Ian Clark was considered one of the New Orleans Pelicans best signings this offseason. After a year of immense growth in Golden State, he was an under the radar hot commodity and a nice addition to the Pelicans already abounding backcourt.
He would be able to stretch the court, cut accurately, and possibly even run the offense in brief moments.
The preseason made the latter a fever dream as he often struggled when given the opportunity to run pick and rolls. When the year began he wasn’t much better and on the year he is generating just .6 points per possession, putting him in the 16th percentile.
He struggles to get penetration and finds it difficult to make the correct read. He had some moments that appeared to illustrate that he was on the right path but he never further developed.
Ian Clark was just meh in the PNR tonight but this skip pass is an important development for him (and most guards) #Pelicans pic.twitter.com/skpE3BtR2v
— Justin Jett (@JustinJett_) October 4, 2017
Luckily, the Pelicans haven’t needed his production yet. They have struggled at times but still, find themselves sitting 7th in the Western Conference at 11-8.
For the Pelicans to truly reach their full potential, however, he will have to improve. On the year he is shooting less than 37% from the field and 32% from three-point range. His struggle from beyond the arc is worrisome because most felt it was his most redeeming quality.
If he can not space the floor around the bigs, his minutes will always be disadvantageous. If he can also not be trusted with the ball in his hands he will be well acquainted with the jumbotron’s daily bits.
To access Ian Clark’s potential, the Pelicans need to run him off screens more often and use him as a fire extinguisher less. They too often whip him the ball with little time left on the clock after the offense devolves into a penetration devoid disaster.
On the year he is just 1-10 from three-point range with 7 or fewer seconds. Meanwhile, he is shooting 40% from three with more time on the clock. Also, most of the looks he gets are wide open. He just needs to be given the opportunity to take these shots.
His confidence may then actually be able to flourish like it did in Golden State. Alvin Gentry should consider having him come off screens, such as a flare screen with Rondo feeding him the ball and Cousins setting the screen.
He too often is just crouched, elbows to his sides ready to receive the ball on the perimeter rather than being actively involved in the offense.
Next: Anthony Davis, Pelicans can’t overcome sloppy supporting play
Ian Clark could still be a useful player on this team, he just needs to find his rhythm again. Alvin Gentry putting him in the right sets could act as the metronome.