The NBA Finals show the New Orleans Pelicans two paths to a title
New Orleans Pelicans: Following the Miami Heat’s path to the NBA Finals
Drafting and Shooting
The Miami Heat made it to the NBA Finals on the shoulders of two things: drafting well and shooting.
The Heat were led by Jimmy Butler, but they made the Finals because of the Heat’s ability to find talent in the draft.
Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn were all big contributors this season and none were taken in the top-ten of the draft.
Three of these guys can shoot the lights out, so the Heat took calculated risks on guys who had an NBA skill set they thought would translate.
Both Robinson and Nunn went undrafted and the Heat took chances that paid off.
This shows the Pelicans two things:
- You can find young talent outside of the NBA Draft. Summer League invites are crucial and there may be talent lurking that went unnoticed in the draft. The next Duncan Robinson may be lurking in this Draft and finding hidden talent is the way to stay relevant year after year.
- You can never have too much shooting. Even though the Pelicans were 4th in scoring and 3-point shooting, it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t look to add more, especially with their second-round picks. The Pels second unit struggled at times last year and could have used a guy like Robinson to spread the floor.
The Miami Heat built a Finals roster mostly from the draft, using their picks to select guys with impact skill sets that also fit their overall scheme.
The Pelicans still don’t have a coach, so we don’t know what that scheme will be, but if the Pelicans decide to go small, they will need shooters, so they have to hit home runs in the draft, just as the Heat did.