The New Orleans Pelicans snapped a two-game losing skid with their 126-111 victory the Philadelphia 76ers. This game was one of the best games the Pels played this season as they had seven players score in double figures. While New Orleans saw a lot of different contributors, no one changed this game more than DeAndre Jordan.
Yes, you read that right, 37-year-old DeAndre Jordanthe same guy who has pretty much been an assistant coach for this team and has only played in two other games this season. DJ had six points, 15 reboundsAnd four blocks in victory, and I promise if you missed this one, you need to watch the highlights.
Interim head coach James Borrego and his staff deserve a lot of credit for assembling an unorthodox starting five with Jordan, Derik Queen, Herb Jones, Saddiq Bey and Zion Williamson. It was a smart example of situational coaching, but it also highlighted something the Pelicans’ front office needs to keep in mind in the long run: This team looks better with Derik Queen at the four than at the five.
Jordan won’t be the answer forever
Of course DJ can play the role of one traditional center occasionally, but he is 37 and at the end of his career. He won’t be someone this team can ask to start the rest of the season in that role. However, the impact of having a rebounding rim protector alongside Queen on the game should be enough for the front office to explore adding a long-term traditional big man this summer.
Queen has enough in his attacking game to carry the load of a frontcourt position on that side of the ball, with his playmaking, scoring, ability to initiate an attack and an outside shot that he is increasingly comfortable with, using 66.7 percent of his passing power. threes in his last six games. Where he does fall short is in his defensive positioning and awareness, his rebounding instincts, strength and size. All things that can be covered up by bringing in a real seven-footer.
As I mentioned, rebounding isn’t one of Queen’s strengths at this point in his career, which is one of the reasons the Pelicans are giving up the fifth-most rebounds per game. As with Zion, who is not a very committed rebounder anyway, Queen’s life becomes even more difficult. But against Philly, Jordan’s presence not only led to him grabbing 15 rebounds, but it also led to Queen pulling down nine boards of their own.
The reason for this is that the defense couldn’t just take out one big man; they had to account for two, which gave New Orleans an advantage throughout the game.
This isn’t to say Queen can never be a starting center in the NBA, but at this stage of his young career his skillset is a much better fit at the power forward position. If the goal is to maximize this roster and young players like Queen, the Pelicans’ front office needs to bring in a starting center who offers size, rim protection and, most importantly, rebounding.
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