Pelica Debrief
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Breaking down the breakdowns: New Orleans Pelicans help defense

By Matt Cianfrone

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Mar 27, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Sacramento Kings center

DeMarcus Cousins

(15) knocks the ball away from New Orleans Pelicans center

Omer Asik

(3) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The second half of the season has been a good sign for people looking for improvement in the New Orleans Pelicans. The team has found ways to stay in the Western Conference playoff race despite a ton of injuries, continued to post a top 10 offensive efficiency for the season and since March have greatly improved on defense.

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    • In fact since March 2, the Pelicans are 11th in the NBA in defensive efficiency, a great sign considering the team ranks 22nd in the league for the entire season in that stat. While much of the improvement can be attributed to the acquisitions of Dante Cunningham, Quincy Pondexter and Norris Cole and the trio finding a comfort level in New Orleans there have been signs other places of growth.

    Yet one thing is still plaguing the Pelicans and causing some very bad sequences that hurt them in important games—a lack of helping the helper.

    The problem typically happens when the Pelicans best defender, Omer Asik, does his job and helps a play. With the one player on the roster who seems to understand each and every rotation now pulled away from the off ball play the Pelicans seem to fall apart and because of it allow easy baskets at the rim.

    The following slides look at a few plays from recent games to show just how bad the problems are at the moment and give Pelicans fans a bit more hope that a top 10 defense is not as far away as it has seemed at points this year.

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