New Orleans Pelicans: How Willie Green’s defense will be different

New Orleans Pelicans: Willie Green will have the Pels defending the 3-point shot

The 3-point shot has become a lot more common over the past decade and now just about every team is following the analytics that say you should should more of them.

Some teams, namely the Milwaukee Bucks, have decided to let teams shoot them and to double down on stopping the easier shots in the interior. This worked for the Bucks, who have one of the league’s best defenses, but they also have Giannis Antetokounmpo, an otherworldly defender who makes any strategy look good.

Stan Van Gundy tried the same strategy with the Pelicans, doubling down on interior defense and daring the other teams to shoot. And they did.

The Pelicans were 26th in the NBA in opponents’ 3-point percentage, which is one of many reasons their defense was terrible last season. They allowed way too many wide-open 3-point shots, and the rebounds they were able to rack up did not offset the damage other teams were doing from behind the arc.

The Phoenix Suns were 3rd in the NBA in opponents’ 3-point percentage, and were much better at defending the perimeter and closing out on shooters.

The Suns also have better individual defenders, so it wasn’t all just strategy but coach Willie Green will have the Pels much more focused on stopping the 3-ball or at least making it more difficult.

The New Orleans Pelicans are a younger team than they were last season and it will likely take some time for them to gel defensively, but let’s hope that over the course of the season Willie Green can get them playing harder and smarter on that end.