Eric Gordon needs to return to form for the Rockets to turn things around

The Houston Rockets are in desperate need of Eric Gordon to return as a third option, but can the sniping sixth man shoot his way out of this slump?

The Houston Rockets are currently in a slump, losing four games in a row. In their last ten games, they are 4-6 and are currently the sixth seed in the Western Conference with a 26-16 record. Usually, Houston is a great regular season team, so this is a pretty shocking start to the season.

Outside of the dynamic duo of James Harden and Russell Westbrook, the team seems to be lacking a consistent third option when it comes to scoring. In the past, that role has been filled by the 2016-17 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Eric Gordon.

The 31-year-old shooting guard is currently averaging a career-low in points, with a disappointing 13.2 per contest, as well as 1.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists. Gordon is shooting 34 percent from the field, 32 percent from the 3-point line and a miserable 60 percent from the free-throw line. For a trusted third option, which he has proven to be in the past, this is clearly a terrible slump for Gordon.

It’s worth noting, Eric Gordon has only played 18 games so far this year due to a right knee injury, but given how bad the Rockets are struggling as a team, if there is a time for Gordon to step up, it’s now.

Recently, the Rockets blew a 17-point lead to the Oklahoma City Thunder, resulting in a 112-107 loss. To say the Rockets’ superstar struggled from the field would be an understatement, especially from the 3-point line. Harden shot an abysmal 1-17 from behind the arc and 9-29 from the field.

Outside of  Westbrook, nobody else really stepped up as of late. Right now would be a perfect time for Eric Gordon to return to old form again. Yet, in 29 minutes on Monday, he finished the night with only five points on 2-of-12 shooting, including 1-for-8 from downtown.

The loss of an injured Gerald Green hurts the Houston Rockets regarding depth, mainly in the backcourt. But, in previous seasons, Gordon has proven that he can score with the best of them when healthy. Houston has some outside weapons such as Danuel House Jr and Ben McLemore, but their lack of ability to create their own shot makes Eric Gordon’s role that much more significant.

In his first year with the Houston Rockets, Gordon showed a promising start after he won Sixth Man of the Year, but his struggles are not looking good for the Rockets’ future, considering both parties agreed to a four-year, $76 million extension last August.

If Gordon doesn’t fix his shooting woes, would Rockets GM Daryl Morey consider trading the 31-year-old? The struggling Rockets are looking for change to make a successful run at an NBA championship. If they don’t wake up from what seems to be a never-ending struggle, it will be an interesting trade deadline, possibly even for Eric Gordon.