Lance Stephenson’s Flexibility Could Earn Him Spot on New Orleans Pelicans
By Rick Stone
Lance Stephenson has a real shot at making the New Orleans Pelicans roster, which could be due to his flexibility on the floor.
The New Orleans Pelicans are taking a long look at Lance Stephenson this preseason.
Averaging 22.5 minutes in the past two games, Lance definitely has the attention of the coaching staff.
It’s no longer so crazy to think he could be on the roster once the season begins.
So it brings up the big question: What does he bring to the team that they can not find elsewhere?
New Orleans has focused on one thing above all else this offseason: Flexibility.
The expectation is the final spot on the roster will be between Stephenson and Alonzo Gee. For the Pelicans, ever spot has massive importance. The injuries to Jrue Holiday and Quincy Pondexter will test the depth of the team right out of the gate.
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Yes, even spot number 15 will play a key role for New Orleans’ season. And when it comes to flexibility, Lance wins over Alonzo easily.
Alonzo Gee is a pure small forward that focuses on his athleticism. He’s not fast. He’s not a great defender. Nor is he a good shooter. He can run the floor, fly high in the air and block shots. It works well when energy is needed, but his game is easily countered with smart defense and well executed offense.
The same is not true for Lance Stephenson. Even with his struggles, Lance has shown in his career the ability to impact games in different aspects. He can attack the basket, make long range shots when left open and play strong defense overall. He can generate steals and force tough shots with his strong footwork.
The critics have a point in bringing up the inconsistency in his game. His shooting percentage numbers have varied greatly. The best year for Lance saw him shoot nearly 50% from the field, while his worst hit the mid 30’s.
His three-point percentage is much worse. He shot over 40% in his one season in Los Angeles from behind the arc. Compare that to his measly 17.1% in his one season in Charlotte and there’s reason to worry.
Lance Stephenson’s focus has to be there, in order to make a good impact on Head Coach Alvin Gentry‘s Pelicans. Yet there’s one key move Gentry has done with Lance that shows his X-Factor play. While Gee’s focus is only as a small forward, Stephenson has shown his ability to play multiple positions.
While shooting guard is his main role, his time in Los Angeles highlights his small forward play, even seeing him make starts at the position. He’s even shown some capabilities to play point guard, even though it’s not a strong suit.
Gentry has not been afraid to play Stephenson at the small forward to start the preseason. He’s held his own, which may be enough to make the roster at the end of the day.
On a team that has a new focus of flexible players, especially on defense, Stephenson fits right in. The Pelicans know this, as they’ve played him a lot, in order to make sure he can learn the system and contribute. If the minutes he is playing show he’s worth while, he will make this team.
He brings the skill set that fits this team better than Gee can. It will be a risk for New Orleans, as Stephenson’s antics in his past stints in the NBA are always looming. However, his game can not be denied. He will continue the team’s rebuild into a brand new emphasis on flexibility. First, he has to continue to capitalize on his preseason minutes and showcase that flexible play.
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Lance Stephenson became a Pelican late in the offseason. Still, he has a great chance at going from a free agent, to earning a roster spot on the New Orleans Pelicans. His overall skill set fits this team more than Alonzo Gee and will likely leapfrog him into the team’s depth chart. After being a key piece to the Pacers playoff run years ago, it’s been a tough road for Lance. This may be his best chance at another shot in the NBA. Expect him to bring it all in these final preseason games.