Aaron Gordon went crazy in Game 4 against the Nuggets and entered a very unique NBA three-man club, and it's no wonder that LeBron James likes him so much.
Gordon is really an X-factor, and it's hard to make anyone who opposes it.
In the NBA playoffs, the X-factor often determines the performance of a good team. Star players are always expected to burst out, but a player who is hardly a scoring option performs well and can make it difficult for opponents to defend.
Aaron Gordon is the X-factor for the Denver Nuggets led by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, who are so blessed that his excellent barrier-setting and board-grabbing ability is critical to the team's success.
Whenever two of their best players are under the tight eye of the Minnesota Timberwolves, it's when he's on the cards, and he's never miss a chance.
The X factor of the Nuggets can be said to be an important reason why the gentleman swept the Lakers.
Aaron Gordon excels at being efficient, and this NBA playoff game against the Timberwolves showcased that. He hit a staggering 90 percent shooting in all three scoring tiers, scoring 25+ points, five rebounds and five assists.
According to StatMuse, only three players in NBA playoff history have done this. The first is former MVP Charles Barkley, and the other is basketball prodigy Chris Paul, who shoots 100 percent from the field.
Unexpectedly, Gordon is two NBA legends after all.
Aaron Gordon went into a frenzy and broke down the Timberwolves' defense. He played 41 minutes and didn't look tired at all. By the end of the game, he had scored 27 points and shot 91.7 percent from the field.
In addition, he grabbed seven rebounds and six assists. There were also two bright spots in his performance, one was that he made a steal and the other was that he made two consecutive blocks when his opponent made a shot.
To be honest, Gordon, who integrates offense and defense, can be said to be red-eyed in this game, James is not wrong, there is a reason why he praised Gordon at the beginning, and he is worthy of being the third big man of the Nuggets.
The Nuggets also benefited from his enticing defenders to do weak-side cuts and setting up regular back-to-back screens for Jamal Murray, and if there's anyone they can rely on to do the dirty work while filling in the stat sheets, it's clearly Gordon.
The Nuggets suppressed the Timberwolves, and it can even be said that the Timberwolves almost beat the Lakers.
The series is now evenly split with both teams winning two games each, and one key adjustment the Nuggets must make is to cut off the Timberwolves' offensive momentum.
If Anthony Edwards had exploded in the opening stanza, they would have been willing to bear the poison. However, they just don't let anyone else find their attacking rhythm.
Eventually, the Timberwolves' star guards were exhausted from creating tough shots and didn't score at all. With others not warming up, the Nuggets achieved their goal.
Another key stagnant momentum was the Nuggets' refusal to allow the Timberwolves to find their offensive rhythm, making it difficult for any ball handler to find a passing route and pass the ball with ease. They also rounded up the main ball handlers, meaning they had seven steals, and the Timberwolves also blocked six times under the basket.
Nikola Jokic scored 35 points, Jamal Murray scored 19, and Gordon made a big difference on the court. His hard work in execution, while bringing with him dedication and enthusiasm is impeccable.
Hopefully, that consistency will be maintained as the Nuggets keep going in the NBA playoffs.
One thing to say, a player like Gordon deserves more exposure and fans, and there is no hope of staying with the Nuggets, even if he wins the championship, he can't improve.
Gordon goes to the Lakers and assists James, you can get huge exposure and win-win.