Text/byronyen
The NBA 2022-23 season has been going on for 2 months. The New Orleans Pelicans recently won a wave of 5 consecutive victories, usurping the Suns and becoming the newly released No. 1 in the Western Conference. Although the Pelicans have taken advantage of the fact that the league’s “strong east and weak west” have shifted power in recent years, and several strong teams in the West have been troubled by injured soldiers, the Pelicans are by no means a fluke (not to mention they have their own injury problems). Their lineup is both broad and deep, and with Zion’s strong return, they were expected to have a chance to break out in the West before the start of the season. The question now is, how long can they last and how far can they go in the playoffs? Because their lineup is not without hidden worries. This article will discuss what room for reinforcement the Pelicans have?
In addition to Zion’s gradual adjustment to respond to the standard, Ingram, McCollum and Valanciunas and other veterans (Ingram is full of 25…:P) support the scene, their young players continue to grow, Jones, Murphy, Alvarado have outstanding performances, and even the rookie Daniels has won A certain amount of playing time (19.1 minutes per game). It is worth mentioning that Murphy, following a dormant rookie season, ushered in a breakthrough this season. The data speaks for itself: Last season, he played 13.9 minutes, averaged 5.4 points per game, and shot 39.4%, 38.2%, and 88.2% of the field goal. This season, he played 28.7 minutes, averaged 13.5 points per game, and shot 48.1%, 41.4%, and 95.5% of the field. Everyone began to discuss, isn’t a shooter of Murphy’s level, with a height of 6’9 and a wingspan of 7’0, the turret that every team dreams of? How might it be the 17th pick that was picked up cheaply by the Pelicans?
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Both Ingram and Jones are recuperating from their injuries. When they return from injury, one of Green’s worries is how to choose between Jones and Murphy (Zion, Ingram, McCollum and Valanciunas are fixed starters). Personally, I don’t think it makes sense to pull Murphy off the starting lineup given how hot he’s been lately, and his defense (with his size and athleticism) isn’t bad either. Relatively speaking, although Jones, who made his fortune in defense, has the courage to take shots and is eager to get rid of the limitations of defensive locks and dead ends, his efficiency is still a little bit worse (28.6% of three-pointers this season). So it may be a reasonable choice to keep Murphy in the starting lineup to increase the team’s offensive efficiency, and then depending on the opponent’s lineup, arrange for Jones to come off the bench to serve someone.
Next, discuss the imperfections of the Pelicans lineup, will there be trouble? Is there room for reinforcement? Before the start of the season, I personally think that there are two points worth observing in the Pelicans lineup. The first point is whether Valanciunas is suitable for pairing with Zion, or ask the question from another angle. How much will Valanciunas’ performance (playing time and statistics) be excluded by Zion? ? The second point is that the Pelicans start without a traditional point guard. Of course, there are gains and losses. Part of the gain is their wings: Ingram, McCollum, Jones (or future Murphy) will give opponents offensive and defensive ends in terms of size. More pressure; but what regarding loss? Don’t they really need a point guard on the floor?
First of all, as expected, Valanciunas’s data really declined (or else?). Last season, he maintained a double-ten performance (17.8 points/11.4 rebounds), and his playing time exceeded 30 minutes for the first time in his career. This season’s 13.4 points/9.1 rebounds is still a standard, but the playing time has dropped to 23 minutes. Valanciunas, a slow-moving traditional big center, although he has good outside ability, will still hinder Zion when he uses his trump card “rapidly rushing into the penalty area” (because the opposing center defending Valanciunas will defend Zion, that is to say, Valanciunas There is a Taiwanese word for “blocking the way” on the field).
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But for the combination of Valanciunas and Zion, this is how I see it. No matter how small the ball is, the team still needs someone to defend the country and guard the penalty area! In some places, Zion has to adjust himself, following all, everyone is not playing three-on-three bullfighting. Can’t Adams (to the Grizzlies) and Zion be replaced by Valanciunas, and if Valanciunas is not perfect, then another replacement? In fact, there are not many people who can be replaced. There is only one person in the NBA who can protect the frame and not block Zion’s road. That person is now in Los Angeles… Generally speaking, the problem of the Pelicans is not serious, because there are still useful Nance and Hernangomez on the bench that can be rotated, but Hayes, who has a contract year, has been completely abandoned.
