New Orleans Pelicans: Chauncey Billups Could be the Pels’ Steve Nash

Is Chauncey Billups a fit on the New Orleans Pelicans?

Billups’ Fit on the Pelicans

Going with a first time coach would be a big risk for New Orleans, as they have a young team that is still learning the game themselves.

There will be a certain amount of growing pains with any new coach, especially one that has never done it before.

But there is plenty to like about Billups as a candidate. He was a tenacious defender and one of the smartest team players I’ve ever watched. He was always communicating on the floor, pointing out switches and essentially coaching his team while he played.

Billups’ could be the guy to improve the Pelicans’ woeful defense, as he was a big part of one of the best defensive teams of all time in Detroit.

Billups was also a surgeon in the half court offense, another area where the Pelicans need to improve. The Pels are deadly when they can get out and run but struggled when things slowed down.

Chauncey was the master of taking control of games in the half court and would be the perfect mentor for Lonzo Ball, who can make the spectacular plays but needs to learn how to grind it out.

Billups might be able to do something about Lonzo’s terrible free throw shooting as well, as he was one of the league’s best free throw shooters, which was a weapon in closing out games.

Billups is well-respected around the league so would have no problem putting together a staff of former players and more experienced coaches to help him get acclimated to the job.

Head coaches don’t work alone and Billups’ connections around the league would be an asset.

Billups is a great basketball mind, with good communication skills and the right background to lead this young Pelicans’ team.

It would be a risk, but one that could pay off if Billups ends up as the next great head coach in the NBA.