Josh Hart Stepping Up Offensive Game For Playoff Push With New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans overhauled much of their roster this offseason and brought in Stan Van Gundy to develop the young core and shape up a playoff squad. Van Gundy said during media week interviews that he will stress getting back on defense in transition, protecting the paint, avoiding senseless fouls, and defensive rebounding as a team. These are all areas of the game where Josh Hart, the ferocious heartbeat of the team last season, excels.

Hart shared the team had to pace themselves well to ensure “we make a run in the playoffs because that’s our goal. A lot of the guys haven’t done it, I haven’t done it, but we are looking forward to it…I think we are right there; we are a playoff team. We have toughness, we have a great competitive nature, an amazing coaching staff. We already have great team comradery. All of those things help contribute to a winning culture. I think we are a playoff team. We all do. That’s half of it. We just have to go in, especially in training camp, to get those habits down to be successful in a lot of these games. Especially close games where we have lead in the fourth and instead of giving up that lead we are able to extend that lead.”

Hart said of playing for Van Gundy, “It’s going to be good. He will be really amazing for us in terms of creating good habits, having accountability and attention to detail. It’s those kinds of things that I feel we could have been better at last year. Just talking with him, he is going to make sure we are doing what we are supposed to be doing. For a young team that wants a winning culture that is what you need. You need guys that are going to hold you accountable. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be good. It’s going to be tough and it’ll be challenging at times but it’s going to make us better.”

Hart is embracing the opportunity to learn from such a respected coach and values the opportunities the season will bring to both him and the Pelicans. He is a 6’6’’, 220-pound combo guard with capabilities to defend power forwards and point guards effectively. He should prove very useful to the defensive-minded Van Gundy. However, Hart is aiming for his best season yet after having spent the abbreviated offseason expanding his offensive game. He should be in line for a few more fast-break opportunities now that Steven Adams is here to “steal” all the rebounds as Hart jokily commented.

Hart averaged 10.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game last season. His per 36 numbers (13.5 pts, 8.7 rebs, 2.2 a) suggests he can handle more playing time without a drop-off in production, especially playing with a full roster and not the skeleton squads of last season. The extra minutes might be a cardio challenge but Hart is ready for whatever role helps the team and has prepared himself to feature heavily in a playoff rotation. Hart knows him hitting the open shots that will come playing with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram will go a long way to securing a spot in the postseason.

“I don’t think anyone is going to be mad hearing they have to shoot more. I’m excited for it, it’s obviously something I’ve wanted to do. You know talking with Stan (Van Gundy), I felt there were certain things I can do that I can contribute to the team that I was not able to show the last several years in my career. I just want to make sure I do whatever makes the team better. If that’s a bigger role offensively, a bigger role defensively, whatever it is I want to put myself up to the challenge. I want to exceed all expectations whether that’s the coaching staff or front office or myself. I’m excited for it. It’s going to be a challenge with all of the ups and downs during the season but I’m looking forward to it and want to find a sense of consistency over these 72 plus games we are going to have.”

Hart did not post many workout videos during the offseason but one did surface of him shooting three-pointers in a methodical, fundamentally focused fashion. He was not quickly jacking up shots for the sake of saying they went up. No Hart was internalizing the whole process and committing it to a subconscious memory. He wants to show he “continues to get better and can “shoot the ball, better than I did last season. That’s a big goal for me. Defensively I want to make sure I take…I see myself as taking the challenge of guarding some of the better players and doing those kinds of things.”

It seems reasonable to expect Hart will see a slight increase in playing time considering the new roster and coaching staff. His defense was critical in keeping the team competitive in some games. The increase of energy in the Smoothie King Center was palpable when Hart came into a close game. It was like the team’s beloved junkyard dog had gotten off the leash. Though associated with the dirty work on the court Hart really was the on-court heartbeat and rhythm of the team during the toughest of times. He refused to quit and it showed up on the stat sheet. He brings that winning mentality every night, regardless of coach, roster, or game location.

When asked about his toughness and Van Gundy’s comment about the Pelicans not getting punked Hart replied, “Oh I mean it is extremely important. Especially since we have a young group of guys. We only have two guys in their 30’s. You’ve got JJ who is the old man of the group with a cane and then you’ve got EB who is a young 31. It’s going to be good for us. I think we showed that at times last year. Zo’s competitive, BI’s competitive, myself, and you can keep going down the line. You’re not going to punk us. We’ll be competitive every single night and get the winning culture going.”

Whatever his role on offense, Hart can help the New Orleans Pelicans rebound from a disappointing season by continuing to set the standard for exceptional rebounding. Among eligible guards, only Luka Doncic, Russell Westbrook, Jayson Tatum, and Ben Simmons grabbed more defensive rebounds per game than Hart last season. Hart was also tenacious on defense, never giving up or conceding a basket. Only eight guards contested more shots last season and they all started more games and played more minutes than Hart.

Hart got his hand up in the opposition’s face 7.6 times per game, leading the team and finishing seventh among guards in contested two-point shots per game. Though often playing fewer minutes than those above him on the leaderboard, Hart finished 10th in total shots contested. As Hart stated at media day last summer, he refuses to be a mouse in the house. He can contest shots all the way to the rim and avoid fouls that hurt the team. Only three guards (Brandon Clarke, James Harden, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) defended more shots at the rim per game than Hart last season. Only Clarke was more successful in creating missed shots.

That type of dedication to winning basketball encourages everyone to live up to a championship standard. Hardworking, yet humble, Hart just wants to return to the court with his new teammates. As far as being in a contract year Hart just wants to show he is “healthy and I’m getting better. Offensively, shooting and attacking the basket. Defensively, I’ll make strides there.” He reiterated that it is more about showing he is “healthy, getting better, and able to play a full 72-plus games.”

New Orleans Pelicans fans are focused on the plus. Not in the number of games played in the last sentence but the positive plus that Josh Hart has been since being traded to the team. He pleaded his case with David Griffin to stay in New Orleans after the Anthony Davis trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. The fans in the stands see a trait in Hart they never saw in Davis, and it is one the locals cannot miss. The stuff coming out of the kitchens is only part of the diet. The rest is all Hart and determination to rise to any challenge.

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