New Orleans Pelicans: Grades for 113-99 win over the Toronto Raptors

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Toronto Raptors: Center grades

It would have been hard for Steven Adams to play much better than he did in his debut for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Adams was everything he was advertised and more, protecting the rim with two blocks, defending the paint with four steals, initiating the offense, setting hard screens and even taking to the rim twice for two nice finishes.

Anyone who thinks you need to shoot 3-pointers to create space has not watched much basketball. There was a slew of casual fans on Twitter laughing at the Pels’ starting lineup because there was no “spacing.”

This obsession with 3-point shooting is insane. I’ll take dunks and layups all day thanks.

But the Pels were able to put a 3-point clinic on last night, largely because of Adams’ screens, his offensive rebounds creating extra shots and his big body creating space at the top of the key.

Adams is a great fit on this team and the Pelicans are already markedly better on both ends because of him. After Rudy Gobert signed his huge deal, the Adams contract is looking like a steal.

The fact that Hayes only played six minutes is proof that SVG has him on a very short leash.

As soon as Adams went out the difference was noticeable on both ends. The Pels turned the ball over three times on four plays trying to lob it into Hayes, who couldn’t catch the passes.

Hayes was slow to rotate two plays in a row which ended in Raptors dunks and he was immediately given the hook.

The Pels played most of Adams’ bench minutes with Zion at center, something we’ll see a lot more of until the Pels get some backup bigs who can actually play.

If the New Orleans Pelicans can get more out of their backup big men, they are going to be a very deep team that is tough to stop.

It was a great first win for the Pels, who hope to bring home another one on Christmas Day. Happy holidays!!