Pelica Debrief
Fansided

Top 3 Examples For Using New Orleans Pelicans Depth

By Christopher Dodson

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 17: Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans goes up for a dunk against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Two of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 17, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 17: Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans goes up for a dunk against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Two of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 17, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – MAY 12: Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets and Nikola Jokic (15) react after Evan Turner (1) of the Portland Trail Blazers hit two of two free throws to give his team a four-point lead with just over eight seconds to play during the fourth quarter of the Trail Blazers’ series-clinching 100-96 win on Sunday, May 12, 2019. The Denver Nuggets versus the Portland Trail Blazers in game seven of the teams’ second round NBA playoff series at the Pepsi Center in Denver. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – MAY 12: Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets and Nikola Jokic (15) react after Evan Turner (1) of the Portland Trail Blazers hit two of two free throws to give his team a four-point lead with just over eight seconds to play during the fourth quarter of the Trail Blazers’ series-clinching 100-96 win on Sunday, May 12, 2019. The Denver Nuggets versus the Portland Trail Blazers in game seven of the teams’ second round NBA playoff series at the Pepsi Center in Denver. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

The New Orleans Pelicans and Denver Nuggets both faced the same problem. Stars Anthony Davis and Carmelo Anthony wanted a trade.

The 2012-13 Denver Nuggets traded away Carmelo Anthony midseason and only got better as a team. The Nuggets started sharing the ball and George Karl found who fit for the next season. That summer, Denver acquired Andre Iguodala for overpriced roster fodder in a four-team trade.

The Nuggets traded away a star for a large package of useful players, plus some draft picks. They then packaged some filler assets and surplus picks to acquire an underappreciated talent that could blossom into a star. This should sound familiar.

David Griffin flipped Solomon Hill, a first-round and two second-round draft picks worth little in order to create space and add Derrick Favors, Jaxson Hayes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and JJ Redick.

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Same as the Anthony Davis trade haul, that is not bad business. Likewise, with a full offseason program, George Karl led the new team-oriented squad to 57 wins, the club’s best mark ever. Karl won Coach of the Year honors. Golden State ended their season, which the Pelicans have experienced twice before.

The Golden State Warriors are no longer the ordained Western Conference representative in the NBA Finals. Sadly for Denver, Iguodala did blossom into an NBA Finals Most Valuable Player star capable of playing both ends of the floor.

He locked down LeBron James, hit three-pointers at an above-average clip, and attacked the rim relentlessly for the Warriors a few years later. That Hampton’s Five/Death Lineup Warriors team was also their deepest to win a championship. Once they lost a useful body off the bench, Lebron (him again) was able to snatch Cleveland an NBA Championship trophy.

Lebron James is not Peak LeBron any longer but he is close enough to still wear the Best Player in the NBA crown. Last season was an anomaly. This season James has Anthony Davis along to help, his most-talented teammate since Dwayne Wade.

The New Orleans Pelicans lack star power. Until Jrue Holiday gets the recognition he deserves or steps up to Most Valuable Player levels, the Pelicans will have to win by throwing capable bodies into battle. Collegiate schemes have more gimmicks but the Northwestern State Demons did use a mass substitution strategy to make their NCAA run years ago.

The Pelicans are not likely to use the mass substitution strategy every five minutes. However, Gentry could use the tactic a few times this season. David Griffin gave him a talented bench, Gentry needs to be forced to trust them.

Gregg Popovich has used the tactic. He even burned a timeout 16 seconds into a game just to make some defensive observations. It is doubtful it was an early round of praise for everyone’s performance. Hopefully, Gentry is not forced into such an action but he cannot be scared to make a point and wholesale changes in on-court personnel.