New Orleans Pelicans Rank: Ryan Anderson Roundtable

Feb 7, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (33) shoots over Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol (16) and guard Derrick Rose (1) and guard Jimmy Butler (21) during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Bulls defeated the Pelicans 107-72. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

One of the toughest parts of the New Orleans Pelicans rank project was sorting out the players that ranked from number two to number four on the list. With Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday, Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon all having some case for each spot (some way better than others obviously) the voting totals between numbers two and three and four and five were very close.

That said Ryan Anderson checked in at number four on the ranking, a nice finish for a player with so many question marks. Those question marks start with Anderson’s health as a scary neck injury two season ago left Anderson out-of-shape to start last year.

When Anderson did get back on the floor he was much of the same player he had always been. Anderson provided elite shooting from the perimeter (at home at least, the road was a well-discussed struggle), and rebounded well.

The same questions that were always there still surrounded him though. Anderson’s pairing with Anthony Davis was still a net positive but wasn’t as smooth as expected which was mostly driven by the defensive struggles Anderson faced.

Anderson now enters the 2015-16 season as the Pelicans biggest question mark. Does he shoot better away from home? Will he make it the whole season as a Pelican? We answer both those questions and more in the following slides.

Next: Three-Point Leader?