New Orleans Pelicans: Evaluating how Stan Van Gundy will change the Pels
New Orleans Pelicans: Stan Van Gundy preaches Defense, Defense, and more Defense
Stan Van Gundy has been successful on the defensive side of the floor throughout his career in coaching. Dating back to early in his career in Miami, his team was the 8th most efficient defensive team in the league. And then when he was in Orlando, his team ranked 2nd in the league on defense.
Dwight Howard was able to win the Defensive Player of the Year award three times in Stan Van Gundy’s system.
He instills player’s with his defensive philosophy… which is:
- Protect the Paint
- To always get back on Defense (No easy transition buckets)
- Rebound on Defense (Box Out)
- Limit Fouls
Stan spoke on this prior to receiving the Pelicans job.
"“They’ve gotta get committed to the defensive end of the floor, at some point, you’re going to have to do a better job getting back on defense and you’re going to have to do a better job protecting the paint. I just don’t know if you can build a good enough defense if you don’t do those two things.”"
Judging Stan’s comments thus far, it’s obvious that defense is #1 on his priority list.