3 takeaways from Pelicans blowout win over the Kings
The New Orleans Pelicans are officially rolling.
After dispatching of the Suns and the flailing Lakers on the road, the Pels returned home to face a Sacramento Kings team that has given them trouble over the last few years.
It was a classic trap game, but New Orleans stayed focused and got the blowout win after the Kings never really came out of the locker room in the second half.
Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum were dynamic once again and the Pels got some surprising contributions from the bench in the form of 17 points from Naji Marshall.
New Orleans is now alone in the 10th spot in the Western Conference, just 1.5 games behind the Lakers for the 9th seed.
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This was on top of some positive news about Zion Williamson’s foot, which is apparently healing, allowing him to begin to put weight on it. We’re a long way from a team that started the season 1-12, including a loss to the Kings.
Here are three takeaways from the Pelicans win over the Kings.
The New Orleans Pelicans’ defense
The Pelicans were one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA last season, a point of focus for new head coach Willie Green.
Green has pushed a defensive mentality, and the addition of all-world defender Herbert Jones has put New Orleans in the top half of the league in points allowed.
They are now 14th in points allowed overall and have let up just 97.3 per game over their last three, including last night when they gave up just 95 points to the high-scoring Kings.
Their points per game allowed has improved by six points this season, which is a huge turnaround for a team that was awful on defense last season.
Can my man Willie Green get some love for Coach of the Year?