If Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray were often the spearheads of Denver’s last victory, it was Aaron Gordon who put the Nuggets on the right track in Game 1 against the Heat. A great performance that symbolizes the comfort zone found by the former Magic side of the Rockies.
There was a time when Aaron Gordon was known above all for his crazy flights in the air, in any case much more than for his impact on the results of his team. We still remember his Orlando years, when the Magic wanted to make him one of their first offensive options, without much success.
Today, Aaron Gordon is in Denver. The hierarchy is clear: Nikola Jokic is the MVP, Jamal Murray is his partner, and behind this duo we have Gordon who is there to contribute in a limited role. But a limited role does not mean an insignificant role, quite the contrary.
“It’s a great opportunity to play with players who have so much talent, and such a passion for the game. What I’ve always loved is playing basketball the right way, and that’s what what we do here. I don’t care if I score 50 points or 0, as long as I impact the game and we win that’s fine with me.
No doubt, Aaron Gordon is like a duck to water in Denver.
During the first quarter of Game 1 of the Finals against Miami, it was Gordon (12 of 16 total points in the first 12 minutes, 4 rebounds, 6/8 shooting) which allowed the Nuggets to start the series well. Imposing his physique (2m03 for 107 kilos), very aggressive, moving well without the ball to take position under the basket against less sturdy and smaller opponents, Aaron sanctioned Miami again and again, he who was continuously served by Nikola Jokic and co.
Aaron Gordon came out firing in Game 1 💪 pic.twitter.com/0maIS8Pb3C
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 2, 2023
Paradoxically, the Gordon we saw at the start of the game is not the Gordon we see most often in Denver. His first mission with the Nuggets is to defend the best outside opponent, while his offensive contribution can vary a lot from game to game. A lot of defenses even prefer to leave it open on the outside because of its shooting limitations, in order to better defend the rest of the Nuggets’ attack, formidable behind the Jokic – Murray duo.
But the Aaron of today is not the Aaron of Orlando. Alongside the Joker, he has gained in game intelligence, in offensive efficiency (over 56% shooting this year, career high), he knows when and how to move without the ball, all while defending hard. Translation: today it is an essential link in the Nuggets ecosystem.
“Trust me, this guy is the missing piece. It’s certain.”
This is what Aaron Gordon’s agent told Denver leaders in March 2021, when the Nuggets were in trade negotiations with the Magic to get him back. Today, these words are translated on the parquet floors.
If it took two more years to see the Nuggets reach the NBA Finals, the fault in particular of the big injury of Jamal Murray and the sores on the back of Michael Porter Jr., there is no doubt that Gordon’s arrival has helped Denver in its goal. And at the same time the Nuggets have helped Aaron reinvent himself to become a key member of a team that is just three wins away from the ultimate title.
A sentence that we would never have dared to pronounce a few years back…
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Source texte : The Athletic
2023-06-03 12:42:00
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