4 Pelicans that have gotten off to disappointing starts to the season

3. Willie Green/coaching staff

Entering his third season as the head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans, the questions still persisted about whether Willie Green was the right man for the job. Could he push the right buttons and solve the formula to help the Pelicans jump out of mediocrity and up the Western Conference standings?

After a blazing start to last season, many believed that he could be the right fit as head coach. Especially if they could remain relatively healthy.

However, it’s been a rough stretch to start the season for Green. With the help of his coaching staff, one of the priorities for the Pelicans revolved around jumpstarting their offense. Full of talent, there’s no reason why the Pelicans shouldn’t have one of the best units on that end of the floor. However, through the first few weeks of the season, it’s almost as if the Pelicans have taken a bit of a step back.

The Pelicans have the 26th-ranked offensive rating and are 19th in points per game – down in both categories compared to last season. Green’s job is tied into whether he can find a way to make the trio of CJ McCollum, Zion Williamson, and Brandon Ingram click over the course of a season. So far, that hasn’t been the case through the first 11 games.

Maybe Green and the Pelicans are going through some growing pains but they’ll have to turn things around quickly. At least for now, the early returns aren’t great for Green.