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May

7

Chicago Bulls Season Grades: Ben Gordon

Filed Under Analysis/Commentary, NBA, Chicago Bulls

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Ben Gordon over Eddie House (AP) Ben Gordon Drives on Ray Allen (AP) Ben Gordon Tear-Drop Floater (AP)Never before has the city of Chicago been so polarized when it comes to an athlete as has been the case with Chicago Bulls shooting guard Ben Gordon.

A listed 6′3” scoring dynamo with the ability to put games on his wide shoulders due to his streaky shooting and fear of absolutely no big-game situation, Gordon has his fair share of critics who say that he does not play any defense, is selfish and cares about one and only one thing: getting shots.

While Gordon is not a great defender and could improve on this area of his game, the ideas that he is a selfish player are far-fetched and wrong. Sure, Gordon will rarely give up the ball on any fast break, but for the most part, he is a professional who understands the business of the game and has the self-respect and pride to separate that part of the equation from playing hard every night and being a good teammate.

In 2008-2009, Gordon proved to be his usual durable self, playing in all 82 games and gutting out a nagging hamstring injury in a classic seven-game, first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics. Once again, Gordon led the team in scoring, averaging 20.7 points per game on 45.5 percent shooting, which matched his career-high shooting percentage from 2006-2007 (a season in which he averaged a career high 21.4 points). Gordon averaged 3.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 41.1 percent from three, the same 3-point percentage he finished with during a disappointing last season.

Whether you are or are not a fan of Ben Gordon’s game (and let it be clear that I am a huge fan of BG and would do whatever it takes to keep him in a Bulls uniform), you have to give the guy credit: he produced yet another great season.

Season Grade: A-

Memorable Highlights: As has been the case since he was a rookie who led the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring, Gordon was typically at his best in the clutch and when the game was on the line. In a memorable game in December, Gordon had a four-point play in the final minute to tie a home game against the Los Angeles Clippers (Chicago would win the game in overtime). On March 12, Gordon and Dwyane Wade engaged in a double-overtime scoring shootout in Miami. Gordon would finish with 43 points while Wade would finish with 48 and win the game on a spectacular three at the buzzer (game recap and highlights). Gordon would raise his scoring in the playoffs, averaging 24 against the Celtics in the seven-game series. Gordon scored 42 in a Game 2 loss, hit a huge three at the end of the first overtime of an eventual double-overtime Game Four victory, and nearly led the Bulls to Game Five victory in Boston with incredible shooting at the end of the game.

A Moment That Further Affirmed My Appreciation for BG: I was at the December 17th Clippers-Bulls game in which Gordon’s four-point play propelled the game into overtime. For most of that game, the Bulls were outplayed badly by the Clippers. Somehow the Bulls fought back, and somehow Gordon goaded LA rookie Eric Gordon into fouling him on the improbable game-tying play. For me, the play was why I love Gordon’s game. While there are some lows (overdribbling, bad shots, etc.) at times, the highs with Gordon are worth it. Gordon has been the most clutch player to wear a Bulls’ uniform since Michael Jordan.  Derrick Rose showed a lot of flashes of being dominant in the clutch this season and will surpass Gordon in time, but he’s not there quite yet.

What Surprised Me with Gordon: Nothing. Nothing surprises me with the incredibly entertaining Gordon. He is what he is: a pure scorer. What he does best (scoring in bunches) outranks what he may struggle with (defense, shot selection, overdribbling). Gordon is one of the most unique players in the game. A bad shot to everyone else is a good shot for Gordon, who can hit the incredible. While frustrating at times, Gordon is mostly pure fun to watch, especially when he’s on.

What to Work On: Getting paid. Gordon has turned down $50 million and $54 million dollar contract extensions with the Bulls in the past. Whether you agree or don’t agree with Gordon’s feeling that he should be the highest-paid player on the team because he scores the most (something that I disagree with), give Gordon credit to sticking to what he believes. While he has turned down a lot of money, Gordon has produced throughout his career and been injury-free, durable and the most consistent scorer that the Bulls have had over the last five years. Gordon has stated his intentions of remaining a Bull in past seasons and would not rule out returning next year, but he also understands the business of the game and feels that the Bulls haven’t been as committed to keeping him. Sure, Gordon has turned down good contracts that he may regret, but he has earned the right through his play the last five seasons to find and get the contract that is best for him. With that said, there is still a very good impression that Gordon would prefer to be a Bull and highly prioritizes winning and being on a championship contender.

