Pelica Debrief
Fansided

New Orleans Pelicans: 15 greatest scorers of all-time

By Daniel Lubofsky

NEW ORLEANS - DECEMBER 16: Chris Paul #3 and David West #30 of the New Orleans Hornets celebrate during the game against the Detroit Pistons at New Orleans Arena on December 16, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Hornets defeated the Pistons 95-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS - DECEMBER 16: Chris Paul #3 and David West #30 of the New Orleans Hornets celebrate during the game against the Detroit Pistons at New Orleans Arena on December 16, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Hornets defeated the Pistons 95-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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New Orleans Pelicans
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Shooting Guard. 2010-12. Marco Belinelli. 15. player. 69.

In a career that has spanned over a decade, Marco Belinelli has suited up for an eye-opening nine different organizations, with the New Orleans Hornets franchise serving as one of his more impactful destinations from a scoring standpoint.

Whereas some offensively gifted players are able to thrive in a number of different areas, he was known as a specialist from beyond the arc, a dead-eye sniper who could hit shots under the toughest of defenses.

He could obviously catch and shoot with the best of them, but what really made the former first-round pick so special was his ability to free himself for open looks despite the oppositions best efforts to keep a body on him at all times. With seemingly endless amounts of stamina, Belinelli would dart around screens with precision and elude defenders by faking one way and going another, all to get even just an extra inch of space on his jumper.

Once the ball arrived in his shooting pocket, it rarely mattered the type of coverage he faced.  Even after running at full speed and stopping on a dime to pull up from deep with a hand right in his grill, his release was so quick and fluid it helped him convert a number of looks other shooters would’ve clanked off the back iron.

Belinelli averaged only 11.1 points with the Hornets, but his 39.6 percent 3-point percentage was of great use to New Orleans, seeing as how defenses automatically had to give him extra attention upon entering the game for fear of his ability to knock down multiple triples in a row and stretch a lead.