New Orleans Pelicans: Grades for close loss vs. Sixers
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Sixers: Grades for the wings
C. . Wing. New Orleans Pelicans. NAJI MARSHALL
Well, this certainly is not the typical wing rotation for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Naji Marshall got his fifth start of the season to mixed results. The former Xavier man played with usual great energy and motor, but he had an off-night in terms of shooting.
Marshall scored just four points, missing eight of his ten attempted shots. However, he had five rebounds, five assists to zero turnovers, one steal, and one block. Marshall certainly added value, just not when it came to scoring the basketball.
His swing skill continues to be the three-pointer. Marshall missed all five of his threes against the Sixers and his season percentage hovers around an improvable 34 percent. That’s not an awful figure, but I’m looking for a slight increase next season so that opponents have to consistently close out and respect Marshall’s outside shot.
The great news is that Marshall will have the chance to do that in the big easy. After breaking into the rotation as a result of Josh Hart’s injury, he has made himself indispensable to Stan Van Gundy and deservedly been rewarded with a three-year, $5.3 million deal.
Good look at the Naji Marshall deal here from Bobby.
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) May 7, 2021
21-22 - $1.5m guaranteed
22-23 - $1.8m guaranteed
23-24 - team option, $1.93 that becomes guaranteed if Pels execute option https://t.co/d5LQ48MgqL
Related Story. Naji Marshall is here to stay. light
Wing. New Orleans Pelicans. JAMES JOHNSON. B.
Another good game from the Pels’ reliable veteran.
James Johnson made the most of getting more minutes against Philadelphia. He was really good on offense, especially in the second half, putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rim for some difficult finishes.
Johnson’s outside shot has not been falling at all, so he only took one against the Sixers and did the rest of his work at the basket. This was a good choice and I expect to see him get plenty of game time going forward with Williamson and Ingram injured.
On defense, Johnson was solid. His size matched up well against this Philly team and he had two blocks. Plus, Johnson’s experience always comes in handy down the stretch of a close game.
C. . Wing. New Orleans Pelicans. WES IWUNDU
Wes Iwundu got 21 minutes off the bench as a result of the Pelicans’ depleted rotation.
He wasn’t bad, he wasn’t good, he was… there. Iwundu was completely neutral whenever he was on the floor, as is reflected in his plus-minus of zero. He got five rebounds, had a nice assist for Jaxson Hayes, and made a pair of free throws.
That’s why he gets this C grade. Iwundu didn’t do anything wrong, but he did nothing to stand out either. Let’s see if he makes himself noticeable to end the regular season.