Pelicans Returned To Winning Formula Over Rockets

On Sunday, the New Orleans Pelicans returned to their winning formula of feeding Jonas, controlling the paint, and attacking the rim.

Kyle T. Mosley | Mar 20, 2023

Pelicans Returned To Winning Formula Over Rockets /

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New Orleans Pelicans

HOUSTON — After Friday night's late-second downfall in Houston, the Pelicans returned to their successful formula for winning:

Having an early lead,
Controlling the paint,
Feeding Jonas Valanciunas, and
Attacking the rim.

Mar 19, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) shoots the ball as Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) defends during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

ON JONAS

"We're making a concerted effort to throw the ball to JV and allow him to operate; it creates offense for us," Green told reporters in his postgame interview.

Valanciunas didn't have gaudy numbers finishing the game, shooting 50% from the floor and ending with 21 points. On Sunday, the Lithuanian was determined to beat Sengun on the inside, forcing the Houston center to commit six fouls exiting the game in the fourth quarter. His nine trips to the free-throw line helped the Pelicans control the pace and paint.

"We're working together. We established opportunities to work in the middle with kick-outs," Valanciunas said. He drew double teams, which created three-point chances for CJ McCollum (4-of-7), Trey Murphy III (3-of-10), and Herb Jones (2-of-4). New Orleans shot nearly 42% from beyond the arc. The inside-out strategy worked like a boxer's body blows would eventually wear down an opponent in the later rounds.

Brandon Ingram fighting for a bucket versus Rockets — Mar 19, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) controls the ball as Houston Rockets forward Jae'Sean Tate (8) defends during the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

CONTROLLING THE PAINT

Controlling the paint on the opposite end of the court was a strategy the Pelicans deployed at Saturday's practice.

Green stated, "We're a team that attacks the paint normally. It was more on the defensive end, not allowing them to attack the paint on us. Now they did a great job of getting to the free throw line, but only 34 points in the paint compared to 60 points in the paint the previous game. So we worked on that in practice. We wanted to make those guys shoot outside shots. We could do a better job of keeping them off the line. But you infused their offense whenever they get to the paint and get paint scores."

Versus the Rockets, CJ wasn't the primary ball handler at times, which allowed him to attack the rim, hit long-range shots, and be creative.

Mar 19, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) shoots the ball as Houston Rockets forward Usman Garuba (16) defends during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

BEING AGGRESSIVE

"I just got to be aggressive and pick my spots to take advantage of what's there," McCollum noted. He continued, "On the ball, off the ball, finding spaces trying to get quality catches, shoot threes, it's important."

On looking comfortable shooting the basketball versus the Rockets, CJ remarked, "I try to shoot the ball with arc, trying to get good lift and take what the defense gives us. I try to get to the paint and make something happen for our team."

The Pelicans scored 52 points compared to the Rockets' 34 points in the paint. The disparity was a vast departure from Friday night when Houston had a 60-to-46-point advantage inside.

New Orleans returns home to play against San Antonio on Tuesday, March 21, before a follow-up home stand versus Charlotte on Thursday, March 23.

ON JONAS

CONTROLLING THE PAINT

BEING AGGRESSIVE

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