What’s wrong with the Pelicans’ offense? Over their last five games, New Orleans averaged 108.8 points per game — almost eight points lower than their season average — posting a paltry 115.5 offensive rating. The Pelicans remained afloat due to the defense, but scoring under 100 in three of five games isn’t ideal.
Though a few Pelicans contribute to the offensive skid, CJ McCollum’s struggles are most notable. Over his last five, McCollum is down to 15 points a night on a frigid 46.7% true shooting and 28.2% from three. New Orleans relies heavily on McCollum’s dynamic shotmaking and that hasn’t been effective lately.
For McCollum, this feels like a classic shooting slump. His volume and frequency are the same always and he still hunts his shots with confidence. McCollum’s shots will fall again. If there’s any area of concern to note, CJ shot just 35.3% in the paint (non RA) over this stretch, down from 50.8% this year.
When McCollum faces big, strong and explosive primary defenders, he can struggle to separate in the mid-paint area, especially with the bench unit. Weaknesses like this render McCollum most successful as a complementary scorer rather than the primary creator, but this isn’t new information.
Cold streaks from Brandon Ingram as well as Trey Murphy, though, raise alarm. Over his last three games, Ingram struggled to score inside the arc, his efficiency from mid-range dipping almost 10% along with a 15% dip in the restricted area.
As a tough shot-maker, Ingram relies on difficult shots to make his money. Against some smothering defenses, Ingram won’t be as effective. As always, Ingram taking as many easy shots as possible could help him get back on track and continue his excellent season.
The Pelicans’ offense will bounce back. It is too talented not to. But it is fair to wonder what happens in the event of another injury or slump closer to the playoffs. Trey Murphy hasn’t found his same efficiency and has struggled as a creator this season. New Orleans’ defensive-oriented guard room means effective, consistent offense can be hard to come by.
Even with point Zion succeeding, the Pellicans’ other stars must pull their weight. Even amidst this offensive slump, the Pelicans are still winning. Continuing to be diligent in playing within the flow of the offense will be key to helping McCollum and company conquer their struggles.
Analysis by Ben Pfeifer
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