The Pelicans are starting to look like the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, in terms of a being a team whose total is somehow much less than the sum of its parts. There's no way in hell that a team with Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans and a healthy Eric Gordon should be having their asses handed to them by the Orlando Magic.
There's no question that, individually, all of those guys can play. Do they just need time to gel, is it coaching, or is it something else?
I've been watching their games. As much as it pains me to say it - Tyreke really needs to step up his game. I don't know if it's because of the injury he sustained in preseason, but he just looks a step slow, doesn't move with the same kind of intensity or quickness that he used to. Also looks like he's put on weight which just makes him less mobile. He's been setting guys up for shots, but they've been missing. That's what happens when you rely on outside shots...
Holiday, Davis and Gordon have been playing relatively well. They've got a huge weakness at the center position though. Stiemsa makes a strong case for being as useless as John Salmons, and they have Onuaku backing him up now who's no stud either. Ryan Andersen has been out with a fractured toe, and I think that's made a significant difference.
Oh and from reading Pelicans forums, it seems Monty Williams might just be the "defensive" version of Keith Smart. Fans were screaming at him for one of his substitutions that they felt cost them the Pacers game.
I think they need a better system to gel everyone together. Right now the way they play looks a lot like how we went out to get guys who could handle and score, dumped them all together on a court and told them to go get things done.
Anthony Davis btw, is a heck of a player. If we could pair him with Cuz we would easily, hands down have the best big men pairing in the NBA.