From New Orleans Pelicans On SI · · 2m
Pelicans Preseason Insights
Pelicans' preseason shows shooting struggles but Jeremiah Fears ready for breakout role.
In brief
Pelicans' preseason shows shooting struggles but Jeremiah Fears ready for breakout role. New Orleans Pelicans' preseason reveals poor three-point shooting but Jeremiah Fears' strong performance positions him for a starting role. Originally reported by New Orleans Pelicans On SI.
Pelicans finish preseason 3-1
The New Orleans Pelicans finished the preseason 3-1 and will begin the regular season on Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers.
Preseason pivotal for coach
While many people don’t put much stock in the preseason, the four games were pivotal for new head coach Jamahl Mosley to implement his game plan across different lineup groups.
Three-point shooting woes
Last season, the Pelicans ranked 24th in the league, shooting just 34.7% from beyond the arc.
Preseason shooting struggles
In the four preseason games, the Pelicans shot 33.1% from distance, signaling that consistent shooting will again be their Achilles heel.
Spacing issues with Williamson and Missi
To make matters worse, the team didn’t pursue a stretch big this summer either, so Zion Williamson and Yves Missi's minutes together were disastrous for spacing and shooting.
Karlo Matkovic potential
That could mean more minutes for former second-round pick Karlo Matkovic, who shot 42% from deep last season and showed some positive flashes shooting this preseason.
Jeremiah Fears ready to take next step
One of the preseason's overwhelming positives was second-year guard Jeremiah Fears' stellar play.
Fears' stats and impact
Fears averaged 13.3 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 rebounds on 50% shooting over four games.
Fears' starting case
With Dejounte Murray’s toe injury, Fears started the final two preseason games for New Orleans and made a strong case for a starting role come Wednesday night.
Ball pressure focus
With the Pelicans failing to address their need for an interior defensive anchor this offseason, Mosley is clearly emphasizing ball pressure at the point of attack.
Preseason steals performance
New Orleans finished second in the preseason with 13.3 steals per game, which fueled a couple of their comeback victories.
Defense improvement needed
For a team that struggled so mightily defending the paint last season, ball pressure is one of their few hopes for fielding a respectable defense this year.
What it means
New Orleans Pelicans' preseason reveals poor three-point shooting but Jeremiah Fears' strong performance positions him for a starting role.
