Gordon Strains Hammy

From Marc Stein at ESPN.com: LAS VEGAS -- The Los Angeles Clippers confirmed on Sunday that lottery pick Eric Gordon will miss the remainder of the NBA Summer League on the campus of UNLV with a strained left hamstring. Gordon, who has shown some nice flashes in two games despite his struggles from perimeter, suffered the strain Saturday in a loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. The injury, while not believed to be serious, rules out what looked to be one of the better individual duels in Vegas this summer: Gordon's scheduled showdown Wednesday night with O.J. Mayo of the Memphis Grizzlies. Drafted No. 7 overall last month out of Indiana, Gordon has missed 19-of-28 shots from the field in two games but has relied on his strength, body control and confidence to get to the free-throw line 21 times (making 16) in just under 60 minutes of court time, enabling him to average 19 points along with 6.5 rebounds. Clippers summer league coach Kim Hughes has been primarily playing Gordon as a shooting guard, a position in which he is likely to be deployed most as a rookie alongside Baron Davis. "I think once [Gordon] figures it out, he'll understand that he doesn't have to take the first available shot," Hughes told NBA.com. "When he uses the picks a little bit more, we'll send the ball to him weak side and he won't have to shoot the ball so quickly. I think he's got a good feel for the game, I think he can break his own guy down one-on-one and I think in transition he can be a monster."The FTA number is encouraging.  Getting to the line is a skill and instinct I'd much rather see from a 19-year-old in the incipient moments if his career.  The FG% isn't nearly as important as the TS%, which is respectable.  The 11 rebounds in 57 minutes isn't bad either.   MORE: Good quote from Kim Hughes on Gordon at NBA.com: "I think once he figures it out, he'll understand that he doesn't have to take the first available shot," Hughes said. "When he uses the picks a little bit more, we'll send the ball to him weak side and he won't have to shoot the ball so quickly. I think he's got a good feel for the game, I think he can break his own guy down one-on-one, and I think in transition he can be a monster."I realize Gordon wasn't the first choice of most Clips fans, but Gordon has a game you can root for.  Let's hope he returns healthy and ready for training camp. more...