The New Orleans Pelicans practiced today, after splitting a back-to-back against two championship contenders in the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs over the weekend. Tomorrow, the Pelicans will host the Phoenix Suns, who are winners of six straight and are currently holding the 8th and final playoff spot out West (and are two games ahead of the Pelicans). Eric Gordon was shooting during the portion of practice open to the press, which was great to see. He shot well, and shared the court with John Salmons a lot. While Coach Monty Williams didn’t give a specific time frame, he did state that the progress was “encouraging.”

• Ryan Anderson was working on his jumpshot throughout the entire practice that was open to the press.
• Luke Babbitt and Russ Smith were working on two-man game drills. Smith was active, working on quick passes and one dribble passes, in order to develop chemistry. This seemed geared towards the idea of Smith knowing where to go with the ball during a pressure release.
• Luke Babbitt does not lose a game of HORSE.
• Gordon was taking baseline jumpers and taking the ball to the rim on a couple of instances.
• Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans, and Coach Monty Williams all were talking at mid-court throughout the practice, pointing and theoretically talking about schemes throughout the duration.
• Jeff Withey was working on pick-and-pops, mid-range jumpers.
• Monty expressed frustration with the team’s inconsistency with their defense. It was definitely a point of emphasis during today’s practice.
• Holiday pointed out that the team needs to rebound better, and insinuated that the team gives up too many corner-3s. Anthony Davis said the team needs to learn to trust each other and the system more, to “take pride in our individual and team defense.”
• Evans was the last guy on the practice court, working on his three-point shot, both set shots and catching-and-shooting while in motion.

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