Gordon will get used more at the end of games.

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Trying to take it upon himself to lead his team, Hornets point guard Greivis Vasquez missed two 3-pointers and a layup in the final 23 seconds. But starting Wednesday night against the Lakers, Hornets Coach Monty Williams plans to put the ball more in Gordon hands down the stretch.

"I will run more (plays) for him,’’ Williams said. "At the end of the day, defenses are going to try and take him out. It's tough; I’m not going to make excuses for him. When you are not playing every day. You are on a minute restriction, it’s hard to keep a rhythm.

..."After missing the first almost three months of the season and coming back trying to do the things I'm capable of and trying to show fans of just having the rhythm being more of a 20-point scorer and big-time play maker towards the end of games, it just breaks my rhythm having so many setback standards,'' Gordon said.

Williams still thinks Gordon is his best closer on the team. He referred back to last season when Gordon made a game-clinching jumper with 4.2 seconds remaining to lift the Hornets’ 85-84 season-opening victory against the Phoenix Suns as proof. Gordon missed all but nine games last season after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.

"I firmly believe this is going to be a year that’s a bit spotty for him, then next year he’s going to have a breakout season,’’ Williams said. "That usually how it goes for those coming off surgery and rehab. The thing about him is that this is the most he’s played in about 2 1/2 years. I look for him to have one of those seasons where everybody says,`` Ok that’s what we’re talking about.’’

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