New Orleans Pelicans: Breaking down Josh Hart’s secret weapon

New Orleans Pelicans: Josh Hart is not really a shooting guard

Over his last five games, Hart is scoring about 10 points per night despite his three-point shooting having gone ice cold. That points average is actually above his season average, demonstrating that he has been effective on offense no matter what. I think Hart is often miscast as a player. Most websites or even NBA broadcasts still have him listed as a guard, but he doesn’t play like one at all. He isn’t a true 3-and-D wing either. Hart can clearly defend at a high level and make the three ball, but his percentages have never been elite (35 percent in his four NBA seasons) and he isn’t a high volume shooter from beyond the arc. Rather, I like to think of Hart as a plug-and-play guy. He can slide up and down positions at will and doesn’t need any plays called for him. If there’s playmakers around him, as is the case in New Orleans, he will make the best of the shots he gets. If he isn’t getting any shots, then Hart has no problem being productive in whichever way he can.