If not for a series of late-game baskets by the visitors with the outcome long decided on Friday, New Orleans would’ve become the first opponent to hold Indiana’s dynamic, super-charged, second-ranked offense under 100 points this season. Instead, the Pelicans’ defense “settled” for a 129-102 victory – still an emphatic demonstration of how stingy they can be at that end of the floor.
For the second consecutive season, New Orleans (36-25, fifth place in Western Conference) ranks sixth in the NBA in defensive efficiency, a major reason the Pelicans posted a winning record in 2022-23 and are a half-dozen wins away from doing so again.
Indiana All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton personified how formidable New Orleans’ defense was Friday, held scoreless on 0/7 shooting. The league’s leader in assists by a wide margin only handed out three against the Pelicans.
“I think we did a good job of guarding him,” wing starter Herb Jones said after Sunday’s practice. “I tried to pick him up full (court) and the team was super aggressive in trying to mimic his threes, his iso ball. We did a good job of that.”
New Orleans’ defense ranks No. 1 in three-point percentage allowed (34.6), second in steals (8.3 per game), fifth in paint points allowed (47.1), seventh in free throw attempts allowed (21.8) and 10th in fast-break points allowed (13.6). Those are all areas of focus when the Pelicans practice and prepare for games.
“Our goals are to take away transition and easy opportunities, paint opportunities,” third-year head coach Willie Green said Sunday. “If we can take away free throws, easy baskets, paint scores, we feel like we can contest at a high rate to the three-point line.”
“We don’t want people shooting layups,” Jones said. “I don’t think any team (defense) wants you to be in the paint. We try to get out and contest a lot of the threes we give up. I guess that’s a reason why our defense is ranked pretty high.”
Asked how he feels about the Pelicans ranking sixth defensively in consecutive seasons, Jones matter-of-factly replied, “Hopefully we get to No. 1. That will be the goal in mind. I don’t think anyone is OK with being sixth.”
Herb Jones talks two games against Pacers, team defense | Pelicans Practice 3/3/2024
Other notes from Sunday’s practice, the first of consecutive practice days:
New Orleans had played six games in nine days coming out of the All-Star break through Friday’s win, a stretch that also included a major travel issue from New York to Indianapolis amid a road back-to-back. Asked about the rare three-day break from games the Pelicans now enjoy before visiting Toronto on Tuesday, Green said, “The timing couldn’t be any better.” …
Asked about his usage of zone defense to a larger degree, Green said, “We’ve been successful at it. It takes teams out of their rhythm and pattern, and then we can match up in that zone as well. We like what it’s doing for us and giving us a different look against our opponents, and it’s working.” …
Led consistently by Trey Murphy, Pelicans teammates have constantly been asserting that Jones should be named to the NBA’s First-Team All-Defense in 2023-24, mentioning it in press conferences or on social media. When that teammate informal campaign was brought it up to Jones on Sunday, the third-year pro said, “I’m going to just leave (All-Defense recognition) up to whoever. I’m going to try to do the best I can for my teammates. Awards, I don’t really get caught up in those.”