his versatility into a weapon on both ends

Losing his versatility advantage

Aaron Gordon’s greatest asset is his positional versatility. That is how the Orlando Magic unleashed him on opponents last year. He could switch onto any player and defend them well. This was always his greatest value.

That same versatility has taken some time to develop offensively.

He entered the league a poor shooter and has done work to become a better perimeter player. That is where he primarily touches the ball now. The forward position — both the small and power forward — requires players to work the perimeter effectively. Gordon has taken strides there.

But what makes Gordon special is that he has the size to take players to the post. If he sets a screen on a guard and defenses switch it, he should be able to duck into the post and find an advantage.

That is the advantage that he has failed to realize when it comes to his post game. His movements and footwork are rudimentary. His approach, it seems, has been to use his size alone to create space to shoot. And that has not delivere dthe desired effects.

You can see in this play against the Houston Rockets that Gordon simply tries to bully his way to the basket. There is no step-through or pivot to create space or get the defender — the very good P.J. Tucker — off balance. This is a straight, shoulder down bowl to the basket.

It looks clunky and overly physical. Gordon is good enough to be able to will the ball into the basket. But this is hardly a proposition that will work often. Especially against strong defenders.

It is also how Gordon ends up getting called for charges. He can be a bit wild on his drives in transition, but his overwillingness to use his physicality instead of his athleticism and footwork can get him into trouble.

This strategy was how a lot of his post-ups went. So even against smaller players that left him a bit exposed. He had that one move and defenses could bring a help defender and crowd him.

That is not going to work long term. Especially since he has the quickness to work around smaller defenders with his strength.

Defenses can sit on his moves because they know what is coming. And even smaller defenders can make his shots difficult.

Even with this make, it is easy to see how easy it is to defend him in the post.

He is going to try to back his man down all the way to the basket. And if he cannot do that, he will do his best to turn toward his left shoulder where he will fire up whatever wild shot he can at the basket.

Adding a fadeaway jumper or a counter move when defenses sit on his left shoulder or do not give up ground when he tries to get to the basket would be a huge boost to his game.

And if he tries this against a player who is a similar size to him? It is not going to work at all.

They simply just hold their ground and force Gordon into a difficult shot over the top of them. Even if Gordon establishes good position.

The issue in all three of these players is not Gordon’s positioning. He does a good job establishing deep post position in all three. That is a testament to his strength.

But when he gets the ball, he is rushing and does not look like he has a real plan to get the defense off balance. There are no counters other than to go into this pre-determined move.

Improved footwork would help him stay calm in these situations and give him the option to leverage better position, use his strength or pick up steam and attack the basket more off the dribble. He has to be able to keep the defense off balance.