Pelicans’ turnaround features many factors

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Pelicans started the season with a 1-12 record.

Their record the rest of the regular season was 35-34.

The team that will play the San Antonio Spurs in a play-in game Wednesday night in the Smoothie King Center looks a lot different than the one that started the season.

There are many reasons for that.

No. 1 was the trade that brought guard CJ McCollum from Portland in February.

McCollum averaged 20.5 points with the Trail Blazers and 24.3 with the Pelicans, who are 13-13 in games in which he has played, including the 124-107 home loss to Golden State on Sunday in which he played less than six minutes.

The arrival of McCollum enabled coach Willie Green to utilize a one-two offensive punch with McCollum and Brandon Ingram (22.7 points per game).

The Pelicans are 7-3 in games with their preferred starting lineup of McCollum, Ingram, Herbert Jones Jr., Jaxson Hayes and Jonas Valanciunas. But Ingram has missed the last three games because of hamstring tightness and his status for Wednesday is to be determined.

Green cited the “buy-in” from McCollum and Ingram as a key factor in his team’s surge down the stretch.

“Those guys come in every day and they work at it, they talk, they communicate with their teammates, they’re watching film,” Green said. “Then all the off-the-court stuff – they’re going to team dinners, taking their teammates to the movies or what have you, coming over to each other’s houses. All of those things play a role in us being more connected on the floor.”

Though McCollum was the center-piece of the trade with Portland, the Pelicans acquired other assets in forward Larry Nance Jr. and forward Tony Snell.

Nance has played in just nine games with the Pelicans because he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery shortly after the trade, but he has quickly become a key contributor off the bench. Snell was initially a regular part of the rotation with his new team, but has played in just four games since Nance has returned.

“Larry is a great addition to our second unit,” Green said. “You can put the ball in his hands. He makes plays. He’s talking on the floor defensively.”

Nance has brought leadership and cohesion to a second unit that has been rearranged periodically because of injuries, but most frequently also features rookies Trey Murphy III and Jose Alvarado, Devonte’ Graham, Naji Marshall and Willy Hernangomez.

“Larry coming in and being a facilitator as well as a presence in the post has been super important for us,” Murphy said. “He and I have tremendous chemistry already. I’m very grateful for that. He’s a very smart basketball player.”

Graham has started 64 games this season, but mostly has come off the bench since McCollum’s arrival. The move of McCollum into Graham’s spot as the lead guard, which enabled Hayes to switch from backup center to starting forward, was pivotal.

Hayes has averaged 26.8 minutes, 11.6 points and 6.0 rebounds as a starter after averaging 15.4 minutes, 7.8 points and 3.5 rebounds as a reserve.

Jones, a rookie second-round draft choice, had an immediate impact and has grown throughout the season. Murphy, a No. 1 pick, and Alvarado, an undrafted free agent, have taken on bigger roles as the season has progressed.

“When Brandon was out and we didn’t have our key guys because of injuries our young guys had an opportunity to step on the floor and gain a ton of experience,” Green said. “Along the way we made a lot of mistakes, but we’ve come in every day and worked on the things that we know we can do well, corrected some of our mistakes over and over again and just stayed with it.

“And now, with Brandon obviously we’re a much better team, but when he has to miss (time) our young guys can step in and be solid for us.”

Green noted that both Jones and Alvarado were defensive player of the year in their conferences a year ago – Jones (Alabama) in the SEC and Alvarado (Georgia Tech) in the ACC.

Jones usually draws the opponent’s top offensive treat and tag teams with Marshall on the assignment.

Green said Jones and Marshall provide “a different look, a different dynamic” for opponents to deal with.

“It’s a luxury to have,” he added.

Ingram’s return Wednesday would also be a luxury. It would presumably allow the Pelicans to use their preferred starting lineup for the first time against the Spurs, who won the season series 3-1.

San Antonio won the first meeting on December 12 before McCollum’s arrival and the second one on February 12 before Hayes’ insertion into the lineup.

Ingram was sidelined for a 124-91 victory at San Antonio on March 18 and a 107-103 home loss eight days later.

Valanciunas (sore ankle), who has 50 double-doubles in 74 games this season, and Jones (tibia contusion), joined Ingram on the sideline Sunday night with nothing tangible at stake in the game.

“We are proud of our group and where we are right now,” Green said. “We are all excited for the opportunity and are excited about the journey, more importantly – where we were and where we are right now as our group. We stayed together and stayed connected.”

Green has understandably been praised for the team’s turnaround and overall success, but, he said, “I really don’t want the credit.”

“It’s our guys,” the coach added. “They stayed committed to what we’re trying to do and here we are with a great opportunity in front of us.”