375 yards with their trademark triple-option offensive system

ORLANDO, Fla. -- During his first two NBA seasons Aaron Gordon was known much more his slashes to the basket and gravity defying dunks than his jumper.Now the third-year Magic forward is being asked to be much more in the system of new coach Frank Vogel. Perhaps more than any of his teammates, Gordon will have the biggest shift moving from power forward to small forward with the goal of becoming a complete player who can impact the offense much the way Paul George did for Vogel in Indiana.Its a move Gordon feels naturally suits him.It gives me more freedom, I can control the offense a little bit more, direct traffic, said Gordon, who at this point is best known for his acrobatics in the 2016 slam dunk contest. But like Ive said Ive been playing basketball, Ive played at multiple positions. Im happy where Im at.Only his production will tell just how happy the Magic are with the shift. The 6-foot-9 Gordon hasnt displayed an ability to do much of what the move requires so far in his NBA career.In addition to becoming more of a focal point of the offense, the Magics 2014 first-round draft pick out of Arizona will need to be consistent perimeter shooter in the offense, as well as a facilitator while also taking on tougher defensive assignments guarding quicker players. Veteran Jeff Green, acquired this offseason, is much closer to the complete package but the Magic seem committed to giving the 21-year-old Gordon every opportunity to win the starting job.Gordon, who shot 47 percent from the field last season, converted just 30.1 percent of his jumpers while shooting only 30 percent from 3-point range, according to Basketball Reference. He started 37 games last season, averaging 9.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 47 percent from the field.Gordons transition has been slowed because he missed the first week of camp and the first couple of preseason games after rolling his ankle while training in California three weeks prior to reporting.Its only going to get better, Gordon said. I (had) been physically off the court and off my feet in game-like situations for about four weeks, so Im a little slow.In time, Vogel believes Gordon can become the player he needs at the small forward spot. The coach envisions Gordon in the mold of George, who went from coming off the bench to becoming the Pacers top scorer and one of the best defensive small forwards in the league under Vogel.We are going to ask him to do it all, Vogel said of Gordon. We will put a lot of pressure on him. We are giving him a lot of responsibility. He is going to have the ball in his hands. He is going to be asked to beat defenses over the top with his 3-point shooting and to get out and play his game in the open court.Its going to be process with him. He is not used to playing (small forward) but that is going to come. He has the skills and ability to do it or I wouldnt be putting him in that spot.George remembers being put in the same spot early in his career. Under Vogel, George blossomed into a three-time NBA All-Star and made the all-defensive first Team in 2014.Not unlike Gordon, George faced questions too as he moved from shooting guard to small forward so he understands the challenges Gordon faces this season.The small forward is really the glue guy, George said. Youve got to play both sides of the floor, youve got to take the defensive matchups and youve got to be able to produce, youve got to be able to score, youve got to be able to be a knockdown shooter. Its a little bit of everything, youve got to rebound. I think in his system the small forward is the guy. Youve got to be able to do everything on the floor.Gordon spent much of this season working with Magic shooting coach Dave Love. His shot has still looked a little shaky in the preseason but his confidence seems to be growing.The Magic declined to make Love available, but Vogel said he is pleased with the shooting progress both point guard Elfrid Payton and Gordon are making under Love.These guys are developing shooters, Vogel said. They obviously both need work on it and they are both improving. (Love has) really worked a lot on their technique and thats where it starts. When you develop a shooter you have to start with the right technique when it comes to recognition and shot selection and all of those types of things.Gordon is confident he will thrive in his new role.I dont think anybody worked as hard as I did this offseason, Gordon said. Im going to bank on that. Custom Tigers T-shirts . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Custom Alan Trammell Jersey .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. http://www.customtigersjersey.com/ .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Wholesale Custom Tigers Shirts . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. Cheap Tigers Jerseys . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. DURHAM, N.C. -- If Duke cant keep its grip on the ball, the Blue Devils might lose control of their season, too.A suddenly turnover-prone Duke team plays host to an improved Army on Saturday. The Blue Devils (2-3) rank last in the Atlantic Coast Conference and 123rd nationally in turnover margin, with 17 giveaways to 10 takeaways. The Black Knights (3-1) are fifth in the Bowl Subdivision in that stat category and had no turnovers in their first three games. Only two teams have turned it over less often.Army is a complete football team, Duke coach David Cutcliffe said.And with Hurricane Matthew churning up the East Coast, and threatening to dump rain on Wallace Wade Stadium, ball security will be at even more of a premium.If its windy and rainy, weve both got to kick the ball and throw the ball, Army coach Jeff Monken said. The ball will exchange hands and weve got to take care of it. Im sure theyre going to emphasize the same thing.Thats a certainty -- especially after how the Blue Devils last game went.Duke had six turnovers in a 34-20 loss to Virginia , including a fumble that was recovered for the game-sealing touchdown and five interceptions -- with four of them coming in a 20-minute stretch of the first half. The Blue Devils havent had fewer than three turnovers in any home game.Theyll have to overcome those self-inflicted wounds if theyre going to turn the season around and reach their fifth straight bowl game.Yet Cutcliffe insists the team has not -- and will not -- fracture.They know who the program is. They know what the programs about. That will never falter, Cutcliffe said. Thats not going to change. Weve said it for yyears that you dont ever run from it, you run to it -- meaning challenges, problems, issues.dddddddddddd ... Wherever you stumble, thats where your hidden treasure is buried. You just look for it.---Some things to know about the Army-Duke game:ARMYS GROUND GAME: The Black Knights once again lead the nation in rushing -- as they did in 2011 and 12 -- averaging nearly 375 yards with their trademark triple-option offensive system. Their three starters in the backfield are sophomores and RB Andy Davidson leads the way with a 103-yard average and six touchdowns. Running the ball is one thing, Monken said, but the bottom line is you have to score points.GOOD KNIGHT ON D: Not to be outdone, Armys defense ranks 10th nationally, allowing 264 yards, and is ninth against the run, giving up 87.5 yards per game. Everybody wants to talk about their offense, but their defense causes you a lot of problems with their configuration, Cutcliffe said.DUKES PRESSURE: The Blue Devils join a pair of top 10 teams -- No. 1 Alabama and No. 6 Houston -- with at least three sacks in every game this season. That streak might be in jeopardy this week because the run-first Black Knights have only thrown 29 passes all year.FINISH STRONG: Army was unscored upon in the fourth quarters of its first three games, before blowing a 20-6 lead in the fourth quarter against Buffalo two weeks ago. The Blue Devils have been outscored 27-23 in their fourth quarters.---AP Sports Writer John Kekis in West Point, New York, contributed to this report. ' ' '