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Film Room: Aaron Gordon's Strengths and Areas to Improve (2/4/16)

Josh Cohen
Digital News Manager

By Josh CohenFeb. 4, 2016

Strength: Tracking Missed Shots & Finishing

Aaron Gordon has quickly become a master of the putback dunk. He is superb at determining the trajectory of a missed shot and soaring high for dazzling dunks. Part of it is his heart and hustle and some of it is an innate ability to estimate where the ball will be when it comes off the rim. More than 15 percent of his shot attempts are putbacks (connect rate of 71.4 percent) and he ranks in the top 25 in the NBA in putback scoring. WATCH:

Strength: Rebounding Out of Area

Again, Gordon is excellent at tracking missed shots, which allow him to grab rebounds regardless of where he is stationed. His leaping ability is off the charts and his athleticism allows him to soar higher than opponents. He’s not really a “box-out” rebounder because he’s a bit of a tweener and doesn’t have the mass to seal off conventional power forwards. Gordon also likes to initiate transition opportunities after collecting a rebound. You will notice he immediately will start dribbling up the floor rather than wait for a guard to hand the ball off to. WATCH:

Strength: Transition Defense

Gordon still needs to improve his one-on-one defense because he has a tendency to fall for ball tricks and shot fakes. However, he is already an elite defender in transition. He has continuous energy and never surrenders on a play. He makes up ground swiftly and races back to prevent easy fast break points. Gordon has outstanding lateral quickness and instincts. WATCH:

Area to Improve: Offensive Repertoire

Gordon isn’t yet a fluid offensive player. His ball handling, footwork and balance don’t allow him to create much space when he attacks inside. The more he dribbles, the lower percentage he shoots. Gordon is shooting a very solid 53 percent from the floor when no dribbles precede a shot and 33 percent when two dribbles precede the shot. He has an inclination to fade back on his shots when he drives in the paint because he doesn’t often escape his defender.

Area to Improve: Perimeter Shot

If he raises his 3-point percentage to about 36 or 37 percent (currently at 32 percent), Gordon will be a nightmare for opponents to contend with. Because he racks up so many points on hustle plays alone, adding a consistent jump shot will force defenders to close out on him on the perimeter. When that happens, Gordon can use his speed and high basketball IQ to collapse defenses inside.