Anderson out Indefinitely

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Published: January 7, 2014

The Pelicans announced today that Ryan Anderson is out indefinitely with a herniated disc in his back.  A quick look around the web indicates an injury like this could take a month or more to recover from, depending on the seriousness of the injury.

It goes without saying that this is a major blow to the Pelicans’ hope to stay in contention for a playoff spot.  Their frontcourt depth was already pathetic, and due to the way this roster was constructed, Anderson has the least replaceable skill-set on the team.  When Anderson plays, the offense hums, scoring 110+ points per 100 possessions.  When he sits, the team drops to around 106, and only Jrue Holiday impacts the offense in any comparable way.

This is the modern NBA and either efficient scoring from the three point line or the free throw line is a must.  The Pelicans don’t really get free throws, but without Ryan Anderson, they also average less than a dozen three point attempts per game.  That’s a number about 20% less than the next nearest team.  Easy points will be hard to come by.

Best wishes to Ryno, and hopes for a speedy recovery.

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