New Orleans Pelicans Summer League: Thoughts from Pelicans Game 3

The New Orleans Pelicans finished up pool play today in the 2015 NBA Las Vegas Summer League with a game against the Brooklyn Nets. New Orleans entered the game with a chance to secure a first round bye in the upcoming tournament that determines a league champion and despite some big runs by the Nets, were able to do just that. Bryce Dejean-Jones led New Orleans with 26 points including a late flurry that pushed the Pelicans ahead for good and Larry Drew II dished out 16 assists and picked up five steals to keep the offense humming. After a hot start, Seth Curry finished with 20 points though he continued to struggle from three-point range making just one of his six attempts from that distance on the afternoon. Other thoughts from the game are below.

Birch runs his way into an interesting discussion

It is kind of hard to see how Khem Birch actually makes the Pelicans considering that the team kind of already has five big men on the roster with Omer Asik, Anthony Davis, Ryan Anderson, Alexis Ajinca and Dante Cunningham. That hasn’t stopped Birch from putting together nice efforts all summer though and it continued today as he used his mobility and athleticism to post 13 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks and countless more shots changed.

The thing that really stands out though about Birch is how he runs the floor. As soon as he sees the Pelicans control a rebound or loose ball Birch sprints hard down the floor and is often one of the first three or four people down the other end. It leads to the easy dunks he needs to score but also opens up shooters as his rim runs drag defenders into the paint. The more I watch Birch the more I think he is absolutely an NBA bench player somewhere, even if it isn’t New Orleans.

Bryce Dejuan-Jones is going to make money somewhere

Bryce Dejuan-Jones can score the ball, I have no doubts about that. That said, he just doesn’t seem like an NBA player right now. The shot selection and decision-making gets really questionable at times from Jones, including things like picking up a technical for taunting an opponent after making a three and being fouled. There is just no need for that from anyone, let alone a guy that has teams wondering about his mental game.

Larry Drew II feels like an NBA player

The 16 assists are going to jump out at a lot of people because it is a big number but part of that comes from the way Drew hunts assists. At least once in the game he passed up a wide open layup to get a teammate a look and while that could be good for chemistry it is weird to see. Even with those inflated assist numbers though, Drew II has looked like an NBA point guard. He has a great feel for the game on both ends and while he isn’t a lock down defender, he hasn’t been a big problem for the Pelicans on that end so far. I don’t think the Pelicans can really use him this year with Jrue Holiday, Norris Cole and Tyreke Evans but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Drew II land as a backup or third point guard somewhere in the league.

The Fuquan Edwin Bandwagon hit a speedbump

I still think the Pelicans should give him a shot to earn a roster spot in camp but Fuquan Edwin wasn’t great today. The defense was still pretty good but he didn’t make shots or do much else in the 14 minutes he played. Tough day.

Seth was Seth

Teams are deathly afraid of Seth Curry’s jumpshot which has opened up plenty for the Pelicans offense this summer. Today he got hot early and then was blanketed by a guy in Markel Brown who may end up being a really good NBA defender. That said Curry looked good overall and continues to be the guy with the most likely chance to make the Pelicans roster.

Next: Thoughts from the Pelicans first win

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New Orleans Pelicans Summer League: Observations from Pelicans win Over Nets

By Matt Cianfrone | Jul 13, 2015