Orlando Magic need Aaron Gordon to shake off preseason shooting woes

The Offensive Barometer

Aaron Gordon was often the barometer for the Orlando Magic’s offense last year.

When he is involved and scoring, the offense was largely working the way it needed. When he had big scoring outbursts, especially from 3, it was really working.

The team used him as a slasher for the most part. They would work to get him shots off pin downs or on cuts to the basket. The idea was to find him space where his athleticism can get used to its biggest advantage.

Getting Gordon going is important. Gordon succeeds when the team’s ball movement and transition game is working.

Last year, 59.1 percent of Gordon’s field goals were assisted. He scored 1.38 points per possession on cuts on 6.8 percent of his possessions.

If anyone wanted to complain about Gordon’s offense it usually came when he slowed the ball down and tried too hard to break things down off the dribble. Gordon needs to be an instinctive player, attacking quickly off the dribble.

He patented a sort of slow-mo Euro step to get around defenders and finish at the rim in transition. He was smart with his attacks and kept the ball moving.

Orlando desperately needs players who can put pressure on the defense off the dribble or in the post. The team is searching for offensive weapons. And Gordon is a big one the team hopes to employ.

So his shooting struggles — especially in those games without Vucevic — suggest how difficult the Magic’s offense will be working operate.