Pelicans Long-Term Philosophy

The New Orleans Pelicans answered the bell to start the season, getting off to a great start. A tough road trip and some nagging injuries have brought the Pelicans back down to earth. What did the losses on the road, and the following home wins, teach us about this year’s Pelicans squad?

As far as stress test go, the New Orleans Pelicans recent five game trip, and losing streak, was the toughest of the NBA season. The Pelicans did not record a road win, but did show signs of growth. Without Elfrid Payton and missing Anthony Davis some nights, the middle portion of the roster acquitted itself well, but not well enough to ease concerns.

The Pelicans did not record a win while facing the upper echelon of the Western Conference playoff contenders. Missing Payton and Davis made the schedule even more daunting than it was when Pelican Debrief mapped out the schedule in the preseason. However, in none of the games were the left-over Pelicans embarrassed.

Without top end talent, the Pelicans are not going to contend for a top seed but the middle portion of the roster proved capable of being competitive. Being able to add a healthy Davis and Payton to a competitive team makes that team a contender for a top 4 seed.

Davis is obviously the jewel of the roster. Jrue Holiday is a great kung-fu second star sidekick next to Davis. So who is the third option? This recent stretch of games has shown that Alvin Gentry has more faith in Nikola Mirotic carrying the offense than Julius Randle. Mirotic and Randle have overlapped at times, but Gentry knows Mirotic’s range and handling is just a notch above Randle’s.

Good thing is, Randle is fine being the Sixth Man of the Year and getting a solid 24-30 minutes in a playoff game. Some players do not like being relegated, especially after a star goes down, but Randle has handled the role and responsibility well. Randle will get spot starts, as  he did against Phoenix and surely a few other overmatched teams in the future.

Randle and Gentry know that he must become comfortable coming off the bench, as that will be his role when the playoff begin. Becoming comfortable in that role, night in and night out, was more important to the Pelicans coaching staff than trying to match up against playoff teams while shorthanded.

Even better is that Mirotic has shown a consistent All-Star level game. Mirotic may not get the national recognition in time to make the All Star Game this year, but he has been a revelation after coming over from Chicago in a trade. Just like Davis, Mirotic is already missing games with nagging injuries. Best to rest up now than go into 2019 as a banged up squad.

Jrue Holiday has been bullying and banging opposing guards into terrible nights of play. Devin Booker, come on down. You were the last player Holiday kung-fu’d into a career-worst type night.

Booker got one made three point attempt by going half court hero to end the third quarter. Holiday can handle the defensive responsibilities while curating most of the offense. If Holiday and Davis are on the court, the opposing team’s regular drives to the rim will be cut in half or the possession will be cut short due to block or turnover. It’s the perimeter defense from the other three spots that leave this Pelicans’ team vulnerable.

Without Holiday, teams can drive. Having Payton back in the fold will only serve to reinforce the perimeter defense and negate open drives through the lane. Those open drives put Davis on an island. Even then, he can alter shots. The Pelicans would prefer a contested shot and a quick transition from the rebound. That cannot happen if Davis is trying to hedge between the driver and his guy waiting on a lob dunk.

The Pelicans can be a tough out on the road without their stars, but are hardly more than a nuisance to top end talent. At home, even short handed, the Pelicans managed to earn wins against mediocre teams. The Pelicans are going on another short road trip. Well, only two games but lots of air miles to Toronto then across the Great Lakes to Minnesota.

Winning at Toronto is difficult at full strength, which the Pelicans are not at the moment. Until Payton is back in the starting lineup, the Pelicans are going to be patching holes. They cannot make the holes bigger, including in the standings.

Gentry has found roles for the new additions to the team, now he needs to pick his spots for road wins. Sit anyone with a hang nail against the power house teams when playing on the road. Have everyone ready to win a road game against a reshuffling and piecemeal team, like Minnesota.