AG is having an extremely underrated season

[PrimeThyme]

I think with Vuc having the incredible start to the season he is having AG isnt being talked about as much, but have we taken a second to look at what he is doing this year?

He has pretty much career highs in every category right now, including most importantly field goal percentage. 16.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.7 apg, 48 fg%, and 35 3pt fg%. His last ten games he is shooting 50% from the field and 41% from 3. He has completely bought into Clifford's system and is doing what many people wrote him off as never being able to do on this board, play within himself and become a player that takes smart shots and makes his teammates better. Not to mention that he has also been a fantastic defender.

With all the flack AG got for his shot selection and overall play last year by many posters on this board, I just don't think its fair for his much-improved play to go unnoticed. Clifford has gotten him to buy in and he has been great for us.

[NickAnderson]

Well put. But according to the GB Randle is soooo much better

[Optimus_Steel]

Most impressive things this year has been has been his passing and playmaking. He has made strides in that department. Certainly playing more under control and settled instead of wild pony. Other than some lapses he has played pretty good defense. Seems to be taking better shots, in rhythm shots.

[CZ Eddie]

Defences are focusing on Vooch and paying less attention to AG as a result.
I'll be more impressed if/when Vooch is gone and AG becomes the #1 option.
I feel this is less and less likely to occur anytime soon though.

[Knightro]

I think Clifford has really gotten through to Gordon in a way that no other coach he's had in the NBA has gotten through to him.

He's defending more consistently than he has at pretty much any point in his career.

The wild, out of control drives that would always end in a painfully obvious charge call have dramatically decreased. The "dribble in place 5 or 6 times to fire up a wild shot on the move" possessions are almost gone.

His passing has improved. AG has been especially adept at passing on the secondary break in a quick hitter situation.

Clifford's halfcourt sets are LOADED with off ball movement which is really taking advantage of AG's skills as a cutter which have always been good. He's shooting 78% at the rim!

I'm not 100% convinced that Gordon and Isaac can share the floor at maximum effectiveness because I think they're both natural PFs, but I still really like both guys.

[j-ragg]

Well put. But according to the GB Randle is soooo much better

Didn’t you say that on the GB?

[NickAnderson]

Well put. But according to the GB Randle is soooo much better

Didn’t you say that on the GB?

Ummm don’t think so.

[AdamTheGreek]

He's really embracing the Shawn Marion role so far this season. Consistently great defensively, not just in spurts. AG has talked about how he actually boxes out for rebounds now (the previous staffs couldn't do this?). Fewer forced shots being taken. Clifford hasn't really been running many plays for him. A lot of his buckets are off clean-up scenarios, cuts to the rack, and the fast break. Shooting keeps improving, and he's had more open looks than ever.

[bargnanimvp]

He's really embracing the Shawn Marion role so far this season. Consistently great defensively, not just in spurts. AG has talked about how he actually boxes out for rebounds now (the previous staffs couldn't do this?). Fewer forced shots being taken. Clifford hasn't really been running many plays for him. A lot of his buckets are off clean-up scenarios, cuts to the rack, and the fast break. Shooting keeps improving, and he's had more open looks than ever.

I feel vogel was trying to encourage him isoing and trying to create for himself to mould him into a PG clone which was never going to work. At this point in his career he's much better in this roel cutting and making quick drives. Wish he had a good playmaking point guard to help him out

[MagicStarwipe]

He's really embracing the Shawn Marion role so far this season. Consistently great defensively, not just in spurts. AG has talked about how he actually boxes out for rebounds now (the previous staffs couldn't do this?). Fewer forced shots being taken. Clifford hasn't really been running many plays for him. A lot of his buckets are off clean-up scenarios, cuts to the rack, and the fast break. Shooting keeps improving, and he's had more open looks than ever.

I feel vogel was trying to encourage him isoing and trying to create for himself to mould him into a PG clone which was never going to work. At this point in his career he's much better in this roel cutting and making quick drives. Wish he had a good playmaking point guard to help him out

I'm not sure that was a Vogel directive. I know there was the talk from Vogel about using AG like PG, but that was abandoned pretty quickly in the first season in favour of buddy ball. I think AG played that way last season to finally force himself into the offensive picture rather than having to sit through another season of just watching Vuc and Evan play off of each other. Vogel gave some initial blowback to Gordon doing this in the press last season, but after a while he just kind of shut up about it and let him do it.

