The Denver Nuggets have now played two preseason games, and one player in their starting lineup has stood out much more than the others. Aaron Gordon. Mr. Nugget himself, has looked very impressive to start the year. He looks healthy. He's been playing with passion, and if I didn't know any better, he looks like he's playing with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, like he's got something to prove to everyone who's been doubting him because of his health over the past two seasons.
But those issues are on the back burner now. Gordon has been a menace to start the year. In the first game of the preseason against the Utah Jazz, Gordon had 12 points in just 10 minutes. He just followed that up with 18 points in 15 minutes in game two, the 117-106 rematch win in Utah.
Gordon was getting buckets in the paint, spinning past his defender for a ferocious dunk, and he was getting buckets from beyond the arc, too. Gordon had a couple of pull-up threes, and over two games is now shooting 70% from the floor and 50% from downtown.
Mr. Nugget is looking good.
A healthy Gordon makes the Nuggets go around
Of course, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are two massively important pieces of the Nuggets puzzle. But when they're missing Gordon from the lineup due to injury, the team almost feels like a rudderless ship at times. Like their heart misses a beat. Gordon is the glue guy, the soul of the Nuggets. And when he's going in high gear, like he has been the last two games, the Nuggets are a different bunch.
He's not only a defensive stopper in the paint, but because of the three-point shot he's developed, Gordon has opened up the spacing and given his teammates another option from downtown. Remember, it was just last year on opening night that Gordon gave the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry a dose of his own medicine by scoring 50 points on 10 of 11 threes. Gordon has become a legitimate big-time scoring option. He gives the Nuggets a big three with Jokic and Murray.
He just has to stay healthy and on the court for the Nuggets to get the most out of their big three. Gordon's defense is critical to the starting unit. But his infectious attitude may be even more so. And Gordon knows that in order for the team to be at their best, he needs to be on the court. That's a priority of the team this year, and his training and recovery regimen has been changed to account for it.
Gordon looks to be back and as good as ever. Let's hope the new regimen keeps it that way.
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