Pelicans look to clamp down on Pistons in Detroit

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Stan Van Gundy feels embarrassed by his workforce’s protection. He hopes for a greater effort towards the workforce he used to teach.

Van Gundy’s New Orleans Pelicans have surrendered 25 3-point makes in every of their final two video games, setting an NBA report that no workforce needs. The Pelicans will attempt to guard the arc with slightly extra function in Detroit once they face the Pistons on Sunday.

Chicago shot 59.3 p.c from the sphere and made 25 of 47 3-point makes an attempt whereas defeating New Orleans 129-116 on Wednesday. Dallas did the shredding on Friday, taking pictures 58 p.c total whereas draining 25 of 45 lengthy balls to overwhelm the Pelicans 143-130.

“Our protection is ridiculous. We tried every part (Friday),” Van Gundy mentioned. “I do not know. It is on us as coaches to determine the most effective scheme. It is on our gamers to play loads tougher and get to closeouts. To have two video games in a row like that is inexcusable. For me as a coach and for the gamers, it is inexcusable.”

Previous to the numerous lapses, the Pelicans had proven indicators of progress whereas reeling off 4 consecutive victories, capped by a 130-101 thrashing of Houston on Tuesday.

“We have got to seek out one thing and get good at it,” Van Gundy mentioned of the protection. “We’re not, and it is irritating. I am not sitting right here pointing fingers. A big a part of it is on me. However a big a part of it’s on (gamers), too.”

Van Gundy expressed comparable frustrations teaching the Pistons for 4 seasons from 2014-18. They’d three dropping seasons and solely made one postseason look.

Offensively, the Pelicans’ franchise participant has turn into the drive anticipated from the No. 1 decide within the 2019 draft.

Zion Williamson adopted up a 29-point output towards the Bulls with a career-high 36 factors towards the Mavericks. Williamson solely missed one among his 15 field-goal makes an attempt.

It went to waste as a result of the Pelicans could not get stops.

“They moved the ball properly and hit a whole lot of robust photographs,” Williamson mentioned. “When photographs are getting in like that and groups are transferring the ball in addition to they’re, it is robust to seek out defensive schemes generally in that second.”

The Pistons enter on a excessive observe after successful at Boston on Friday, 108-102, regardless of a depleted frontcourt. Beginning middle Mason Plumlee missed his second straight sport with bursitis in his proper elbow and reserve ahead Sekou Doumbouya was identified with a concussion.

Rookie Saddiq Bey got here to the rescue with a career-high 30 factors. He made all seven of his 3-point makes an attempt — a franchise rookie report –and grabbed 12 rebounds.

“He is a competitor. He is a particular competitor,” coach Dwane Casey mentioned. “He did not lose confidence and he stayed with it. As soon as he will get his toes set, he is a type of guys, you’re feeling good when he lets it go. He believes in himself. We imagine in him. He is simply scratching the floor. I instructed him after the sport — keep hungry, keep humble.”

Detroit has a modest objective on Sunday. Again-to-back victories classifies as a humble successful streak however the Pistons have not been in a position to obtain that since mid-January of final season, once they downed Boston and Atlanta.

–Area Stage Media

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