The New Orleans Pelicans need to improve their 3-point shooting from last season. Enter coach Fred Vinson.
Vinson has gained a reputation around the league as a “shot doctor” after helping both Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram improve immensely from long range.
The Pelicans will need their assistant coach to work his magic again, as they were near the bottom of the league in 3-point percentage last season, which is not what you want when you have Zion Williamson drawing double and triple teams in the paint.
Hopefully the overall shooting will improve with the additions of Devonte’ Graham, Jonas Valanciunas and Trey Murphy III, but there is one guy who could benefit most from Vinson’s tutelage and that’s forward Herbert Jones.
New Orleans Pelicans: Fred Vinson can help turn Herb Jones into an impact player
Fred Vinson was one of the internal candidates for the Pelicans’ head coaching job before the team ultimately went with Willie Green.
But Vinson is going to play a big role as the longest tenured coach in New Orleans, especially when it comes to shooting.
Herb Jones is a guy who could use his help, as he is a shot away from being in the rotation and making an immediate impact as a rookie.
Jones is already one of the best defenders on the team, a guy who was lockdown in college and looked comfortable in Summer League defending multiple positions.
If he can just get a league-average 3-point shot, he is going to be in the rotation, as this guy can flat out defend, earning himself the nicknames “Straight Jacket” and “Not on Herb” in Summer League for his ability to shut people down.
But even with his potentially elite defense, Jones will need to be able to knock down 3-point shots if he wants to get minutes, which is why it was nice to see him getting some one-on-one time with coach Vinson.
Herbert Jones shot threes and free throws under the watchful eyes of Fred Vinson for the entirety of today’s media session after Pelicans practice. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/r599p93eMC
— Oleh Kosel 🇺🇦 (@OlehKosel) September 29, 2021
Jones shot just 35 percent on a low volume in his final season in college, and if he could replicate that on more attempts, the New Orleans Pelicans would probably be happy, as he can already impact the game with his defense.
But the 3-point shot is not only longer but more difficult to get off in the NBA, so Jones is going to need to improve considerably if he wants to be the 3-and-D forward that the Pelicans desperately need.