The best players usually prove themselves in the NBA Playoffs and the same goes for coaches. Each postseason series is defined by big moments made by All-NBA stars and small adjustments by coaching staffs working the margins of every matchup. Willie Green's New Orleans Pelicans are no different. They are also not being too secretive with the game plan going into Game 2 versus the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Pelicans are not flustered by their lack of free throws. That's been a trend all season. Playing with poise in the final minutes is a more pressing issue. Still, the New Orleans has no big adjustments planned for Game 2, just a small tweak on how they'll defend Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Green was asked about how the Pelicans will handle the Thunder's guard-guard pick-and-rolls with Gilgeous-Alexander going forward. Herb Jones started possessions on Gilgeous-Alexander in Game 1, but Josh Giddey and Lu Dort, among others, frequently set on-ball screens for their superstar teammate. New Orleans opted to switch most of those picks, a strategy that led to one of the league's top-three finishers for MVP getting released from “Not on Herb's” First-Team All-Defense handcuffs.
That cannot happen as often if the Pelicans want to match the Thunder's physicality and even the series, according to Green.
“We talked about that actually, not giving into the switches so easily,” he said. “It comes down to guarding. We are going to have to do a great job of guarding the ball and then trying to take (Gilgeous-Alexander) away when he does screen for another ballhandler. And let's say there is a switch. You can block him, deny him. Don't let him catch it. He's one of the best iso players in the league so it's definitely something we are looking at.”
The problem is there is only so much Jones to go around. The Alabama alum is also being asked to help stifle Chet Holmgren when the Thunder rookie is in the pick-and-roll action with Gilgeous-Alexander.
“It's a balance. It's more when [Jonas Valanciunas] is on the floor,” detailed Green. “That's when we're doing it. You've got to get to Holmgren. Not just because of his ability to shoot, but it's difficult for [Valanciunas] to stop a pick-and-roll with as good of drivers as they have. They're driving the ball and getting into the teeth of the defense.
“To get [Valanciunas] all the way back to Holmgren at the three-point line, now Holmgren is shot-faking and driving,” Green continued. “He's going to finish and making kick-out plays for three. So the full rotation for us has been solid and we'll continue to look at it.”
Pelicans liked physicality of Game 1
Larry Nance Jr. liked what he saw in Game 1. Well, except for his final shot attempt being swatted away by Holmgren with 54 seconds left, leading to the Thunder's winning bucket.
“I think our physicality was great. Obviously, Herb is an all-world defender. It always helps having him on our side. Naji [Marshall] did an awesome job as well, I think just mixing up different coverages. You know, because a player like [Gilgeous-Alexander] is so talented if you show him one look the whole time he is going to figure it out. We've got to mix things up and just try to keep him guessing…He's targeting our guards and that presents a challenge different from most teams.”
Gilgeous-Alexander finished Game 1 with 28 points, six rebounds, four assists, three turnovers and three misses from three-point range. All of his damage was done inside the arc or at the free-throw line. The Pelicans can live with that from Gilgeous-Alexander, only letting the series opener slip away because they failed to finish off a few open looks of their own.
Going 1-15 on corner threes is a recipe for disaster, but CJ McCollum still had a chance to send New Orleans to victory at the buzzer. The Pelicans have plenty of reasons to believe they can advance to the second round. They might even get to add Zion Williamson into the mix soon.
First, the underdogs will have to find the right defensive balance to throw off Gilgeous-Alexander's offensive rhythm on Wednesday night. If not, New Orleans will be headed home to Smoothie King Center in an 0-2 hole. For a team sporting a better record on the road, that's a tough situation with tons of pressure. It's a lot to handle, but then again, so is SGA.
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