New Orleans Pelicans: Qualities the Pels need in future players
The New Orleans Pelicans need guys who can defend their position
Outside of Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball and Steven Adams, the Pelicans do not really have any players who are good individual defenders.
Their guards are either too small or too slow. Ingram’s defense has barely improved in five years and Zion is definitely a work in progress.
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The Pels don’t really have anyone who sees defense as their primary role, as they are all happy to chuck 3-point shots all game but few of them are willing to do the dirty work on the other end.
I would love the Pelicans to add 3-4 guys who view defense as their only task, guys who get down in their stance and take pride in stopping the other team’s best players.
The Pels almost always coast on the defensive end, which is whey they are 29th in the NBA in defensive efficiency even after hiring a coach who is known for defense.
You can blame Stan Van Gundy all you want, but defense is about effort and heart and right now the Pels aren’t showing much of either.
Whether they are in the draft, free agency or making trades, the Pelicans need to get some guys who are elite individual defenders or at the very least, care about it.