In terms of his game, Gordon will obviously work on his jumper and body (as he religiously does before, during and after every season). What’s too often lost with Gordon is how dedicated he is to being a durable player and being a good representation for the organization. Defensively, Gordon will never be a great defender but has shown that he could be solid on good defensive teams. He needs to work on moving off the ball on defense as smart teams try to slow him down offensively by making him move and work hard when guarding. In terms of his offense, Gordon needs to be a better decision maker and focus more on scoring off the ball as opposed to pounding it into the ground at times. When he’s got the ball in his hands on the fast break, Gordon rarely passes (a byproduct of his scorer’s mentality) and would be better served to hit the open man and get the easy basket rather than taking the difficult shot. Gordon’s a better passer than people give him credit for and should focus a bit more on getting the ball to others, especially when being doubled off of ball screens.

What’s Next? In all likelihood, I don’t see Gordon returning to the Bulls. While I feel that this season revealed to the organization that it needs BG more than it originally thought, it’s going to be hard for both parties to overcome what have been difficult contract discussions in the past. For Chicago to keep Gordon, the Bulls would likely have to move Kirk Hinrich in a trade. From what I’ve read, the Bulls could offer Gordon roughly only $7 million a year before having to go over the luxury tax, something that the cost-conscious organization will not do (however, doing so would show Gordon how committed the Bulls are to keeping him).

In the end, expect Gordon to move on, unfortunately. A division rival like Detroit has a lot of cap space with Allen Iverson and Rasheed Wallace coming off the books, and I can see Pistons General Manager Joe Dumars appreciating Gordon (as he’s similar to Dumars’ former teammate Vinny “Microwave” Johnson) and snatching him away. If that’s the case, I fear that Gordon will torch the Bulls for years to come.

Too bad the Bulls caved last summer to Luol Deng’s contract ultimatum and invested so much in him. Deng has done little the last two seasons but be hurt. I guarantee you the Bulls would be feeling much better if it had the opportunity to let Deng walk this off-season, replace him with the cheaper and equally effective John Salmons, and just resign Gordon.

Final Thoughts: If Gordon leaves, I’ll understand. Maybe he’s delusional in terms of the money that he wants, but I feel he’s worth a respectable financial commitment. Gordon is better-served as a sixth man and a team’s third go-to scorer. With that said, could you imagine what the Bulls could be with Rose, a legitimate big man and Gordon in the future. Unfortunately, we may not see that day. Gordon has never been surrounded with a consistent scorer in Chicago until Rose this season. I’ve always wondered what Gordon could do with a big man who commanded the ball down low, drew double teams and kicked the ball out.

With all that said, I won’t blame Gordon if a contract is not worked out and he leaves.  In my opinion, Gordon is way too often the easy target for others to throw darts at as to what’s wrong with the Bulls. For example, he struggles in Game Seven against the Celtics (yet still has 33 points and gets to the foul line 15 times) and is cast by some as shooting his way out of town. Well, let’s be honest. The Bulls wouldn’t have taken Boston to seven without Gordon, nor would the team have been in the playoffs four of the last five seasons without BG.

I’ve been preparing for Gordon to leave for years and will be upset if it happens. Let it be clear that my anger will be with the Bulls for having so much blind faith in the often-injured Deng and not appreciating what it had in Gordon. I will always be a fan of Gordon the player and Gordon the person. I hope things are worked out (even if it means moving Hinrich, a defensive pest that the Bulls also need to keep). Some may say that Gordon is a luxury who is expendable; I say what a luxury to have, especially with Rose and hopefully a legit big man in the future.

With that said, Gordon has helped make the Bulls a fun and relevant team over the course of most of the last five seasons, and I’ll always be grateful for what he brought to the table (scoring, professionalism, guts, durability) as opposed to what he allegedly did not bring.

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One Response to “Chicago Bulls Season Grades: Ben Gordon”

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