With Rajon Rondo returning, Jameer Nelson’s earning his minutes

The New Orleans Pelicans seem to be getting on the right track on the court. Winners of three straight, there’s becoming less and less to raise issues about. Of course, the weak play of their backcourt has drawn it’s fair share of complaints. This doesn’t mean everyone has struggled though. Jameer Nelson is earning his minutes, and that shouldn’t change when Rajon Rondo returns.

When the season started, Jameer Nelson wasn’t even on the New Orleans Pelicans roster. With veteran Rajon Rondo set to miss a month, and rookie Frank Jackson out for the year, help coming at some point wasn’t much of a surprise.

That help came in the form of Nelson. The 35-year-old point guard may not fill the stat sheet like he used to, but he’s the same player. He knows how to drive, can hit from outside, and simply plays like a pitbull. Listed at 6’0″, Nelson looks closer to a 5’0″ tall bowling ball on the court.

He’s brought a smart veteran presence who knows how to handle himself on the court. This has been major for a team that has seen massive struggles from their guards.

E’Twaun Moore and Ian Clark have been extremely inconsistent, and tend not to read the pace of the game. Meanwhile, Tony Allen has brought intensity (which is great) but brings almost nothing to the offense.

Finally there’s Jrue Holiday. He was supposed to be the saving grace of this aggressively average backcourt. Instead, he’s shooting 42.7% (21.4% from three) and scoring just 13.2 points per game. Couple this pedestrian scoring average with his 2.9 turnovers and 3.0 fouls per game and Holiday has been a major disappointment.

While Nelson’s numbers won’t blow anyone away (7.4 points/4.1 assists), he’s hitting nearly 39% of his threes. The Saint Joe’s product is an extremely underrated passer as well.

He’s not only been reliable off the bench when it comes to stats, he gives the Pelicans court knowledge. Nelson knows when to slow down or speed up, recognizes hot hands, and runs the offense rather impressively.

With Rondo set to return soon, minutes will be divided a little more. A few weeks ago, it would’ve been obvious that Nelson would see a major cut in playing time. That shouldn’t be the case anymore.

No, Nelson probably won’t get 27.2 minutes when Rondo is healthy but that doesn’t mean he should be buried on the bench either. Nelson has earned the right to be the first guard off the pine, and can even be a part of those “small ball” lineups the NBA is so crazy about now a-days.

Next: Fantasy Basketball - It's Time To Roster Rondo

Jameer Nelson may not outwardly appear to be your typical floor general, but his game still fits the description. He’s been a leader off the bench, and the Pelicans should reward that.