The second problem with the Pelicans seems to be bigger, that is, they don’t have a traditional point guard in their starting lineup. Although Ingram, McCollum and even Zion have good assist ability, those who are playing will agree that it is one thing to pass the ball and assist, but it is another thing to organize the offense and control the rhythm. Just imagine, when encountering old ball teams such as the Suns and Boston, the Pelicans may easily drop the ball and make mistakes, or fall into singles with insufficient time, or rush to return following making a mistake. Cerebral congestion…. Now it seems that the problem of the Pelicans can be big or small (as I said, there are gains and losses), and it seems to be more serious than Valanciunas’ problem, but it has not reached the point of non-immediate adjustment. But I vaguely feel that if the Pelicans want to go up to the next level and compete in the Central Plains, they will have to solve this problem sooner or later.
How to solve (find a point guard)? I’ve listed three versions below: “Fantasy,” “Real,” and “Negative.” The so-called “dream version” deal is that the Pelicans can exchange Ingram for Simmons! It sounds a bit crazy, Simmons is not yet available or not, but I think it’s a deal where both sides get what they want. If the Pelicans get Simmons, it means they have a top point guard and a top defense (justifiably pulling down Jones). Although Simmons’ outside line is not good (well, there is no outside line), it can be made up for by Murphy and McCollum. You must know that McCollum Deliberately playing an assist role this season hurt his offensive efficiency. Is the combination of Zion, Simmons, McCollum, Valanciunas, and Murphy a more fantastic starter?
Why did the Nets make this deal? Of course, there is a possibility of reconstruction. It is expected that Irving will leave this season. After the toss at the beginning of the season, it is hard to guarantee that Boss Cai will not be determined and simply cancel the retraining. Even if Durant is not easy to clear, Ingram will at least be the core of the reconstruction. As for the value of Simmons and Ingram, which one is higher? Both of them have 30 million-level contracts (Simmons is higher). I think the Pelicans will pay more if they want to exchange, but anyway, even if the Nets don’t win Hayes or Graham, the Pelicans have more draft picks. Just take one and add it. But the Lakers’ first-round pick next year (exchange rights) owned by the Pelicans is of course negotiable, because if the Lakers fail to make the playoffs, the Pelicans still have a chance to bet on the French tower Wembanyama!
What regarding the “real version”? In addition to lacking a starting point guard, the Pelicans also lack a shooting guard with sufficient firepower on the bench. What the Pelicans are doing now is to increase Alvarado’s playing time and also use Graham as a backup shooting guard, and the two often play together. Although Alvarado’s performance is getting better and better, there is no doubt whether he can impact the existing Pelicans’ starting lineup, especially because he has a physical disadvantage when playing with McCollum. So a more practical deal is for the Pelicans to make a small deal to upgrade the backcourt lineup. Naturally Hayes and Graham, who already played less minutes than rookie Daniels, might be used as bargaining chips. As for trading targets, Kennard of the Clippers, Curry of the Nets, and Bruks of the Pistons can all be considered.
In the end, the so-called “negative version” is to do nothing, not to rely on external recruitment but to solve the problem of the backcourt commander through internal promotion. Because the Pelicans got the 8th pick from the Lakers in this year’s draft, the Australian tall combo guard Daniels, although he is still 19 years old, has a high evaluation of defense, and he has a good performance (Green The coach also deliberately put him on the starting lineup), there is indeed a possibility of succession in the future, but are the Pelicans really willing to do nothing and wait for him for 2 or 3 years? In addition, the Pelicans unexpectedly signed a new contract (more than 17 million in 4 years) with Lewis, who only played 24 games last season and is still recovering from injury this season. So there are three young guards in the Pelicans bullpen, including Daniels, Alvarado, and Lewis, waiting to make their debut, but it’s still an old question. Which of them can hit the existing Pelicans’ starting lineup? At least not now.
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