New Orleans Pelicans: 3 players who need to step up vs. Bucks

The New Orleans Pelicans need some guys to play better in the preseason finale vs. the Bucks.

The New Orleans Pelicans looked sharp in their first preseason game against Miami, but there are still some guys who need to step up in the final game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram looked even better than advertised in game one and both look poised to take the next step into superstardom.

Josh Hart played well (even though he didn’t shoot well) on the defensive end and earned some praise from Stan Van Gundy.

Lonzo Ball missed some open 3-pointers but did a great job running the offense overall.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker looked to have improved his turnover problems and defense, though we will have to see him do it consistently before we get too excited.

Steven Adams was a big improvement on both ends and looks to have solidified the center position.

Overall, it was a good team effort but there are still some guys who need to step up and prove they deserve minutes.

New Orleans Pelicans: Nicolo Melli needs to play better against the Bucks

Nicolo Melli

I’ve been on Melli since last season when he inexplicably forgot how to shoot after going six for seven from long range against the Warriors.

Since then, Melli has shot less than 20 percent from behind the arc and kept it going against the Heat, hitting just one of four of his 3-point shots.

Melli is really only on this team to do one thing: make open 3-pointers.

He doesn’t do much of anything else, so if he is not knocking down shots, he doesn’t have a lot of value.

Melli’s shots are all of the “I can’t believe he is that wide open” variety, so he needs to show he can knock them down or Gabriel is going to earn those minutes.

It would be nice to see Melli hit a few shots, get in a groove and be the stretch-four this team needs.