We've truly had some horrible coaching since SVG was canned.

[bargnanimvp]

He's really embracing the Shawn Marion role so far this season. Consistently great defensively, not just in spurts. AG has talked about how he actually boxes out for rebounds now (the previous staffs couldn't do this?). Fewer forced shots being taken. Clifford hasn't really been running many plays for him. A lot of his buckets are off clean-up scenarios, cuts to the rack, and the fast break. Shooting keeps improving, and he's had more open looks than ever.

I feel vogel was trying to encourage him isoing and trying to create for himself to mould him into a PG clone which was never going to work. At this point in his career he's much better in this roel cutting and making quick drives. Wish he had a good playmaking point guard to help him out

I'm not sure that was a Vogel directive. I know there was the talk from Vogel about using AG like PG, but that was abandoned pretty quickly in the first season in favour of buddy ball. I think AG played that way last season to finally force himself into the offensive picture rather than having to sit through another season of just watching Vuc and Evan play off of each other. Vogel gave some initial blowback to Gordon doing this in the press last season, but after a while he just kind of shut up about it and let him do it.

We've truly had some horrible coaching since SVG was canned.

Maybe you are right actually, i felt like he was being encouraged to go that route though but it's not all on Vogel i guess. More coaches need to stress efficiency in their players though, i feel like AG is concentrating on being more efficient vs just taking more shots

[Def Swami]

Still only 23. I'm interested to see where he's at in 2 years. Good, efficient year for AG so far. He's finally playing a winning brand of basketball.

[rusoopE]

Shawn Marion 2.0, thats what we getting from AG and i love it keep it up young fella, playing like a real pro this year

[fendilim]

He's really embracing the Shawn Marion role so far this season. Consistently great defensively, not just in spurts. AG has talked about how he actually boxes out for rebounds now (the previous staffs couldn't do this?). Fewer forced shots being taken. Clifford hasn't really been running many plays for him. A lot of his buckets are off clean-up scenarios, cuts to the rack, and the fast break. Shooting keeps improving, and he's had more open looks than ever.

Yes. This is the key for his improvements this season. Its playing to his own strength. We’ve seen him do this after the Ibaka trade, but went back to his old habits the following season.

Its refreshing to see him play in his role and less creation of offense.

[drsd]

I am please that Gordon is grown in to his role and helping the team win games. But he is making $21,590,909 this year, and thus his good numbers cannot be qualified as "underrated."

[drsd]

Shawn Marion 2.0, thats what we getting from AG and i love it keep it up young fella, playing like a real pro this year

The Matrix is a marginal Hall of Famer. I see the similarities with Gordon; Gordon actually has a better 3-ball jumper now than Marion ever did. But if this is what Orlando signed up for, the 80M deal is indeed good value.

[OrlandoDream]

Shawn Marion 2.0, thats what we getting from AG and i love it keep it up young fella, playing like a real pro this year

Now we just need to find him a steve nash. AG is in his 5th year and the best PG he has played alongside has been Elfrid Payton. That right there is an abomination. Weltman/Hammond need to get us a NBA level starting PG this offseason before anything else.

[rusoopE]

Shawn Marion 2.0, thats what we getting from AG and i love it keep it up young fella, playing like a real pro this year

The Matrix is a marginal Hall of Famer. I see the similarities with Gordon; Gordon actually has a better 3-ball jumper now than Marion ever did. But if this is what Orlando signed up for, the 80M deal is indeed good value.

Marion was so underrated defender he never was all d team. AG has the tools to be something similar on that end. He is giving the hustle he lacked last seasons tho. Marion believe it or now had been a better 3point shooter by percentage but was irregular. I can see ag having a better and steadier shooting career

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[Optimus_Steel]

Defences are focusing on Vooch and paying less attention to AG as a result.
I'll be more impressed if/when Vooch is gone and AG becomes the #1 option.
I feel this is less and less likely to occur anytime soon though.

He doesn't have the skillset for an effective #1 option. He can't really create a whole lot of offense by himself. I see him as 3rd best scorer on a good team.

[paperboymafia]

Marion only shot better from 3 for a season or two.