The Pelicans are currently seeded 7th in the Western Conference and have been one of the more surprisingly successful teams in the NBA.
A large reason for this success is their dynamic and explosive offense. The gravity and versatility of the Pelicans bigs is allowing for the surrounding talent to shine. The bigs not only suck in defenders but can initiate offense from the post, off a screen, or even running a pick and roll.
All of this has equated to some stellar statistics.
The Pelicans are second in field goal percentage, sixth in three-point percentage, second in assists, and have the eighth best offense in the league.
E’Twaun Moore and Darius Miller are also both shooting over 45% on over four attempts per game. This is something that has only been done 31 times in NBA history and the Pelicans have two players doing it THIS YEAR. E’Twaun Moore is one of only nine other players to shoot at least four threes per game and shoot better than 47% with at least 20 games played.
They have just been better and better as the season has gone along, including being much less turnover prone since the arrival of Rajon Rondo who has improved the offense while hurting the defense.
Jrue Holiday has even somehow benefited from Rondo’s return as his aggression level has hit “Hulk Smash” proportions over the last few games.
In his last nine games, to be specific, he has averaged 25 points, five assists, and four rebounds on an incredible 52.4% from the field and 41% from three-point range.
Despite all of this, the Pelicans are simply .500 and can play with anyone and lose to anyone.
The main reason for this is their disappointing defense. Boogie has been lackadaisical and often too slow or too ground stricken to defend at a high level.
Two bigs aren’t exactly helping the Pelicans rim protection either, something I assumed would be a strong point when the year began. The Pels allow the 24th worst defensive field goal percentage at the rim.
Combine this with allowing opponents to shoot 37% from three-point range and you get the 24th ranked defense in the league.
With the Pels roster, they cannot switch, nor can they aggressively trap. They are forced to sink low into the paint and either give up a mid-range jumper or a three-point shot. This is a fine defensive strategy, however, it calls for the guards to make sure the three-point shot is not the open shot.
Sinking the big low stops the roll and gives up the least desired shot in basketball but if the guards do not do their work to fight over the screen, it gives them ample space to shoot a three.
As poor as DeMarcus has been defensively, he needs his wing players to do a better job of fighting through screens.
Next: The Pelicans should post-up Jrue Holiday more
Without this, and many other adjustments like hustling back in transition, the Pelicans will never be a legitimate threat in the playoffs. No matter how sharp they shoot.