The New Orleans Pelicans have a problem at the rim

The New Orleans Pelicans have gotten off to a 6-6 start, and as the record would indicate, there has been an equal amount of good and bad.

One thing the Pelicans have established is their dominance down low on the offensive end, as you would expect with a front court of Zion Williamson and Jonas Valanciunas.

The Pels are taking a unique approach among most of their NBA peers, as they are shooting fewer 3-point shots and getting most of their production from the paint and mid-range.

They are currently second in the NBA in points in the paint, and second in points off of 2-point shots, while just 26th in points off of 3-pointers.

The Pels are a team that tries to get to the rim, and it shows, as they have the 5th-highest FG percentage in the league, and were leading that category just a few days ago. We know New Orleans can feast at the rim, but the problem they have right now is that the other team can too.

The New Orleans Pelicans’ rim protection is lacking

The New Orleans Pelicans may score a lot of points in the paint, but they are also giving up a lot. They score 56 per game themselves but are giving up 51.3, which is just 23rd in the NBA and negating much of their advantage.

The Pelicans are just 26th in opponents 2-point percentage, and according to Synergy (SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED), New Orleans is the worst in the NBA at defending the rim, allowing opponents to shoot 67.5 percent.

The Pelicans are just 23rd in blocked shots per game, and don’t currently have a single player averaging at least a block per game. Brandon Ingram is leading the team at .9 and guard CJ McCollum is second with .7 blocks per game.

New Orleans may not have an answer on their bench, as coach Willie Green has been reluctant to play Jaxson Hayes, who is the only one there who could be considered a shot blocker and he’s never had a season in which he averaged at least a block per game.

If you had to point the finger at one roster weakness, this is it, as the New Orleans Pelicans are giving up way too many points in the paint and at the rim, and teams just aren’t scared that their shots are going to be blocked.