The Complete Idiots Guide to Pelicans Misconceptions
Misconception #3: “Omer Asik and Anthony Davis were a bad defensive partnership”
Mar 25, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) drives between New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Asik (3) and forward Anthony Davis (23) during the second quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
This misconception largely stemmed from the following Zach Lowe tweet, posted earlier this season:
The Pelicans, with Anthony Davis and Omer Asik up front, are tied with the Knicks at 27th in points allowed per possession.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) December 7, 2014
This was true, the TEAM had been tied down there with the Knicks, but that was far from Davis and Asik’s fault. The reason the Pelicans struggled was their atrocious perimeter defense (Luke Babbit was starting….) and laughable bench production.
The Pelicans most used lineup of Tyreke Evans, Eric Gordon, Quincy Pondexter, Anthony Davis and Omer Asik posted a 104.5 defensive rating last season (still bad, but not New York Knicks bad).
Sub in Ryan Anderson for Omer Asik, and that rating climbs to an atrocious 118.5. Keep Omer and Davis in, and sub Cunningham for Q-Pon and you get an amazing 97.0 defensive rating (one of the best in the league). Proving Davis and Asik were the only thing holding the defense together, and the perimeter was where the problem originated.
Jan 18, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New Orleans Pelicans guard Jimmer Fredette (32) against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Pelicans beat the Raptors 95-93. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
At the time Lowe posted this tweet, the Pelicans were starting Luke Babbit at small forward as well. The starting lineup with Babbit rose the defensive rating to a terrible 118.2. Take Babbit out, and sub in Jimmer Freddette, Austin Rivers and John Salmons and you’re left with an atrocious rating of 125.0! (I can’t even explain how bad this is, I don’t have that level of vocabulary)
Anthony Davis and Omer Asik were a fantastic defensive combo, Luke Babbit, Ryan Anderson, John Salmons, Austin Rivers and Jimmer Freddette just made them look bad. Really, really, really, bad.
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