Pelica Debrief
Fansided

New Orleans Pelicans: 3 New Year’s Resolutions to set team for great 2020

By Willie Lutz

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 15: Lonzo Ball #2 of the New Orleans Pelicans and Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans smile during a game against the Orlando Magic on December 16, 2019 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 15: Lonzo Ball #2 of the New Orleans Pelicans and Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans smile during a game against the Orlando Magic on December 16, 2019 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 14: Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers scores as Derrick Favors #22 of the New Orleans Pelicans defends during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center on November 14, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 14: Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers scores as Derrick Favors #22 of the New Orleans Pelicans defends during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center on November 14, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

The New Orleans Pelicans should strive to finish among the top-12 in defensive rating and top-15 in opponent field goal percentage.

If this Pelicans team wants to make the playoffs, their best route is probably going to come on the defensive end of the floor. While there is great offensive talent, this team won’t win a whole lot of offensive races with the superior, star-led teams in the league.

Over the past two weeks, they’ve used convincing defensive performances to knock-off close to full strength playoff teams like the Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers.

While it took a system change lead by the players, this Pelicans team has finally broken through on the defensive end, really looking like a top-tier unit when they’re at their peak.


Granted, they had the hardest strength of schedule through the first two months of the season, which is a tough slate for a team with a ton of new pieces managing plenty of injuries.

Early in the season, the New Orleans Pelicans were pretty much a disaster on the defensive end of the floor, but like a lot of things over the past few weeks (primarily the return of Derrick Favors), they’ve been one of the more stifling units in the league.

Since Favors returned to the lineup on Dec. 13 against the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Orleans Pelicans rank 7th in the league with a 105.5 defensive rating. They’ve also held opponents to 43.8% shooting over that stretch, which ranks 6th in the league.

On the season, the Pelicans rank 26th in the league with a 112 defensive rating and allow opponents to bury field goals at their 21st-ranked 46.6% defensive field goal percentage. While they’ve risen from the bottom in both categories, they’ll need to keep rising in 2020.

Before the season started, many on the outside saw this New Orleans Pelicans roster and thought its defensive capability was outstanding.

At times during their careers, Jrue Holiday, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Derrick Favors had all done enough to make us believe in their team defensive ability.

So far, they’ve also seen that Jaxson Hayes can keep the rim clean against similarly-sized defenders, now know Kenrich Williams can be a top-flight defensive rotational threat, and might have a really good defensive player on the way in Zion Williamson.


This New Orleans Pelicans team is still getting better on the defensive end of the floor, but the player personnel should help them solve that puzzle as the season goes on.

Further, Jeff Bzdelik was hired as their lead defensive coach in the offseason for his outstanding resume in generating stops on that end of the floor. There should be enough to make this defense outstanding.

Home/Pelicans News