New Orleans Pelicans: 5 reasons for optimism in the new year
5 reasons to be optimistic about the New Orleans Pelicans
Herbert Jones
Probably the best surprise of the season has been the play of Herb Jones, though some of us were on the Herb train well before the season started.
He’s playing the type of all-over-the-court defense that has drawn comparisons to Draymond Green, has shown surprising playmaking skills and is almost the perfect model for the type of player you want to put around Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, as he can be effective without having the ball in his hands much.
light. Related Story. Herb Jones is not just energy and defense
“Not on Herb” has become the rallying cry of the Pelicans’ defense and the second-round rookie looks like he’s on his way to making the All-Rookie team.
His ceiling is a lot higher than people originally thought and he looks like a foundational piece moving forward, which is pretty great considering his pick was a throw-in (in a roundabout way) of the Anthony Davis trade.
Josh Hart
Josh Hart is another guy who has defied expectations this season and become an important part of the team moving forward.
Hart has always been a decent defender and a plus rebounder who brings energy, but this season he is scoring more efficiently and making a lot more plays on offense.
I thought Hart’s only route towards a 6th Man of the Year award was to hit more 3-point shots, but he has cut back on them and instead raised his two-point percentage to nearly 60 percent as a member of the starting lineup.
Hart now looks like a genius for signing a contract in which he essentially bet on himself, and that bet has paid off, for him and the New Orleans Pelicans.