During his time in the NBA, typical Stan Van Gundy offenses have featured heavy amounts of pick and roll. Memorably in Orlando, Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard formed one of the most deadly pick-and-roll duos in the NBA.
When looking at the New Orleans Pelicans, though, Van Gundy’s offense could hit a snag. Starting point guard Lonzo Ball has not flourished in ball screen situations in his career. It’s an aspect Van Gundy highlighted Ball needed to improve in his game even before he took the job as Pelicans coach.
Ball talked about the need for him to be a scorer in pick-and-roll situations this season while talking with the media recently.
“I know a lot of the offense is aggressive,” Ball said, “so having the ball and being in a position to score and just have the defense look at me as a threat is definitely going to help us as the season goes on, for sure. I’m just staying constantly in attack mode and looking to put the ball in the basket.”
Last season, Ball finished in just the 11th percentile as a ballhandler in the pick and roll last season. However, when just accounting for the passes Ball made out of the pick and roll and the offense that derived from it, Ball ranked in the 66th percentile, further illustrating his struggles as a scorer.
Ball mentioned that he had not talked to Van Gundy specifically on his role for the upcoming season, particularly on the offensive end. However, at the conclusion of last season, Ball did discuss various aspects of his game that he planned on focusing on during the off-season, some of which included becoming a better scorer.
Monday will offer the first glimpses at Ball’s improvements in the pick and roll as the Pelicans will open up preseason play in Miami against the Heat.