Top 5 contenders for Sixth Man of the Year

#2 Eric Gordon

Gordon goes for a layup

The reigning Sixth Man of the Year is even hotter this season than he was last year when he averaged 16.2 points per game for the Houston Rockets on 37.2 percent shooting from downtown.

Gordon is currently averaging 18.2 points per game on an improved field goal percentage of 43.0 percent. With Chris Paul also in the side now, Gordon is having to play lesser of a playmaking role in this new, improved version of the Rockets team who also happen to have more 3-point shooters this season waiting to net the open looks generated by CP3 and The Beard.

In the time that Chris Paul spent on the sidelines, Gordon matched his point production with over 20 points a game in those starts. He is at his physical peak now, and his knockdown shooting ability combined with his driving game make him a nightly threat to defenders.