Grantland Article and Interview with Monty

[PennStatePelican]

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-tr...-of-marc-gasol

I chatted at length with Monty Williams after the Hornets’ practice in Brooklyn on Wednesday, mostly for a post that will likely come out next week. But Williams said a few interesting off-topic things that won’t make it into that post, and I wanted to share them here. I asked him if we’d see more of the Ryan Anderson-Anthony Davis big man combo, even though the Hornets have given up an unsightly 113.9 points per 100 possessions when those two share the floor — nearly five points worse than New Orleans’ league-worst defensive efficiency mark.

Interesting insight into Monty's vision of the Hornets/Pelicans going forward.

[PennStatePelican]

Scroll closer to the bottom to see the sections pertaining to the Hornets, after the discussion about the Grizzlies.

[Nola3]

Just finished reading this. I never realized how awful our defense really is. And when he brought up Vazquez getting a "big raise" it made me cringe.

[rt0307]

Just finished reading this. I never realized how awful our defense really is. And when he brought up Vazquez getting a "big raise" it made me cringe.

even the grantland writer called GV's contract situation "dangerous"

[FlyGirl]

Just finished reading this. I never realized how awful our defense really is. And when he brought up Vazquez getting a "big raise" it made me cringe.

Reading that you'd think it's the worst defense in the league though.

[Luke's Pelicans]

"That’s something we have to get better at — guarding the ball at our wing and guard spots.”

You think so?

[greewe]

Reading that you'd think it's the worst defense in the league though.

It nearly is. We are 28th in defensive efficiency. 12th in offensive efficiency. Our offense is fine. Our defense is putrid.

[FlyGirl]

It nearly is. We are 28th in defensive efficiency. 12th in offensive efficiency. Our offense is fine. Our defense is putrid.

I didn't check all that out. I just looked at the avg of opponent points we give up where we're middle of the pack.

[greewe]

I didn't check all that out. I just looked at the avg of opponent points we give up where we're middle of the pack.

Yeah. We are 29th in pace which makes our defense look better than it is.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NOH/2013.html

[smcgull]

Nice to read this, and I hope Monty and Dell can get the team they want.

[FlyGirl]

The Hornets, with a ton of cap space and a lot of interesting decisions ahead of them, will be a team to watch this summer.

[UNO Gracias]

Another interesting part in the article.

• Quincy Pondexter is the most anonymous important player in the league. He worked his tail off to become a competent 3-point shooter, especially from the corners, and the Grizzlies will need him in big moments during the playoffs to provide that combination of shooting and defense at both wing positions. Bayless is a wild-card at shooting guard, Austin Daye will probably spend most of the playoffs out of the rotation, and Lionel Hollins sometimes has a short leash with Tony Allen, since opposing defenses ignore Allen to screw up what passes for spacing in Memphis’ offense. Hollins likes Pondexter, and he should. Memphis will need big things out of him.

[Pelicans78]

Yeah i could see QPon getting major minutes in the playoffs to help space the floor for Gasol and Zebo. Same with Bayless since he can create some of his own offense.