New Orleans Pelicans: One thing for each player to prove this season
The New Orleans Pelicans are in the home stretch of strange season that has suddenly been derailed by injuries.
Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and Steven Adams have all missed time recently due to injuries, but miraculously the Pelicans are still just two games back of the final play-in spot.
light. Related Story. Zion Williamson as a strong case for Most Improved Player
Even if the Pelicans don’t make it, this has not been a waste of a season, as we’ve seen promising development from Zion and Lonzo in particular and the future is still bright in the Bayou.
The Pels would like to overcome the adversity they are facing and make the playoffs, but whether they end up in the second season or the lottery, individual players still have a lot to prove heading into next season.
Here is one thing for each member of the New Orleans Pelicans to prove in these last 21 games of an up and down season.
New Orleans Pelicans: Centers
Steven Adams: Adams has done what he was brought to the New Orleans Pelicans to do, which is to grab rebounds, add some toughness and improve the interior defense. Adams is a veteran who doesn’t have much left to prove, but I would love to see him be more of a playmaker on offense and not just a screen setter.
Adams is adept at setting screens for Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram that give them space to operate, but I would like to see him pass out of those situations as well so the offense isn’t quite so predictable.
Look, Zion has been nearly unstoppable so it doesn’t really matter if they are predictable but if teams ever figure a way to slow him down, they will need other people to step up and make plays. Adams has averaged as many as 2.3 assists per game in his career and has shown he can set up teammates with handoffs and passing, so I’d like to see just a bit more.
Jaxson Hayes: Hayes has been a lot better since returning from his benching and has shown improved defense and energy. But he is still pretty useless on offense, as his screens are lackluster, which offsets his ability to roll to the hoop.
Hayes need to prove he can set physical screens that actually do something, rather than the “Olé!” type screens he sets now where he is clearly more interested in rolling to the hoop for a dunk than actually making contact with the defender.
Willy Hernangomez: Hernangomez has exceeded expectations as a backup center and has proven he can hold it down defensively in short bursts and not kill you on offense. I would like him to prove that he can knock down a mid-range jumper or shoot over 60 percent from the floor. If he can do either of these two things, then he will secure his third center position for the foreseeable future.