New Orleans Pelicans: These 3 things have changed from last season
The New Orleans Pelicans have revamped their roster, making some big changes along the way.
Fans have been debating all offseason whether the Pelicans have improved, but what is not debatable is that they have changed in some fundamental ways.
These Pelicans should be a better fit around Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, and there has been a noticeable shift in their mentality. It seems like the team is communicating more effectively and enjoying playing basketball a lot more even though their preseason has been up and down.
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With three new faces in the starting lineup and and new bench, the New Orleans Pelicans are hoping they can shake off the memories of last season when they finished 11th in the Western Conference and missed the playoffs.
Let’s take a look at three important ways they have changed and how that could translate to more wins.
The New Orleans Pelican are longer, faster and more athletic
The Pelicans said goodbye to Lonzo Ball, Steven Adams, Eric Bledsoe, Nicolo Melli and J.J. Redick from last season.
Lonzo went to Chicago and will be the biggest loss of the group, while the rest of those guys will be addition by subtraction (other than Adams), as they were all terrible for the Pelicans.
They’ve been replaced with younger, longer, more athletic players in Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III and Naji Marshall, which should allow the Pelicans to play faster on defense and get out an run off turnovers more than they did last season.
They are better equipped to defend the perimeter than they were last season, and are overall just a more lively and fun team. Let’s face it, guys like Lonzo, Bledsoe and Redick weren’t happy in New Orleans and have been replaced by guys who actually want to be here.
It’s only preseason but this team is going to be a lot more fun to watch.