Jonathan Daniel
How badly do the Rockets miss Eric Gordon?
Eric Gordon's last game played was against the New Orleans Pelicans. He suffered a knee injury that has him sidelined for 4-6 weeks. Recently, it shows that the Rockets need him late in game situations.
In the last three games, the Rockets have struggled in the 4th quarter. Teams are starting double James Harden late in games. Harden's dominance has caused for multiple double teams this season.
Russell Westbrook is having good season by shooting 41.4% from the field. As seen, Westbrook has no problem getting to the rim, shooting from underneath the arc, or finishing on fast breaks. He has struggled shooting the ball from three this season. Westbrook is now shooting 23% from three. This is something Westbrook has told the press after his divesting playoff lost against the Portland trailblazers. Late In 4th quarters, Westbrook has missed game tying open threes. That was seen against the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks. Westbrook has never been shy of the moment before but now questions circulate. Has he taken too much of a back seat to Harden?
Gordon has struggled shooting the ball from the field before his knee injury. He is at a season low averaging 10.9 ppg. Gordon is also shooting the ball at 30.9% from the field. He has never shot the ball this poorly in his career. Since his tenure with the Rockets, Gordon has been reliable. His most reliable moments are in the 4th quarter. All last season, Gordon made major shots in the 4th quarter. In the last three quarters of last season, Gordon was averaging 18.4ppg, shooting the ball at 40.9% from the field, and shooting 36.9% at the three point line. In order for Gordon to help the Rockets, he has to overcome his struggles.
This season has been struggle for Gordon but it can be turned around. Gordon has to live up to expectations since he signed that big contract this past summer. The Rockets do need him back because these double teams on Harden will not stop.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.