The New Orleans Pelicans Need Their Own Dennis Rodman
The New Orleans Pelicans are too Nice
Words like “soft” get thrown around way too much by NBA fans.
It’s especially hilarious to see a keyboard warrior who can’t tie his own shoes without getting out of breath telling a superhuman athlete that he is “soft” from the safe confines of his computer screen.
The New Orleans Pelicans are certainly not soft, but they lack a certain edge.
Their best player, Zion Williamson, is a 19-year-old smile and dunk machine. Though he occasionally does things like this:
Lonzo Ball plays with attitude but is still mostly a really nice guy, even funny.
Brandon Ingram is an assassin on the offensive end, but is still built like he has a wire hanger for shoulders.
This is all a good thing, as the New Orleans Pelicans are a very likable team with marketable stars, one of which is the future face of the league.
But they also need someone who occasionally throws a punch.
The New Orleans Pelicans got pushed around by bigger teams, knocked off the ball and at times run right through.
Watching the New Orleans Pelicans try to stop LeBron was like watching a bunch of kids trying to stop their teenage older brother.
He’s twice their size, way stronger and most importantly has no fear of his younger brother and crew.
The New Orleans Pelicans need a guy who can’t be pushed around, who stands his ground and isn’t looking for a reason to abdicate his defensive duties for a fast break dunk.
Rodman was that guy for the Bulls.
He not only agitated the other team, but occasionally delivered a hard foul just to let them know it wasn’t going to be easy.
The New Orleans Pelicans give up too many easy buckets and no one is afraid to take it into the lane. That needs to change.
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The New Orleans Pelicans are 28th in points allowed in the paint partially because they don’t have a true rim protector and no one is afraid to come into the lane.
Obviously the game has changed tremendously since the 1990’s and half the things Rodman did would get him tossed instantly from a modern game.
I’m not advocating dirty play, but the New Orleans Pelicans need a guy who is not afraid to mix it up occasionally, to let the other team know it is not going to be easy.