Guest Eric Gordon, 16-year NBA vet, discusses choosing the Phoenix Suns, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker's unique relationship, playing with prime James Harden, Rockets' matchups against the Warriors, what-ifs of his career, and more.
James Harden's motor, footwork, and ability to make plays were crucial for the Houston Rockets' offensive system.
The Houston Rockets' defensive strategy against the Golden State Warriors focused on turning them into a one-on-one team and making it tough for them by playing to their individual strengths.
The Houston Rockets' strong team chemistry and camaraderie made the experience fun and memorable, with players enjoying each other's company both on and off the court.
Deep dives
Playing with James and Chris
Eric Gordon discusses playing with James Harden and Chris Paul during his time with the Houston Rockets. He highlights the challenges of guarding Harden and praises his motor, footwork, and ability to make plays. Gordon mentions how their offensive system relied on letting Harden do his thing while other players created space and worked off him.
Guarding the Warriors
Gordon talks about the defensive mindset the Houston Rockets had when facing the Golden State Warriors. Their strategy was to turn the Warriors into a one-on-one team, allowing Kevin Durant to score while being physical with the rest of the players. He acknowledges the difficulty of guarding the Warriors but emphasizes the importance of making it tough for them by playing to their individual strengths.
The Challenges of the Playoffs
Reflecting on the playoff runs with the Houston Rockets, Gordon remembers the heartbreaking losses and the fine margins that can determine the outcome of a series. He mentions the missed opportunities, such as blowing a 3-1 lead in a series or missing 27 consecutive three-pointers in a game. Gordon acknowledges the difficulty of winning a championship and the impact that one or two plays can have on determining success.
Playing with Mike D'Antoni
Gordon discusses his experience playing under coach Mike D'Antoni, highlighting the offensive simplicity and freedom he brought to the team. He appreciates D'Antoni's demeanor and how he allowed players to play freely while still guiding them to make the right decisions. Gordon also comments on the spacing aspect of D'Antoni's system, which required him to space out further and create opportunities for his teammates.
The Importance of Team Chemistry
Gordon reflects on the strong team chemistry the Houston Rockets had during his time there. He describes a close-knit group that enjoyed each other's company on and off the court, going out to dinner together and having a strong bond. The chemistry and camaraderie among the players made the experience fun and memorable, and he believes that if they had won the championship in 2017, the team would have stayed together longer.
We’re excited to welcome 16-year NBA vet Eric Gordon to the pod this week! EG got into so much, including why he chose the Phoenix Suns, what makes Kevin Durant and Devin Booker’s relationship different from other superstars, his time playing with prime James Harden and those matchups against the Warriors on the Rockets (including the Game 7 with 27 consective missed threes), the what-ifs of his career, and much more.
