Leading up to the 2013 NBA Draft on June 27, Pelicans.com will provide a player-by-player examination of the New Orleans Pelicans, with input from various sources. We’ll review the 2012-13 campaign of each New Orleans player who appeared in at least half of the team’s games, while also looking ahead to the inaugural 2013-14 Pelicans season. Pelicans.com continues its offseason updates by profiling Lance Thomas, a reserve for the majority of his second season with the team:
Key averages: 2.5 points, 1.9 rebounds
WHAT HAPPENED
After a strong 2012 summer that included participating with the U.S. Men’s Select Team and leading the New Orleans NBA Summer League team in Las Vegas, Lance Thomas entered the 2012-13 season with a new outlook. Rather than just surviving in the NBA and making a roster, Thomas looked to make an impact for the Pelicans by providing intensity, energy and consistency each night he stepped on the floor. The former Duke product did just that, carving out his niche as an energetic defender who did the little things like making hustle plays and providing a spark off the bench. New Orleans’ opponents in 2012-13 recorded a lower field goal percentage, lower three-point percentage and lower average points per game when Thomas was on the floor. Thomas gave head coach Monty Williams the flexibility to tinker with his lineup as the athletic forward showed the ability to guard perimeter players as well as players in the post. In addition to bringing energy to the court, Thomas set out to become a more consistent shooter heading into the 2012-13 season. The 6-foot-8 forward connected on 45.2 percent of his field goal attempts during the 2011-12 season, but raised his field goal percentage to 50 during the 2012-13 season. The area of the court where Thomas improved his shooting most was from the 15-24 foot range, where he connected on 43.5 percent of his shots in 2012-13 compared to 36.4 from that distance during the 2011-12 season. His improved play led to 59 appearances and nine starts. As he heads into the 2013 offseason, Thomas is looking to make even larger strides to prepare for the franchise’s first season as the rebranded New Orleans Pelicans.
BEST GAME
Despite the outcome, a March 12 trip home to Brooklyn proved to be just what Thomas needed to produce his finest game of the season. Playing in front of friends and family at the Barclays Center, the Brooklyn-born Thomas set a season-high with 12 points while shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and from the charity stripe. In addition, he also grabbed four rebounds while recording two steals and one block in just 17 minutes during the 108-98 loss to the Nets.