New Orleans Pelicans: This point guard may be closing a lot of games

The New Orleans Pelicans will be using a point guard by committee approach again this season.

Zion Williamson will be the guy with the ball in his hands a lot of the time, but the Pelicans are also going to use Kira Lewis Jr., Tomas Satoransky, Devonte’ Graham and Nickeil Alexander-Walker at the one at times depending on the situation.

Coach Green has hinted that the rotation will be wide open from night to night, so we may see one or more of these guys in certain situations but not others.

All of the Pels’ point guards have different skills and strengths, but so far in the preseason none of them have been particularly effective in the half court.

The Pels weren’t great in half court offense last season, often playing predictable iso-ball without a lot of ball movement.

This has once again been the case in preseason, as the Pels offense has struggled when things slow down, though a lot of this is just the fact that Zion and Ingram have been out.

So which of these point guards is going to close games? As things slow down, playmaking becomes more important, which is why I think they will lean on their veteran early on.

New Orleans Pelicans: Tomas Satoransky is the Pelicans’ best traditional point guard

NAW is not really a point guard and Lewis Jr. is still learning the nuance of the position though he does have explosive athleticism.

So far in the preseason, the half court offense has flowed best with Tomas Satoransky, who is more of a traditional playmaker than NAW or Lewis Jr.

Satoransky is a pass-first guy who will try to break down defenses to set up teammates instead of looking for his own shot.

This is why I think we’ll be seeing him out there to close a lot of games, as he makes smart decisions with the ball, doesn’t turn it over much and will keep the offense moving.

Of course, Zion Williamson is going to be the one facilitating most of the time, but Sato can be a calming veteran presence in the half court who gets his teammates better shots in the clutch time.

I think we’ll see Satoransky, Devonte’ Graham, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson and Jonas Valanciunas on the floor a lot together during clutch time, especially early in the season.

I also think we’ll see the Pels go with “jumbo” lineups without a real point guard to take advantage of their versatility and size.

Satoransky is not the Pelicans’ best point guard, but he is the most experienced and will get the call to come off the bench and close games.