Eric Gordon to Point Guard?

[Nola3]

Every thread I have seen for the past 3 months seems to have accepted two things as facts:
1) We need to upgrade the point guard position.
2) Eric Gordon is a SG so that position is not one that we should look too hard to upgrade in the draft or free agency.

Well what if we moved EG over to the 1? He has the ball handling skills, the passing ability, and is as good as anyone in the league in the pick and roll. While he would obviously be a scoring point, that doesn't mean he can't distribute. And don't we need more scoring anyway? This move would open up an enormous amount of options. We would be able to draft any of McLemore, Oladipo, or Shabazz without having to worry about clogging the starting rotation. Rivers would have time to develop on the bench and play both the 1 and 2. Having Vasquez on the bench, where most of us feel he belongs, would be perfect, as he is a more than capable backup and would be able to start in case of any Gordon injury. I'm sure there are problems with this move but I feel like it should at least be explored as an option as we move forward with the rebuild.

[AD23nEG10]

he's better off with the ball in his hand on offense, but he'd just be an on-ball 2 and we'd have an off-ball 1. so even though he'll run the offense like a 1 he's still technically a 2. similar to Harden with Lin

[Nola3]

he's better off with the ball in his hand on offense, but he'd just be an on-ball 2 and we'd have an off-ball 1. so even though he'll run the offense like a 1 he's still technically a 2. similar to Harden with Lin

Yea, I get this. But I haven't seen it happen this year with GV taking over a lot of the ball handling duties. I don't buy too much into positions but I guess what I mean with him running the point is just that he would initiate the offense a lot more than he has been.

[AD23nEG10]

Yea, I get this. But I haven't seen it happen this year with GV taking over a lot of the ball handling duties. I don't buy too much into positions but I guess what I mean with him running the point is just that he would initiate the offense a lot more than he has been.

yeah makes it even stranger is GV is a good couple inches taller than Gordon. Gordon looked explosive and decently polished for the first time all season last game against the Nets IMO so hopefully in the last 18 or so games we'll see some more offense ran through him as he continues to feel comfortable out there

[smcgull]

I wish there was a way they could start Gordon and River, so it does not matter which on is point guard.

[Inner_GI]

I wish there was a way they could start Gordon and River, so it does not matter which on is point guard.

Eventually!

[greewe]

Monty just addressed this in the Grantland article. Sounds like he's open to it, but Aminu and Vasquez's shooting makes spacing bad.

Williams also acknowledged it’s been hard to find the proper balance between ball-handling duties for Eric Gordon and Greivis Vasquez. During his peak in the middle of the 2010-11 season, Gordon became something very much like a lead ball handler, partnering with Griffin to form a powerful side pick-and-roll combination. A healthy Gordon is obviously a very good shooter, but he’s only 6-3, and coming off screens for catch-and-shoot chances, in Ray Allen- or Rip Hamilton-style, was never a huge part of his game. He looked like a guy who would probably be best with the ball.

Vasquez is really only good with the ball. He has turned himself into a league-average 3-point shooter, but defenses aren’t going to respect him away from the ball. This presents a problem for Williams, especially since his other wing players — his small forwards — are non-threatening from the perimeter. “We try to mix in Eric getting the ball and giving him a lot of freedom,” Williams says. “But because we don’t have great shooting on the wings when Eric has the ball, the other team will just trap him, and that takes him right out of the pick-and-roll. He really spaces the floor for us, and that allows Greivis to penetrate with the ball. If we do things the other way around, we might not be as efficient.”

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-tr...-of-marc-gasol

[HornetGuru]

Ive been wanting this, gordon is a little short to play the SG position, he would be perfect for the new NBA's combo scoring PG, he is quick, can shoot, can drive, can pass and defend, plus him and davis on the pick and roll would be great, we could move rivers to our 6th man to get split backup minutes at the 1 and 2 and draft either mclemore or bazz if they are there, maybe even oladipo, then figure out a trade for either a SF or C and address the other position in FA or in the 2nd round
could u imagine gordon at the 1 with either mclemore or bazz at the 2 and sign brewer an budinger for the 3? nasty

[FlyGirl]

I wish there was a way they could start Gordon and River, so it does not matter which on is point guard.

The article says they're not enamored of Gordon so maybe he won't even be around.

[HornetGuru]

Monty just addressed this in the Grantland article. Sounds like he's open to it, but Aminu and Vasquez's shooting makes spacing bad.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-tr...-of-marc-gasol

Ya thats why i dont see either of them here next year, GV will be traded and we will improve our wing positions, center isnt a giant need since lopez is ok and most teams run small ball now, davis could play center a lot of the game w ryno at the 4

[HornetGuru]

gordon and mclemore would be such a devastating back court

[HornetGuru]

The article says they're not enamored of Gordon so maybe he won't even be around.

Thats what im confused about, monty stated a week ago he has confidence in gordon and believes next year will be his WOW year and people will be like "this is what we were expecting" and he would blow everyone away, maybe they meant his production so far? IDK weird, now he is saying he isnt enamored w him, sounds like trouble...

