New Orleans Pelicans: 3 priorities heading into the 2020 offseason
3 offseason priorities for the New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans filled their coaching vacancy with the hiring of Stan Van Gundy with hopes that he can turn this youthful team into contenders and get them moving in the right direction. Van Gundy brings with him a winning pedigree as he has compiled a career 523-384 overall record with plenty of coaching experience as he has been through the highs and lows of coaching throughout his career.
He has coached in Miami, Orlando, and Detroit and ended up taking the Orlando Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals. This is the 61-year-old’s fourth head coaching job as he will assume the responsibility of overseeing the development of phenom Zion Williamson and guiding him to be the great player we all know he is capable of becoming.
This is an awesome opportunity for Van Gundy as he inherits a team with the necessary pieces to win now instead of having to take on a rebuilding project. He possesses the uncanny ability to teach younger players as we have seen what he has done with a young Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, and Andre Drummond so just imagine the wonders he will work for a player like Williamson.
Van Gundy is a great communicator and knows the nuances of the game and these young players should benefit from his knowledge. When the NBA began the restart in the bubble, many were anticipating the Pelicans to clinch a playoff spot but they fell short as they finished 2-6 in their final eight games.
This was an underperforming team that was expected to do better and despite their flaws, they still showed heart and the will to win but struggled mightily on the defensive end. This is a problem Van Gundy should rectify. Look for him to hold players accountable and get the Pelicans to increase their defensive intensity which should be the very first thing Van Gundy teaches this young squad.
A team can have all the offensive firepower in the world, but we all know that defense is the difference between winning and losing. Van Gundy also has others he will need to address this offseason and prioritize before the Pelicans begin the season.