At a time when the NBA is growing faster and faster, with a growing emphasis on three-point shooting and small ball basketball, the New Orleans Pelicans decided to go a little against the grain and great selection. Very large.
Already with Zion Williamson as the franchise’s future, the Pelicans decided to trade for Steven Adams, who quickly signed a two-year extension with his new team.
Suddenly, the Pelicans boasted the heaviest front court in the NBA, with Stan Van Gundy handing out a pair of brushes – the seven-foot Kiwi teaming up with the 130kg + athletic freak in Williamson.
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“This is what you would think of an old school,” Adams tells ESPN. “They’ve been doing it since they first started playing basketball, right? Just two big boys in there. It’s not visible in basketball today, but it takes a different view of other teams, giving them some problems in certain areas.
“As for just me and him, chemistry-wise, that’s something … we still need to find a better connection, which we’ve been coming along well, I think over the games. “
Adams is widely regarded as one of the strongest players in the NBA, so it’s no surprise that he embraces that brand of basketball. It is unusual for a player to sign an extension with a new team when it was not the decision that was being dealt with, but Adams had faith in the management of the franchise and the ability of the young players. aige.
Around the time he was trading, Adams also mentioned that Van Gundy is in an “old school” style, and the big man has been feeling the emotions early in the season.
“Just to be sure: when I said Stan Van Gundy’s old school, I just meant he’s old,” Adams joked.
“He is able to coach today; it’s not like he doesn’t want to change his way of thinking. Hope he doesn’t hear that.
“As for what was expected, I don’t have much expectation to come in; I like working like that anyway. So far, man, it’s been awful. It’s has been very honest, progressive, very hardworking, puts a lot of pressure, high standards.It’s reasonable, if that makes sense; a lot of the standards.That’s all you can ask so far, as far as I can tell you, to be honest. “
Adams explained Van Gundy’s “reasonable” approach: “It defines roles for each player, telling them exactly what you should do for the team so that the team’s success comes in, man, who gets over it. “
The Pelicans have new pieces that are slowly finding their place on the team, but something that seems to be set in stone, and that seems to be thriving already, is the duo Adams and Williamson front court. We’ve seen the pair link on a number of plays – whether it’s high-low action, drivers and ships, or either working out of the low post – and their chemistry seems to be growing over the young season.
Getting Williamson, along with several other offensive talents, to work with him has given Adams more opportunity to showcase the game he’s passing, with the 27-year-old gaining an average of 2.8 high career assists per game, as well as 10.1 points and 9.0 tournament returns. Adams also managed to post his first triple-double post at the beginning of January, showing a remarkable growth rate as he slowly entered a major career.
Williamson has benefited much from that Adams release, and the people of New Zealand have always been confident in the connection he would build with the young Pelicans star.
“It’s no surprise,” Adams said of his chemistry with Williamson.
“Expect that. It would be a surprise if we didn’t get ahead; if you don’t pick up any kind of chemistry, that would be weird. The normal process for the NBA, right? We’re under pressure to make sure we play together … as one. That’s special. “