New Orleans Pelicans: The Pels are getting killed by 3-pointers
Overreaction #3: The Pelicans are getting killed by 3-point shots!
Not only are the Pelicans allowing a ton of wide-open 3-pointers to other teams that they are hitting at a high rate, but they are bricking their own.
The Thunder made 19 3-pointers last night for 41.3 percent while the Pelicans hit a whopping FOUR of 22 for 18.2 percent.
Part of this is by design, as Stan Van Gundy’s defense is meant to stop points in the paint and allow 3-point attempts.
This can work, as Milwaukee showed last season but not if the 3-pointers the Pels are allowing are wide-open looks.
The Pels arent closing out on shooters (I’m looking at you Zion Williamson) and teams are feasting at the 3-point line against the Pels.
3-pointers are not high percentage shots but if they are wide-open that percentage goes way up.
On top of their woeful perimeter defense, the Pels can’t hit a 3-pointer of their own. The Pelicans are dead last in the league in 3-point percentage, shooting a paltry 31 percent.
The Pels have some shooters but they are not making shots and the discrepancy in 3-point makes is killing the Pelicans.
They don’t have to lead the league, but they can’t be dead last.
These three things are no longer anomalies but are becoming trends. If the Pels don’t turn these things around, they will be watching the playoffs from home again.