Every NBA team has team goals aside from winning the NBA title each season. But for the New Orleans Pelicans, this season start is never part of what they have envisioned. With the promising Anthony Davies on their roster and the modern approach of Coach Alvin Gentry, fans and experts alike may have expected something better from the team who went head on with the Warriors during last year's play-offs. Though they have fallen short for their campaign last season, no one ever expected that they would even fall shorter during their NBA start this season.
Pelicans that previously had a 0-6 standing, was expected to break some entry records in the regular season of the NBA. Thanks to their win against the Mavericks, they now stand in par with the Lakers and the Kings at the bottom of the ranking.
For a simple person watching an NBA game, one could question why is it that it is happening with a team that has some promising core, especially with Davis who is putting up a |31.5 PPG, 3 BLK, and 11 REB, with a .540 FG% and .889 FT%,| said yardbarker. The so-called Anthony Davis show is off course no much to a team effort. That is why experts are unanimous in saying that Pelicans' struggle is because of the injuries their key players are having, Omer Asik, Tyreke Evans, and Norris Cole.
As a result of the said void in the rotation and lineup, Davis was observed to be trying to fill in the said gap. However, his enthusiasm and intention is not yielding much for the Pelicans. Yardbarker detailed that;
"Anthony Davis has taken it upon himself to step up. The issue is that Davis often forgets his own limit and inadvertently hurts his team... A closer look reveals a glaring differential in his turnovers and his shooting percentage. Prior to the 2015-16 season, Davis had averaged 1.5 turnovers in his previous three years. So far this season he is turning the ball over at a much higher clip, at 2.8 a game." Yardbarker also noted that "Davis' FG% has dropped from .535 to .463. That is a difference of .072, which is actually quite significant."
As a result of such observation, the Pelicans turned to a former NCCA superstar, Jimmer Fredette. Fredette, known for his shooting style and accuracy from beyond the arc, is expected to aid the offensive end of the team. It can be remembered that Fredette was drafted by Sacramento Kings and was able to play in the NBA for 4 seasons. However, his NCAA success was not replicated in the professional league thus paving his way towards the D league under the Knicks.
And now with the NBA's injury hardship exception, Fredette would be the 16th man in the rooster, in lieu of the other ailing players. Despite his defensive problems, Pelicans still expect something from the former national player of the year and NCAA scoring champ.
Adding Fredette is obviously not a long term solution for the team. But hopefully with the addition of Fredette as point guard, something would happen that would boost the campaign of the injury plagued New Orleans Pelicans.
