Ranking the New Orleans Pelicans’ Starters Against the NBA’s Best
By Tim Burke
Shooting Guard
This group is mostly composed of 3-and-D type players who can guard multiple positions if needed to.
Wesley Matthews – 7.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Matthews is a consistent defender who may get lost on a list of names full of All-Stars or All-Defense level players.
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His 2.4 Defensive Win Shares this season are the most by any player in this group. Matthews came to Milwaukee on a veteran minimum one-year contract with a player option for next year.
The Bucks are over the moon with his production at that cost. Milwaukee uses their deep rotation to keep all their players playing fewer minutes than they likely would on a different team.
Matthews is playing the fewest minutes, 24.7 per game, since his rookie year in the 2009-10 season.
Avery Bradley – 8.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Like Matthews, Avery Bradley has bounced around the league the last few seasons but he always provides defensive value. A two-time All-Defense shooting guard, most recently in 2015-16 when he made the first team.
Bradley is a solid player who keeps the ball moving and doesn’t make many mistakes. Even in his limited role on the Lakers he still average more assists (1.3) than turnovers (1.0) per game.
This is what a team is hoping for when they sign a player like Bradley.
Jrue Holiday – 19.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.9 assists
Holiday, unlike the two players listed before him, is a key offensive player for his team.
His three-point shooting percentage may be the lowest of this group (35.7%) but he’s asked to do much more than run around screens and spot up on the offensive end of the floor.
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A two-time All-Defense selection himself, Holiday is more than capable of defending nearly any player in the NBA.
He’s also asked to be the lead ball handler and play maker when Lonzo Ball goes to the bench, something Holiday doesn’t want to do full-time but can for spurts.
Advantage – Jrue Holiday
This one isn’t close either, Holiday just does more than the other two and does them at a higher level.