The NBA Championship Formula Part II (Revisited): Shooting Blanks

Taking a look at the traits and trends of past champions and where the Pelicans currently stack up against them.

The question of how much shooting can any NBA team have is a simple one to answer. You can never have too much shooting.

It is the most fundamental skill in the game; the ability to put the ball in the basket. 

Shooting from beyond the three-point line is the most elusive and valuable of those skills in the "modern" game.

The New Orleans Pelicans' struggles with making the three are well known. 

Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Since Alvin Gentry was relieved of his head coaching duties after the 2019-20 season, the Pelicans have gone from one of the best three point shooting teams in the NBA to one of its worst.

It seems strange that a team that added CJ McCollum last season, and that includes Brandon Ingram, Trey Murphy III, and Devonte Graham, would be taking fewer three point attempts than it did a season ago, but that is the case with the Pelicans.

However, as we noted in the initial offering of this series, attempts aren't as important as proficiency.

The Denver Nuggets, holders of the best record in the Western Conference, take 30.9 three pointers each night. The difference is that the Nuggets are knocking their shots down at a NBA-best rate of 39.7 percent. 

On a per game basis, that's an average of 1.3 more three-pointers made. Over the course of the season, that means an additional 320 points on offense and limits things like long rebounds that turn into break starters for an opponent.

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The NBA Championship Formula Series

Part I: How Close Are The Pelicans?

Part II: Three Is A Magic Number

Part III: (All) Star Power

Part IV: Making Home Court An Advantage

Part V: Stay Healthy

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Even

Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

You can't underestimate or exactly quantify the impact of the gravity provided by having Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram on the floor together on this team's shooting numbers, but the fact is that Zion didn't play at all last season and Ingram has missed more than half of the team's games this season.

Adaptation is part of the process, and the Pelicans have not adapted well.

A prime example is the Pels' inability to take advantage of the corner 3. Statistically, it is the best possible three-point attempt and a shot that most teams work to create attempts for.

New Orleans ranks 28th in corner three attempts (6.8), just ahead of the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets. That represents a 15% decrease from last season when the Pelicans ranked 23rd.

Worse still, they're 29th in makes, at just 2.5 per game.

The Pelicans' shooting percentage of 37% from the corner is 24th-best in the league.

Adding "more shooters" is one thing, but utilizing an offensive strategy that gives those shooters the best possible looks is an important part of the equation. 

Outside of the truly great players in the NBA, most players need assistance in getting good shots. Any observation of the Pelicans offense over the last seven weeks would show that while there have been open shots, not all of them have been good.

Of the last 10 NBA champions, only one finished outside of the top 10 in three point shooting percentage, while multiple champs have finished in the teens and even 20s in attempts.

Currently, the New Orleans Pelicans are 18th in 3P%, standing among the likes of the Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Orlando Magic. None of those teams would be considered contenders.

And, if the Pelicans don't find a way to get more consistent shooting, either from within or from without through a trade, they won't be considered one either.

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