The New Orleans Pelicans haven't always been a defense-first organization, but that's changed under head coach Willie Green. So it's likely no coincidence that this year's rookie class brings up that side of the ball early and often.
No. 8 pick Dyson Daniels knows that's the truly elite part of his game right now, and that's how he'll get on the floor. The rest will come with time and development. EJ Liddell has his own term for it.
“I feel like I just bring that dog mentality as well, because they have a lot of guys on their team that play with a chip on their shoulder," said the Ohio State standout picked at No. 41 overall by New Orleans. "I feel like me being here, me playing like I’ve always played, just every side of the ball, on defense and offense, and I feel like I can do that here.”
It certainly fits right in with the likes of last year's rookie class, headlined by another defensive standout picked in the second round by the name of Herb Jones. Each of Trey Murphy III and Jose Alvarado had their own standout defensive moments. Liddell will fit right into that group, and he'd have likely been a part of it had he entered the NBA draft last year, because two Pelicans scouts were ready to draft him then.
"These guys are high-IQ basketball players that understand defense gets you on the floor," Green said. "They watch the game just like all of us do … during the season, and in the playoffs, that’s what it comes down to."
The coach didn't want to talk about building a "culture" in New Orleans through these additions. He calls it a foundation, and that starts on the defensive side of the ball with players who are willing to sell out mentally and go all out physically. Daniels, listed at 6-6 but with a nearly 7-foot wingspan, should harass defenders relentlessly, and the Australian might be a bit ahead of the curve of a traditional rookie after a season with the G-League Ignite, a showcase squad that faced off with G-League opponents.
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Daniels admits that it took a while adjusting to the American style of basketball. It's faster, the games are longer, it's more about reading and reacting than running set plays and looking for specific shots. He was "terrible" at first, he says, but he picked it up quickly to average 12 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2 steals per game, and expects to pick things up quickly in the NBA as well.
"Once I started to play my game and get confidence back and stuff like that, I know what I have to do now to play at the NBA level,” Daniels said.
But what position, exactly, will that be? There's really no answer, and there might not have to be one. Daniels can defend 1-4, and believes he has a point guard skill set when called upon. The question at this point is shooting, but in the end it's about positionless basketball. For example, is Herb a guard or a forward? How about Murphy? How about Brandon Ingram? In the end it's about who you can defend.
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Still, Green knows there will be more than enough competition up and down a suddenly stacked roster and he'll have to wait and see how the minutes get divvied up. They'll have to be earned.
"That’s a good problem to have," he said. "We expect to have a very competitive camp and the basketball aspect of it usually works itself out."