New Orleans Pelicans: How the Pels’ defense will improve this season

How the New Orleans Pelicans will improve their defense: Steven Adams

Centers

The Pelicans upgraded the center position, which should help improve their woeful interior defense.

Fans loved to talk about how Derrick Favors was a “defensive stopper” and the “anchor of the defense” and there are numbers to support it.

But was this because Favors was good or the rest of the defense was so bad? Favors had one skill, post defense, and could not switch or step out to save his life.

By the end of last season, it was unclear if Favors could even touch the rim when he jumped and he certainly wasn’t intimidating or altering shots.

Steven Adams isn’t super quick and isn’t going to jump through the roof either, but he is much better at switching on the perimeter than Favors, is a much-better defensive rebounder and is generally much tougher and more intimidating at the rim.

The Pels also added Willy Hernangomez, who should provide some defense and muscle down low, as well as some competition for Jaxson Hayes, which will hopefully light a fire under the second-year player.

This upgrade alone should make the Pelicans a more consistent defensive team and the addition of Wenyen Gabriel could also be a low-key move that shores up the interior.