The New Orleans Pelicans are grappling with a familiar issue: shooting struggles. Their recent 139-118 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks put this problem under the spotlight, especially with Trey Murphy III sidelined.
The last time these teams clashed, Murphy III was the hero, dropping 44 points and setting a franchise record with 12 threes. Without him, the Pelicans managed just 4 threes, starkly outperformed from beyond the arc, 36 to 25.
Interim head coach James Borrego saw Murphy III's absence as an opportunity for Jordan Poole and Jordan Hawkins to step up. However, relying on them as primary shooters hasn't been effective, given their combined 32.2 percent shooting from deep this season. This highlights a persistent roster construction issue for New Orleans.
The Pelicans’ shooting woes aren't new. They rank near the bottom in threes made per game, a concern that went unaddressed at the trade deadline. While converting Bryce McGowens' contract to a standard deal added a 43.3 percent shooter to the mix, it's clear that a couple of shooters won't suffice in today's NBA landscape.
Remove Murphy III's contributions, and the Pelicans' situation becomes dire. He accounts for nearly 30 percent of their threes, and without him, they'd be the league's worst from beyond the arc, averaging just 7.9 threes per game.
The Pelicans boast a solid core with players like Murphy III, Herb Jones, Zion Williamson, Derik Queen, Jeremiah Fears, Bryce McGowens, Saddiq Bey, and a healthy Dejounte Murray. Yet, the front office needs to reevaluate their strategy. Relying heavily on Murphy III as both the top scorer and primary three-point threat isn't sustainable for a team with championship aspirations.
It's time for New Orleans to address these shooting deficiencies if they want to maximize their talented roster and aim for future success.