Wednesday: The Pelicans Big Picture
Do the Pelicans Have Enough Shooting?
NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Pelicans have plenty of offensive talent. When you look at guys like Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy, Dejounte Murray, Jeremiah Fears, and Saddiq Bey, all of those guys are talented.
But my one question that could determine how effective all of those pieces are:
Do the Pelicans have enough shooting?
My answer is: They have enough shooting to be dangerous, but not enough to take it for granted, and that's an important distinction.
Why Shooting Matters So Much
Playing alongside Zion requires spacing.
When Zion gets the ball in the paint, defenses have a difficult decision to make. If they collapse, the Pelicans need shooters waiting on the perimeter. If they stay home on the shooters, Zion gets the one-on-one matchup he wants.
That's basketball at its simplest: make the defense choose.
Trey Murphy III is critical to that equation.
His combination of size, movement shooting and three-point range makes him one of the most important offensive pieces on the roster. When Murphy is knocking down shots, the floor opens up dramatically for everyone else.
The Young Players Matter
The Pelicans are going to need shooting from more than just their stars.
Jeremiah Fears is a player worth watching. His development as a perimeter shooter will determine how difficult he is to defend as he becomes more comfortable running an NBA offense.
Even small improvements from several players can have a major impact.
A team doesn't necessarily need five elite shooters.
It needs enough shooting that defenses can't consistently send an extra defender toward its best player.
The Bigger Question
The Pelicans' shooting isn't just about three-point percentage. It's about where those shots come from, when they're taken and whether opponents respect the players taking them.
If New Orleans can consistently surround Zion with three or four legitimate perimeter threats, the offense becomes much harder to defend. However, if teams don't respect enough shooters, Zion's driving lanes shrink—and so do the opportunities for everyone else.
The Pelicans don't need to become the best three-point shooting team in the NBA. They simply need to become a team that defenses can't afford to leave open.
Understand the Pelicans. Don't just watch them.
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