Zion Williamson has received ample credit for being the spark that helped turn the New Orleans Pelicans from a team destined for another high lottery pick to a legitimate playoff contender. And while all of that praise is warranted, his presence hasn’t been the only thing that has been a factor in the Pelicans’ turn around.
A different big man on New Orleans’ roster, Derrick Favors, has played a vital role on the court this season without quite as much fanfare. His extended absence in November and December due to the passing of his mother and a back injury coincided with the start of the team’s 13-game losing streak.
The first turning point for the Pelicans came around the holidays when New Orleans picked up four-straight wins over Portland, Denver, Indiana and Houston in succession. During his media availability on Friday, Nicolo Melli was asked about that stretch and what played into that turning point.
“I don’t want to give a lot of pressure on one guy, but I think D-Fav (Derrick Favors) was healthy finally, and he’s our anchor on defense and on offense. I think he’s the one who turned around everything. Then of course, BI (Brandon Ingram), Lonzo (Ball), JJ (Redick), Jrue (Holiday), everybody stepped up, and then of course Z (Zion Williamson) came back, but I think D-Fav was our key.”
Without Favors this season, the Pelicans are just 6-13. Overall, the team is 22-23 with him in the lineup. Since his return in December, New Orleans is 20-16 when he plays. And the advanced stats back up his importance to the team.
With Favors on the court, the Pelicans have a net rating of +5.8 and a defensive rating of 107.4. When he’s off the court, the net rating drops to -4.4 and the defensive rating jumps to 112.2.
The stats back up the case for Favors being a critical part of the team. And as the Pelicans enter a vital eight-game stretch with a spot in the playoffs on the line, Favors will figure to be as important as ever.