New Orleans Pelicans: 5 overreactions to 114-92 win over Miami Heat

New Orleans Pelicans: Nickeil Alexander-Walker could be a star

Overreaction #4: Nickeil Alexander-Walker has arrived!

Ok, not really.

Obviously, NAW is not going to be the first guard off the bench once Eric Bledsoe and JJ Redick are back.

Also, we’ve seen this before with Alexander-Walker, first in Summer League last season and then in flashes during the regular season and bubble.

So let’s pump the brakes a little here and be realistic, we have to see him do it consistently before we get too excited.

All that being said, you have to love the way he played last night. NAW’s shot looked confident and fluid. He did take a couple of bad shots in the second half (SVG is probably making him watch those now) but overall his shot selection was good and he had zero turnovers.

But the most impressive thing was the way NAW got after it on defense and on the boards. He ended the game with five rebounds, four of which were defensive boards that he then brought up the floor himself.

Playing defense, grabbing rebounds and leading the fast break is how NAW will get minutes on this team, not as a backup point guard.

And who needs one anyway? The Pels have a lot of guys who can handle the ball and looked just fine last night in the second unit without a real point guard on the floor.

NAW is not there yet but if he continues this type of effort, he will be in the rotation and get big minutes.