New Orleans Pelicans: Midseason grades for players, coach and front office
The New Orleans Pelicans have not lived up to the lofty expectations that many fans and media pundits had for them coming into the season.
Part of this is just that we put too much on them too soon. The Pelicans are still a very young team with a new head coach and were adjusting to a new scheme with several new players.
But when you are getting an All-NBA type season from Zion Williamson, better numbers from last year’s Most Improved Player Brandon Ingram, and lights-out shooting from Lonzo Ball, maybe the expectations should be high.
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There is still time for the New Orleans Pelicans to turn things around and make a run at the playoffs but the clock is ticking on a season that is starting to look more likely to end in the lottery.
Here are the midseason grades for the New Orleans Pelicans’ players, coach and front office.
New Orleans Pelicans: Midseason grades for the point guards
A-. . Point Guard. New Orleans Pelicans. LONZO BALL
Considering that Lonzo Ball has been adjusting to a new role this season, I’d say it would be hard to call what he’s done anything but a success so far.
He has evolved into one of the top 3-and-D players in the NBA and has improved both his shooting and defense from last season.
Whether this leads to the Pelicans re-signing him is anyone’s guess at this point, but someone is surely going to offer the max to a guy who is now an accurate high-volume 3-point shooter and can defend multiple spots.
Lonzo may be down in rebounds and assists but his free-throw shooting and turnovers have improved along with his shooting and defense.
. Point Guard. New Orleans Pelicans. KIRA LEWIS JR.. C+
Kira Lewis Jr. is a hard one to grade, as he hasn’t played nearly enough to get an idea of what his future role may be with the team.
He has flashed elite quickness that much is certain, and he is better defensively than advertised, but he is also very small, has a hard time finishing around the rim and has shot the ball inconsistently for most of the season.
He is a teenage point guard, so all of this was to be expected. We won’t know much about Lewis Jr. until after the season when we have more reps to evaluate.