Despite adversity, don’t give up on LSU football just yet
January 16, 2013
Five more Tigers declare for NFL Draft
January 16, 2013
After a two-month hiatus with a bum knee, Hornets’ star guard Eric Gordon is back in the lineup.
It hasn’t taken long for his impact to be felt in the standings.
The Hornets are one of the hottest teams in the NBA.
Since Gordon’s return, the New Orleans has found the winning formula, earning victories over division foes the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets.
Gordon has played limited minutes as he eases into his return, but his return has built confidence in the Hornets, who hope to continue playing well into the second half of the season.
“I would imagine that there is something building here,” Hornets coach Monty Williams said after the team’s win against San Antonio. “But at the same time, it’s early still in the season. You don’t want confidence to become arrogance because if you look at our record, we have no right to be anything else but desperate and to play the game.”
“Eric Gordon is a great dude and a great player,” Hornets’ point guard Greivis Vasquez added. “He’s really going to help us. It was a great team effort and a great win for us.”
In Gordon, the Hornets return one of the elite offensive players in basketball.
The 6-foot, 3-inch combo guard averaged more than 22 points per game during his final season with the Clippers in 2010-11.
So far this year, Gordon has not had the same explosiveness and is averaging closer to 16 points per game.
He’s also struggled from the field, shooting just 32.5 percent through his first five games.
Gordon said he feels fine physically and his knee is not a lingering issue going forward.
The shooting guard added that the struggles are a result of rust and conditioning. Gordon played just nine games last season, so it’s been close to two years since he’s been a regular player.
“The only thing I was worried about was handling the ball and the conditioning,” Gordon said following his first game in the lineup. “But I felt pretty good. I was kind of surprised. I’m just going to try to get better and better from here.”
Hornets forward Ryan Anderson said the team’s players can see that Gordon isn’t all the way back to 100 percent form.
Anderson said that the guard has gotten progressively better and will be a force when he is in tip-top shape.
“He’s a special player,” Anderson said. “There are not a lot of guys like him in the NBA. He hasn’t quite warmed up to be 100 percent comfortable yet with this group on the court. … He’s going to make the game a whole lot easier for me. He’s just a real special player and we’re excited to get him back healthy.”
Even while he plays his way into shape, Gordon’s return has also provided the Hornets with added depth and confidence.
In last Wednesday’s game against Houston, Gordon struggled and shot just 2-of-12 from the field, scoring just five points.
But the Hornets overcame a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to secure an 88-79 victory.
In his first game back in the lineup, New Orleans overcame a 17-point halftime deficit to rally past the Bobcats.
In those games, the team’s role players emerged and made key plays to help the team succeed.
Vasquez said that’s because the team’s other players see more advantageous defensive looks with Gordon on the floor.
“That’s why he’s a big-time 2-guard in this league,” Vasquez said. “He is going to draw attention and it’s going to make my job easier. Having him back is going to help because it will help us get in a rhythm both defensively and offensively. … He knows that we need him and we have him from now on.”
Tri-parish Hornets fans will have opportunities to see the team in action throughout the rest of January.
The Hornets will play a home tilt against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. They will also play the Sacramento Kings on Monday night in the New Orleans Arena.
The Rockets will be in town for a rematch Jan. 25.
Away from the home games, the Hornets will play a bee’s hive of road tilts, beginning with the Boston Celtics tonight.
The team will also travel to take on the Spurs (Jan. 23), Memphis Grizzlies (Jan. 27) and Los Angeles Lakers (Jan. 29) this month.
Williams said he believes the team is up to the task.
For the first time this season, their full assortment of weapons is in place.
That’s been a winning combination so far.
“This (week’s play), to me, builds the kind of confidence that is going to carry on into the future,” Williams said.
New Orleans Hornets guard Eric Gordon (10) fends off San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green (4) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. The Hornets defeated the Spurs 95-88. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
