New Orleans Pelicans: 3 Improvements NAW Must Make to Become SGA

New Orleans Pelicans: Nickeil Alexander-Walker needs a better mid-range game.

Embrace the Mid-Range

If you watch SGA, you’ll notice he has a silky smooth mid-range game that includes an array of pull-ups, floaters and creative mid-range shots.

Though NBA fans and media would have you believe that mid-range shots are somehow great sins that should be avoided at all costs, SGA makes his money knocking them down.

SGA only attempted 3.6 shots from long-range per game this season, while NAW chucked up 2.8 in far fewer minutes.

Neither of them is a great 3-point shooter yet and SGA has embraced this. He uses his quickness and size to get into the lane and has no problem finishing over shorter defenders.

SGA shot 51.2% from 2-point range, mostly on his signature floaters and pull-ups. NAW shot just 39.1% from 2-point range, which must improve if he wants to get more minutes.

NAW has similar size and quickness to SGA and can get his own shot, but he needs to be more aggressive looking for it.

NAW often got to the hoop this season but looked like he didn’t know what to do once he got there, sometimes leaving his feet before he had a plan, which led to turnovers.

He needs to watch tape of his cousin, who looks to score first when he beats a defender and is aggressive pulling up for mid-range shots and floaters.

NAW did this at times and showed he can be an efficient half-court scorer, but he needs to be more aggressive and more accurate from the mid-range.