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Season in Review 2014-15: Quincy Pondexter

Pelicans.com continues its look back at the 2014-15 season with player-by-player analysis of the team:

2014-15 OVERVIEW
Seated in front of his Smoothie King Center locker and still wearing his red uniform April 15, the look on Pondexter’s face – the overjoyed small forward beamed, with an ear-to-ear grin – said it all. Three months after New Orleans brought Pondexter back to the Crescent City for a second stint with the franchise, the Pelicans were in celebration mode after accomplishing their No. 1 goal, qualifying for the Western Conference playoffs.
Pondexter was a major reason New Orleans was able to get there, as the player extended his streak of reaching the postseason in every year of his career.

“I’m on cloud nine right now,” Pondexter said, shortly after a playoff-clinching victory over defending NBA champion San Antonio. “I don’t know anything different (than being in the playoffs). I don’t know what it’s like to have my season end on April 15. That’s just tax day to me. It’s just really awesome to do it with this group of guys. We’ve come so far and worked so hard. It shows how far we’ve come and how much more mature we are. That’s one hell of a ride.”

The Pelicans had dipped below .500 at 18-19 when they pulled the trigger on a three-team trade that resulted in the popular Pondexter’s return to the Big Easy. He was also part of the city’s last trip to the playoffs in 2010-11, when the then-Hornets were ousted in Round 1 by the Lakers. Although Pondexter was a minimal participant in the ’11 postseason for New Orleans, this time he was an every-game starter and an invaluable piece, particularly defensively and with his three-point shooting touch. Pondexter often drew the team’s most difficult defensive assignment, including at times guarding Stephen Curry in the playoffs and trying to lock up many of the NBA’s premier wing scorers.

“Every night it’s someone new,” Pondexter said of his diverse defensive duties. “I’m one of those guys who has to guard multiple positions and different types, from Kevin Durant, who’s damn near 7 feet, to Steph Curry – who’s not that tall – to Chris Paul. I’ve had to guard all different positions.”

Pondexter proved to be a critical glue guy for New Orleans, a player relied upon more for some of the thankless aspects of the game than for scoring. But he also was a superb perimeter weapon after joining the Pelicans. After shooting 23.3 percent on three-pointers for Memphis in 30 games, he was a scorching 43.3 percent from long distance over 45 New Orleans appearances.

“He’s a great all-around player, can move the ball, penetrate, shoot the ball obviously and he defends,” said Pelicans forward Dante Cunningham, who also played one season with Pondexter in Memphis.

“I don’t care about scoring, never have,” Pondexter said. “I just care about winning games. As long as we’re doing that, shots will come. We’ve all got to be unselfish a little bit. That’s what I’m trying to bring to this team, making the extra pass, doing the little things and having fun.”

TOP THREE QUINCY PONDEXTER GAMES OF 2014-15

#3, April 3: New Orleans 101, Sacramento 95
You knew it was Pondexter’s night when he launched a three-point attempt a step inside the halfcourt stripe at the first-half buzzer and drained it. Part of the forward’s extremely hot shooting stretch in early April, he established a career high vs. the Kings by connecting on six treys on nine attempts. He finished with 20 points, his second-best scoring game of 2014-15.

#2, Feb. 25: New Orleans 102, Brooklyn 96
Pondexter set career highs in scoring (25 points), field goals (9) and minutes (40), as the Pelicans knocked off the Nets despite a short-handed lineup. In two games vs. Brooklyn this season, Pondexter averaged 21.0 points and was a sizzling 9-for-14 from three-point range.

#1, April 7: New Orleans 103, Golden State 100
In arguably the Pelicans’ best home victory of the season, they took down the 67-win Warriors, with just one week remaining in the regular season. Pondexter played the most efficient offensive game of his NBA career, scoring 20 points on just seven shots from the field. He was a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point range.