What the New Orleans Pelicans need to do differently vs. Timberwolves

The New Orleans Pelicans will play the second of a road back-to-back tonight vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves still looking for their first win of the season.

The Pelicans have had some bright spots in the losses, but there have also been some huge problems, so this is not the way they wanted to start the season with Zion Williamson watching from the bench.

The Pels have had problems on both ends of the floor and will need to do some things differently tonight if they want a different result against the Timberwolves.

The New Orleans Pelicans need to make a shot

This is probably the most obvious thing I’ve ever written but the New Orleans Pelicans need to make more shots if they want to win.

They shot just 34.8 percent in the last loss, including a woeful 22.5 percent from long range on a whopping 40 attempts.

I can tell you that if a team shoots 40 shots from beyond the arc and only makes nine of them, they are not going to win the game.

This starts with the backcourt of Devonte’ Graham and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who were 3-of-23 from downtown against Minnesota in the first game.

I can’t imagine they will have another shooting night like that (at least I hope), so if the Pelicans can get their starting guards some better looks early in the game to get them into a rhythm that would help the offense immensely.

The New Orleans Pelicans got a combined 50 points from Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas, but the entire rest of the team scored just 39, which has to change if they want to get their first win.