Bleacher Report Lists New Orleans Pelicans Backcourt As 22nd Best
By Mark Nilon
The new backcourt tandem of Rajon Rondo and Jrue Holiday is something all Pelicans fans will be focusing in on this season. As for Bleacher Report, the focus was already placed on NOLA as they ranked 22nd on a list ordering each NBA backcourt from worst to first. The question of the day is, is this a fair ranking?
When looking at the backcourt of Rajon Rondo and Jrue Holiday, many questions arise. Who will be the dominant ball handler? Can they both stay healthy throughout the season? Will floor spacing be a major problem? To be honest, these are all reasonable concerns.
Both players are ball dominant guards.
Both players have a long list of injuries throughout their careers.
And yes, both players are not the most dependable shooters.
When looking at these aspects alone, you may think their current ranking at 22 is “about right.” However, these players offer ALOT of upside to their respected team.
To start, Rondo is one of the best passers the game has ever seen. A career 8.5 Assists Per Game player, and a three time NBA assists leader, Rondo can only benefit from having two of the most prolific big men in the NBA today in Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins on his team. With these guys having the ability to grind it out down low as well as hit a mid to long range jumper at a consistent rate, the Pelicans’ offensive numbers should skyrocket from having a willing dime dropper like Rajon Rondo dishing them the rock.
Plus, just a fun fact, when Rondo and Cousins were in Sacramento together back in 2015 the Kings ranked 3rd in the entire league in Points Per Game averages. Rondo lead the league in Assists that season with 11.7 APG and Boogie put up the second most Points Per Game average of his career with 26.9 PPG (4th in the NBA in 2015-16).
Must Read: DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo: A Match Made In Heaven
Now, to be clear, I am well aware of Rondo’s shooting struggles. His career field-goal percentage is a less than stellar 46%. However, what he lacks in the scoring department he certainly makes up for on the defensive side of the ball. With career accolades including four “All Defensive Team” selections, NBA steals leader (2010) and a career average of 1.8 SPG its easy to see the impact Rondo brings on that end of the floor.
Adding a player of his skill set to a team that ranked 9th in ‘Defensive Rating’ last season (104.9) can only make them more intimidating for opposing offenses.
In regards to Holiday, we’ve seen how well he can play in New Orleans. The chemistry he has developed with Anthony Davis and the rest of the roster is irreplaceable. The problem with Holiday has not been his play but, rather his lack of playing due to injury. Since the time he landed in NOLA, Holiday has played in only 206 out of a total of 328 games.
MUST READ: Jrue Holiday Ranks 60th In SI’s Top 100
Obviously durability has been an issue for the point guard over the years. But, lets be honest here! Who were the other options at his position to take the load off of Holiday and have him get a breather during his tenure thus far?
With Rondo in the fold, Holiday doesn’t have to carry the entire load of the backcourt on his shoulders. Finally there will be someone else to create scoring opportunities for his teammates. Because of this giant load being lifted it could, in theory, diminish the chance of a serious injury for the point guard.
With Rondo potentially taking the place of main distributor on the team, it could convert into a great scoring year for Holiday.
With less responsibility in the distribution department, Holiday can focus more on creating his own shot and finding ways to get open for more catch and shoot opportunities. In his last year in Philadelphia, while being the main scoring option, he averaged a career best 17.7 PPG while shooting a respectable 36% from 3-point range. With the fact that most defenses will be zeroing in on Davis and Cousins, it should help Holiday see more open looks.
MUST READ: Rankings Of Every NBA Teams Backcourt Ahead Of 2017 Season
All in all, Bleacher Reports ranking of #22 for the Pelicans backcourt is a tad bit too low! Between the duo they have all the experience you could possibly want; All-Star, Playoff and, above all else, Championship experience.
Being ranked behind teams like Utah and Sacramento should be seen as a disappointment for the Pelicans.
But that’s the beauty of lists like this, everyone will have an opinion! Someone will always be wrong, and someone will always be right! It all depends on who’s reading it.
The regular season for New Orleans starts on October 18th. The quest to rise up the rankings will begin in Memphis!
Stay tuned Pelicans fans!