They crushed the Atlanta Hawks 121-99 on Halloween night to secure their second straight victory. This performance was a stark contrast to their 0-4 start that left fans worried about the season. Zion Williamson is now the top player in the entire league for steals. He is averaging 3.2 steals per game according to The Advocate. That number puts him ahead of every other defender in the NBA right now. The Pelicans are leading the league in steals per game as a team, according to the Advocate. They grabbed 15 steals against the Hawks alone.
Building a Defensive Identity
Jamahl Mosley has always been known for his defensive coaching skills. He is finally seeing his vision come to life on the court. He noted that Zion is sitting down and guarding instead of just gambling for balls. The coach told The Advocate that Zion is leading the league in steals while being positional. He is not chasing the ball but is in the right spot at the right time. This aggression makes the offense much easier for the whole team. The Pelicans scored 34 points off Atlanta turnovers in this game. They also held the Hawks to just 38.5 percent shooting from the floor. The team is now ranked fourth in the league in defensive rating. That rating sits at 104.0 points allowed per 100 possessions. Mosley was pleased with the energy and toughness his guys showed all night. He said the team’s effort was plentiful.
The Right Lineup Mix
The starting lineup was changed for New Orleans. Herb Jones returned to the starting five and he is the most dependable defender on the roster. Coming off the bench against his former team, Saddiq Bey recorded four steals. Bryce McGowens and Trendon Watford are also getting minutes and bringing length. The starting group of Fears, Jones, Murphy, Williamson, and Matkovic has won back-to-back games. Every single player in that lineup finished with a plus-14 rating or better. Jeremiah Fears stepped up with 20 points, five rebounds, and seven assists. He hit a lob to Williamson; a scuffle and a loud crowd reaction occurred. The Pelicans will try to make it three straight wins when they face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night. The Grizzlies are still the only undefeated team in the NBA at 6-0. Zion Williamson is not celebrating his lead yet though. He told The Advocate to ask him again around Game 20. He wants to see if he is still top five then. If he is, then they are doing good.
