Outsider’s Perspective: Questions with James Grayson from Bourbon Street Shots

The New Orleans Pelicans don’t play again until Saturday. However, even an off day for the Pelicans leaves questions to be answered. Normally our series sits down with editors or contributors from upcoming matchups. But there are so many perspectives available to just stay in one lane. For this installment, we reached out to the award-winning Bourbon Street Shots. Special thanks to James Grayson for giving us his time. Enjoy!

1. James, the Pelicans have been a mix of highs and lows this year. For those who have a hard time with the pitfalls, give some advice. More of a positive outlook.

Well, I think it’s very hard for Pelicans fans to remain patient. For years this organization has teased what they could be and this goes back to the Chris Paul days. I think at the moment the team is currently marred by inconsistencies. We’ve seen how good they can be, what they can do when they’re locked in and playing solid defense. They’re currently the sixth best offense in the NBA, they’re shooting really well from beyond the arc and are getting good contributions from Jrue Holiday, Darius Miller and E’Twuan Moore. Let’s take their two last losses into consideration (Mavs and Knicks). They were both terrible, embarrassing losses at home when you need to take care of business. But here’s the positive spin on it. If the Mavs shoot anywhere near to their season average the Pelicans win that game. The Pelicans did a really good job of closing the gap and getting back into the game. They also did the same thing against the Knicks. They focused, locked in on defense and started to claw their way back into the game. Because their offense can be elite (when they’re not turning it over or running isos) they can always be in a game if they clamp down on defense.

Now I’m as pessimistic as any Pelicans fan that they’ll be able to iron out these inconsistencies, but they do have a framework for success.

2. The Pels were tied to a few trades in the offseason. Do you envision them looking to make a move possibly for a wing player? Or will they stay with what they have and wait for guys like Solomon Hill to return?

I don’t think they’ll look for another wing player. I think they’re getting enough shooting from their team currently which was a major concern prior to the season beginning. Their issue is defense and with Solomon Hill returning it’ll be a major upgrade. Remember, Hill is only 26 years old, so he has room to grow. The Pelicans last season really showed some good things on defense with Hill in the lineup.

3. Every year or so, we see another tall, long, ridiculously athletic player emerge on the scene. The popular adjective used to describe this type of a player is a “unicorn”. Kristaps Porzingis owns the nickname outright as of now. Anthony Davis was arguably one of the first. As he gets older and grows more traditional/grounded, will he still fit that label?

I think a lot of that stuff has to do with media hype. Every year there’s a new player on the scene (as you say) and has sort of a “new car smell” to it. But people watch the player more and more and they lose their shine as fans become aware of their limitations. To me, that’s patently ridiculous because I will always appreciate what a player can do. I think an example of that is Boston fans, some of them are talking themselves OUT of trying to acquire Anthony Davis. I think people will still appreciate Davis, so long as he wins some playoff series. The next step for a young talent is to have success in the playoffs. Until you have that then you’ll always face criticism and you’ll fall out of the spotlight. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kristaps Porzingas, Anthony Davis – they’ll all have that label for a period of time until people find the next “new thing.”

4. What’s the biggest misconception about the Pelicans?

That they’re a terribly coached team.

I cannot begin to describe how frustrating it is to hear people immediately criticise the coaching staff the minute something goes wrong. For example, let’s consider the Pelicans issues with turnovers. Think of all those boneheaded mistakes they make, the long “touchdown” passes they attempt. You honestly think that Alvin Gentry isn’t telling them to cut that crap out of their game?

I think because fans aren’t in the huddle we are missing what is being told to the players and then what they’re actually doing. The Sacramento Kings game where the Pelicans gave up a nine point lead in the last two and a half minutes wasn’t because the coaching was poor. It was because the players just started to screw around and made minimal effort to pass and cut on offense. The Pelicans at one point called a timeout and ran a beautiful out of bounds play. Why? Because the coaching staff was able to get them to run something.

I think that more blame needs to go to the players and not just say that the coaching stinks. Communication is a two-way street. The coaches can tell the players what to do. But the players need to listen and take action themselves.

5. If you could change one strategic aspect of the Pelicans on the court, what would it be?

It’s tough for me to nail this down because I think the Pelicans biggest issues are all about effort and IQ. When they miss a shot the big men often just stand there for a second or two and that gives the opposition time to attack. Or the team turns the ball over and does the same thing.

If there was one thing strategic aspect above all else that I’d like to implement/change it’d be this:
When the Pelicans are running out of offensive sets between timeouts, rather than Demarcus Cousins getting the ball above the three-point line, get it down on the block. Cousins can then look to pass to cutters and the players without the ball can either cut or screen for their teammates.

I’m so sick of seeing Cousins get the ball at the top of the three-point line, dribble between his legs a couple of times and then try to drive into the paint where there are five defenders waiting for him. The only time I really like seeing DeMarcus with the ball is when he and Davis run the big PnR.

Next: Bleacher Report Ranks Pelicans As Having Fourth Best “Big-3” In The League

That’s a wrap for our time James and Bourbon Street Shots. Be sure to follow both @jsgrayson and @BourbonStShots. Follow us @PelicanDebrief and stay tuned for our next episode as we speak with Andrew Bernucca from The Step Back.