2. Eric Gordon
Playoff Averages: 18.1 PTS, 1.3 STL, 40.5 FG%, 25 3P%
Eric Gordon is a different case than the other two players on this list, because of his performance against the Thunder. Gordon did not play particularly well for the Rockets in the first round, but we all know what he can do on the court.
The last time Gordon played against the Lakers was back on February 6th in a 121-111 Rockets win, contributing 15 points, on high efficiency, while all his field goals were three-pointers. Gordon becomes a major threat for opposing teams once he gets into a rhythm, especially since his only job is to score the basketball.
Once he hits a couple of threes he can go off for 25-30 points on almost any given team in the league. Gordon is coming off of a good game 7 where he had 21 points on 55-50-100 shooting splits. He found success shooting the ball from deep and attacking the hoop after struggling earlier in the series.
Assuming that he has started to find his groove and with only one night off for the Rockets in between the two games, his rhythm could very well carry into game one.
https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1301357583727550469?s=20
The Los Angeles Lakers have the right players in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Danny Green to contain Eric Gordon after the opening tip, but he is not someone the team can afford to ignore because of the focus that’ll be on James Harden and Russell Westbrook.