How the Orlando Magic answered our questions throughout the year
Is Aaron Gordon’s turn permanent or a flash in the pan?
One of the bigger frustrations this season has been Aaron Gordon’s development.
The narrative for him at the beginning of the year was that he was ready to take the leap to stardom. He represented the team’s future and after a strong playoff performance and his best all-around season, he was ready to take the leap.
To say his 2020 season has been uneven is an understatement. He has had flashes of his offensive ability, but mostly he has just been a solid defender. And that is about it.
Nobody should give up on Gordon, especially with how he has played lately, but this season has not gone to plan.
Gordon is averaging 14.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He shot 43.3 percent from the floor and 30.0 percent from beyond the arc. His rebounding and assist numbers are in line with last year. His defensive metrics are even in line with last year.
His offense just never took a leap. He has regressed with his scoring and his 3-point shooting has been poor. He gave in to the temptation of dribbling too much and trying to force his offense rather than letting it come to him.
That is what made his run through the final quarter of the season so far so breathtaking.
After Game 41 — his brilliant performance in the win over the Los Angeles Lakers — he averaged 15.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game. He shot 47.7 percent despite shooting an icy 25.8 percent from beyond the arc.
He increased his activity on the glass, his playmaking and his scoring while maintaining efficiency and taking fewer 3-pointers (3.4 per game after the midpoint of the season compared to 3.6 per game for the season).
That is what the number say. The eye test says Gordon is playing much more decisively and fluidly. He is cutting and moving quicker through the lane and playing faster. He is not waiting for the defense to set up to isolate and get into his shot, he is just reacting.
This is the Gordon everyone wanted to see. As he continues to work on his 3-point shot, he can get over the hill. But this complete effort from Gordon was always the potential.
Zach Lowe of ESPN.com commented at one point that watching Gordon is like watching him toy with his demons. The angel on his shoulder wants him to be Draymond Green, a playmaking defensive wizard. The devil on his other shoulder wants him to be an isolation go-to scorer. He is probably somewhere in the middle, but closer to the Green side.
The last few games have seen Gordon play at his absolute best. If he realizes this is how he needs to play, the Magic really have something.
But so much of Gordon’s career has been impermanence — whether it is injuries that slowed him down at the start of the year or the lack of stability. Gordon has to be healthy and in the right mindset to keep unlocking this part of his game.