New Orleans Pelicans 2022-23 Season Preview
New Orleans Pelicans 2022-23 Season Preview
Zion returns, and momentum from last seasons playoffs look to move the need for the Pels.
Welcome to the 2022-23 previews for every NBA team! These breakdowns are designed to look at stats, film & anything I found interesting in my preparation for the upcoming NBA season.
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Note: if you are reading this in the e-mail-only form some of the gifs and videos do not always show up correctly.
Stats
2021-22 Record: 36-46
Net Rating: -2.2 (21st)
Offensive Rating: 111.1 (20th)
Good
Blasted teams on the boards, with almost a 30% OREB rate ranking 4th in the NBA and adding Zion could really enhance this. It seems like the Pelicans staff are willing and interested in playing 2 bigs together more at times so the combination of Zion & JV could really give opponents trouble on the boards.
Bad
The Pelicans took 33% of shots from 3, ranking 26th in the league. This should improve with the development of some of the young Pels and adding Zion should create more open drive and kick actions.
Ugly
The lack of a true point guard caused some offensive issues and they turned the ball over a lot, 14.5% of the time - 22nd in the NBA. We have touched on how turning the ball over does not mean you are a bad offense, but the issue is when those turnovers are not “probing/attacking” turnovers.
Defensive Rating: 113.2 (18th)
Good
Just like they rebounded well offensively, they didnt allow teams to grab OREBS, only allowing 24.4% of OREBs back - 3rd in the league. This is fantastic sign finishing possessions with a defensive rebound and adding Zion to an improved core will really solidify their defense.
Bad
The Pelicans fouled a lot - but that comes with an aggressive defense looking to turn you over (9th in TOV%). Ended up finishing the season ranked 17th in FT Rate, a slight improvement in this will add to their playoff chances.
Ugly
Pretty poor eFG% defense, allowing teams to shoot 55.1% - 26th in the NBA. This was an issue from early in the season on and contesting shots should be a priority for the Pelicans’ defense from the start of the season.
Some Notes:
After the CJ McCollum trade, the offense improved to 14th and the defense to 16th, but nothing really changed drastically from a stylistic/numbers standpoint.
Film
5-Out
Mixing up the lineups and having the flexibility to use Zion at the 5 is going to make New Orleans very difficult to guard at times.
In the preseason they were able to spread Zion out in their 5-Out actions and give him space to operate.
Angle Pop Chicago
Getting Zion going downhill, the Pelicans designed a couple of sets to create this action and get Zion on the move. Starting off with a designed pick and pop for JV, the pass gets to the middle of the floor and Herb Jones turns out to the wing.
Jones then screens down for Zion to come off Chicago action going to his left.
Strong Pop Kansas
A variation they ran to this was to start off with stagger action and then have the player who comes off the stagger clear to the other side with the big behind setting a ballscreen.
JV intentionally pops again and then they go into “Kansas” action or a backdoor into a dribble handoff for Zion to his left.
Euro
The most common action that the Pelicans ran in last years playoffs and continues this preseason is “Euro” or empty ballscreen action.
Bringing the ball up on either wing does not matter the big will go into the first empty ballscreen on one side of the floor, and if nothing is open then the ball gets reversed to the trailer.
As it gets reversed the opposite wing dives into the lane and the play flows into second side action.
Horns Out Ram Turn Chicago
I LOVE this set so much. Getting Zion going to his left this set starts off with a screen for Zion at the elbow and cutting toward the opposite elbow.
Then Alvarado screens down in the middle of the floor for CJ who sprints up and turns to screen for Zion.
Zion comes off the hand off to his left as Alvarado cuts off a screen on the baseline, in an ideal set creating shake action. Incredible set.
Keep Set
Another great After Time Out set from Willie Green, the play starts with a pass to the wing and quick thru cut from Alvarado.
Marshall the comes off a quick screen similar to Wide action and catches the pass.
He then fakes a dribble hand off with that side of the floor empty for a drive downhill.
SOB Seal Zion
Green takes another page out of the Suns playbook from his time with them, a seal set they run for Devin Booker vs smaller guards.
They run this for Zion who cuts off the first screen into the lane, and if defended well on that action means that his man is on the basket side to prevent a layup.
When they are on the basket side Zion seals his man deep in the lane looking for easy scoring actions - I have a feeling this set will be run often from the Pelicans.
If you liked this breakdown feel free to share it & if you have any other scenarios, plays, or thoughts on any future breakdowns let me know in the comments below!
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5-Out Breakdowns | Space & Pace Clinic | NCAA “Delay” Series Playbook
Note: if you are reading this in the e-mail-only form some of the gifs and videos do not always show up correctly.
Outwork Yesterday.
Coach Pyper
Is there a way to get the YouTube videos of each play like in the other breakdowns? This one with 3 gifs to make a play are much harder to make the play out