The Pelicans put Jonas Valanciunas through a test which he passed with flying colors.
THE New Orleans Pelicans let things get a little too close for comfort on Friday after building a 31-point lead at home against the Indiana Pacers. Brandon Ingram and Trey Murphy III finally completed a 101-89 win, but there’s a lot of credit to be spread around.
Willie Green’s decision to trust Jonas Valanciunas in the rematch against Indiana, for example, made the difference. The universally respected Lithuanian didn’t take his recent benching personally, responding by passing a huge test during the NBA’s Western Conference Playoff race. Green’s drastic adjustment in Indianapolis didn’t pay off, so the third-year coach returned to Valanciunas in New Orleans.
The Pelicans did the story in the first 12 minutes Friday. Brandon Ingram’s first quarter led the way with 19 points, with the All-Star missing just two shots. No one else was out of place (20-22) in a virtually perfect first basketball game. The decision to trust Valanciunas, as New Orleans has done all year, has paid off at the Smoothie King Center.
Jonas Valanciunas provides crucial protection for Pelicans
Valanciunas played the first seven minutes against the Pacers on the road, but Green then went with Larry Nance Jr. up front against Myles Turner and Obi Toppin. The consummate professional started the second quarter of New Orleans’ rematch victory with two big blocks on Toppin and Turner and the Pelicans never let the Pacers get closer than 20 points again.
Green explained why after the victory, showcasing the Valanciunas in the process.
“We have competitors in this team and we know we haven’t got off to a good start [in Indiana]. The guys were a little tired. We wanted to go home and rest. We knew we could pursue them. That’s what we did tonight, which is a credit to all our guys in the locker room,” he said. “I said it in the locker room, I’m going to say it here. I really have to congratulate Jonas Valanciunas.
“His professionalism throughout the season has been incredible,” Green continued. “We only played him seven minutes in the first game because we were trying to come back and had to use smaller, faster lineups. We contacted him this evening and he is ready to go. He was one of the pillars of our team. He shows up every day and works hard. It’s truly a pleasure to have the opportunity to see his development and coach him.
The 31-year-old finished with 15 points, nine rebounds, three assists and those two big blocks. Valanciunas missed just four shots (7-11) all night, hitting his only three-point attempt. Virtually every team still in contention would reach this level of production, especially considering its relatively low ceiling. This is just one of many reasons why it would not be surprising to see Valanciunas signs friendly extension with the Pelicans before the end of the season.
About the Author
Chris Dodson has covered Louisiana high school and college basketball on and off for more than a decade. A lifer of bayou basketball, his wiggling gumbo form matches his elbow-dropping celebrations. Fast enough for college hoops, big enough for a football scholarship. He has words and will travel, but not on the field.