[FlyGirl]

Thats what im confused about, monty stated a week ago he has confidence in gordon and believes next year will be his WOW year and people will be like "this is what we were expecting" and he would blow everyone away, maybe they meant his production so far? IDK weird, now he is saying he isnt enamored w him, sounds like trouble...

I guess we should keep in mind though that Monty wasn't actually "quoted" as saying what his feelings on Gordon were.

I think a lot of people like to make assumptions as to how they think the FO feels about Gordon.

[carpo_07]

How many times is this question going to be asked on here???

[JJackisangry]

I guess we should keep in mind though that Monty wasn't actually "quoted" as saying what his feelings on Gordon were.

Yeah it kind of seems like they are putting words in their mouths which is what i expected after all that trade deadline nonsense. Having said that i would not be surprised with a move if the right one came along. Media tends to come across in a factual way when in reality its speculation. Maybe day tryna sell paypas idk.

[AD23nEG10]

I guess we should keep in mind though that Monty wasn't actually "quoted" as saying what his feelings on Gordon were.

I think a lot of people like to make assumptions as to how they think the FO feels about Gordon.

exactly, i don't think in a short conversation with Bill Simmons that Monty is gonna say he isn't enamored with Gordon. He's not that dumb

[FlyGirl]

exactly, i don't think in a short conversation with Bill Simmons that Monty is gonna say he isn't enamored with Gordon. He's not that dumb

I think it was Zach Lowe but either way, unless Monty said "Leave this out of print and don't quote me on this but we're not enamored with Gordon", I don't think he'd say anything like that to any media member.

[ramsters60]

I will go on record and admit that Gordon has a long way to go before he makes a real believer out of me....I am not sure I want to give him an entire season to do it either....

[HornetGuru]

I will go on record and admit that Gordon has a long way to go before he makes a real believer out of me....I am not sure I want to give him an entire season to do it either....

u wont have to, if he isnt performing to what we think he should be by the trade deadline next year he will be gone.

[BallSoHard]

Some have been raving about his ball handling and passing for a 2. Color me unimpressed. It's fine for a 2 and below average for a 1 IMO. Maybe it's still some of the rust he has on him?

[Nola3]

Some have been raving about his ball handling and passing for a 2. Color me unimpressed. It's fine for a 2 and below average for a 1 IMO. Maybe it's still some of the rust he has on him?

I watched him a lot at Indiana and at least 10 games when he was with the Clippers. He had amazing ball handling skills and saw the floor very well and was able to make almost any pass. He has always preferred to shoot but passing was never an issue. Now, what I've seen this year has not been up to par from what I had seen before. Whether that is rust still coming off or its gone for good because of the injuries I don't know. But I do know that he definitely has the talent to be an above average ball handler and passer.

[HornetGuru]

Some have been raving about his ball handling and passing for a 2. Color me unimpressed. It's fine for a 2 and below average for a 1 IMO. Maybe it's still some of the rust he has on him?

Na he is a phenominal ball handler and passer, better than GV in both catergories and 10x the defender. He is still working his way back, it wont be overnight.

[Inner_GI]

Na he is a phenominal ball handler and passer, better than GV in both catergories and 10x the defender. He is still working his way back, it wont be overnight.

Gordon has never been phenominal in a Hornets jersey. I think you are off base in thinking he will ever get back to Gordon 3 years ago.

[nolaslim213]

I watched him a lot at Indiana and at least 10 games when he was with the Clippers. He had amazing ball handling skills and saw the floor very well and was able to make almost any pass. He has always preferred to shoot but passing was never an issue. Now, what I've seen this year has not been up to par from what I had seen before. Whether that is rust still coming off or its gone for good because of the injuries I don't know. But I do know that he definitely has the talent to be an above average ball handler and passer.

Na he is a phenominal ball handler and passer, better than GV in both catergories and 10x the defender. He is still working his way back, it wont be overnight.

Agreed with both.

[BallSoHard]

I watched him a lot at Indiana and at least 10 games when he was with the Clippers. He had amazing ball handling skills and saw the floor very well and was able to make almost any pass. He has always preferred to shoot but passing was never an issue. Now, what I've seen this year has not been up to par from what I had seen before. Whether that is rust still coming off or its gone for good because of the injuries I don't know. But I do know that he definitely has the talent to be an above average ball handler and passer.

I feel like this is a completely fair assessment. It comes down to, are we living on his reputation and hope he can get back to where he was or who he is today. I personally believe it's somewhere in the middle. Maybe him losing a little explosiveness makes him a better fit for the 1 instead of the 2 now. I don't think there's a right or wrong answer the board can answer.

Na he was a phenominal ball handler and passer, better than GV in both catergories and 10x the defender. He is still working his way back, it wont be overnight.

FIFY. Also what's your quantitate method to say he's 10xs better? Or just saying that as hyperbole?
I've watched Gordon quite a few times this year and i can tell you currently, he is NOT a phenomenal ball handler or passer, esp if you compare him to a 1. Can he do it? In Flashes, but that's all i've seen from him. I hope he gets back to that, trust me, but we will see.