New Orleans Pelicans: Player Grades in 106-104 Loss to the Utah Jazz

New Orleans Pelicans: Player Grades for the centers.

Centers

Jaxson Hayes made a strong case for more playing time after grabbing five offensive rebounds and changing a lot of shots at the rim. The Pelicans are desperately in need of size and rim protection, and though Hayes still has a lot of learning to do, he’s their best chance of getting it, as Favors is just too slow and can’t clear a credit card when he jumps.

Hayes brought a lot of energy last night, though it was at times misplaced, like when he bowled over half the Jazz team on a fast break, resulting in a charging foul and turnover.

Hayes seems to be learning his role and accepting it, which is to defend the rim and set screens. He should get more playing time in the next game, as Favors looked washed in game one.

If one thing was made clear last night it’s that Derrick Favors is not the Pelicans’ future answer at center. I know I know I know, he is part of all of their “best” lineups, but when you watch the actual games, he looks like a guy who doesn’t belong on this team. Favors was slow on defensive rotations again and again, letting up a lot of lobs and dunks to the Jazz bigs.

Favors continually foiled the Pelicans’ offense at the top of the key, where he is absolutely no threat, so the defense just sags and the Pels have nothing. Any offensive playbook that includes giving Favors the ball at the top of the key should be burned and thrown into the ocean.

The Pels fed him over and over again in the first half and Favors could do nothing with it. He had two turnovers and missed a couple of easy catches under the hoop when he was wide open and would have had potential dunks.

Favors looked a step slow against the Jazz, didn’t defend well and in general was outplayed by 20-year-old Jaxson Hayes. Every team in the league now knows that the Pelicans are soft inside and the pounding they took last night will continue until they get a legit rim protector.