New Orleans Pelicans: 3 Players to Watch Against the Miami Heat

Nicolo Melli

Nicolo Melli seems to have hit a wall after playing some of his best basketball of the season. He has been the beneficiary of a ton of good looks due to all the attention paid to Williamson and Ingram, and for a couple of games, Melli was knocking them down.

But something happened to the fiery Italian.

Since hitting 6 of 7 from behind the arc against the Golden State Warriors, Melli has gone ice-cold. He has hit just 4 of 23 in the last five games for an abysmal 17.3 percent, including just 1 of 7 against Dallas.

Melli did hit an incredible game-tying 3-pointer that sent the game to overtime, but it was the only shot he hit all game.

Melli is important for the New Orleans Pelicans for several reasons. His shooting allows them to spread the floor and gives Zion more room to operate in the paint. He also allows the Pelicans to go small in stretches, giving them mismatches with Zion at the five.

It is not an overstatement to say that Melli may be the single most important non-star for the Pelicans and that his play may determine how this season ends.

Melli needs to find his stroke tonight against Miami. He should continue to get plenty of chances but he’s got to knock them down.