Steven Adams returned from a two-game layoff just in time for the New Orleans Pelicans’ comeback win over the Detroit Pistons.
The Kiwi center was back in the fold to play a crucial part in the Pels’ 118-128 win over Dwane Casey’s squad. Adams maybe wasn’t explicitly missed while he was away from the court because of a right ankle injury, but his presence is always a boon for New Orleans. The Pelicans completed the largest comeback in franchise history against the Boston Celtics without Adams; yet, they might not have continued riding their high against the Pistons had he not been on the court.
Adams played over 30 minutes against Detroit, only missing one his eight shots and finishing with 10 points, 15 rebounds (six of which were offensive boards), three assists, two blocks, and one steal. The little things that Adams contributes don’t always show up on that stat sheet, but in this case, he stuffed it. He wanted to make a statement in his comeback game.
Willy Hernangómez has done well in recent weeks to carve out a role as Adams’ backup and, in his absence, play as a starter. But the Spanish big doesn’t bring all of the same skills to the table that his New Zealand counterpart embodies. To start, Adams is a much better pick-and-roll partner for the Pelicans’ creators.
Adams’ first two buckets of the game came on dives to the rim and assists from Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, respectively. Involving Adams in high pick-and-roll action has been a staple of Stan Van Gundy’s offense. The Pels’ center is a very good screener and a savvy roller, biding his time, knowing when to make his steps choppy or broad, and blessed with solid hands that allow him to finish at the rim.
New Orleans Pelicans: Adams and Ingram have great rapport
In particular, Adams has great synergy with Ingram. For the first stretch of the season prior to Ball’s improved performances in his new role and Zion Williamson’s real breakout, a lot of New Orleans’ offense was predicated on the Ingram/Adams relationship. The Pistons game was a return to that.
I enjoyed this possession in which Adams fakes the handoff to Ingram, fools Mason Plumlee, and then takes it strong to the basket. Although we don’t see them often, Adams does tend to flash some self-creation flashes throughout the course of a season. He was aggressive against Detroit, scoring the bucket above and also scoring on Isaiah Stewart in the post at another point in the contest.
But Adams’ most important contributions come on the boards, especially on the offensive end, where his hustle often leads to second and third shot opportunities for the Pelicans.
New Orleans Pelicans: Steven Adams controlled the boards
Adams also made a difference on the boards, as NBA fans across the board have come to expect to him. In fairness, Hernangómez did well in his absence, averaging a bit under five offensive rebounds per game when Adams was out of action and showing that the Pelicans will have a sturdy presence under the rim no matter what. The Kiwi center crashed the offensive glass and manufactured second chance opportunities for his teammates.
In the clip above, Adams essentially outwrestles Plumlee for the offensive rebounds and then sets up first time all-star Zion Williamson for the huge slam dunk.
Adams’ importance grew as minutes went by. In the third quarter, he had an important block and an offensive rebound when the Pelicans were mounting their comeback. In the fourth, Adams was pivotal in sealing the game.
First, he picked up Eric Bledsoe’s miss and put it straight back into the basket to give the Pels a ten point cushion. Then, Adams had another important offensive rebound with a minute and a half left in the game. This second possession allowed the Pelicans to run down the clock and get their 14th win of the season.
New Orleans is now just one game behind the 10th placed Memphis Grizzlies and one and a half games behind the 9th placed Dallas Mavericks in the west. Surpassing either of those teams would enter the Pelicans into the end of the season play-in tournament and give them a chance to make their playoff dreams a reality.
Lots of questions were asked about the Pels’ bigs before and at the start of the season, but Adams has been a constant positive for Stan Van Gundy. The Pelicans will continue to need their first choice center as the season rolls on.