Chavano "Buddy" Hield
Bahamian Chavano "Buddy" Hield is shooting the ball much better with the New Orleans Pelicans.
After starting the season in one of the worst slumps of his career, the 6'4" 22-year-old shooting guard has picked it up lately. Going into last night's game against the Sacramento Kings, Hield had notched double figures in three of his last four games, including a season-high 18 and four treys in an 89-83 overtime loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Hield averaged 11 points in his last five games prior to last night. During that stretch, he's shot 36 percent from the floor compared to just over 20 percent in his first two games. He's getting better, obviously getting a better feel for life in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and adjusting to the speed of the game. He's certainly not getting as much open looks as he had in college, but Hield is making strides and hitting shots.
He miss fired on his 13 shots from distance, but has buried eight of 25 from three-point range since for a 32 percent conversion rate. Still coming off the bench, Hield is providing some of the offense that the Pelicans desperately need. Going into last night, they were still winless on the season, coming up empty in their first seven games.
Hield and the Pelicans find themselves at the cellar of the Southwest Division and the Western Conference. They completed a two-game west trip last night, and will now head to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks before returning home to face the league's two most legendary teams over the weekend. They will host the Los Angeles Lakers at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Saturday, and host the Boston Celtics next Monday.
For the season, Hield is averaging 8.7 points, 2.5
rebounds and one assist per game. He is shooting 31.7 percent from the field and 21.2 percent from three point land. He's shooting 24-for-73 from the field for the season, and 8-for-38 from distance. He is averaging about 20 minutes per game for the season.
Pelicans' Head Coach Alvin Gentry said that Hield has to remain patient and let his shot come to him.
"He's got to figure it out. He's got to get his way through this and he will. He's a hell of a player. There are a lot of guys that go through it. It's just a matter of him finding a comfort level and knowing where he belongs," said Gentry. "The only way he's going to do that is for him to be on the floor. We're going to play him minutes and we'll continue to play him minutes and try to put him in a situation where he'll have some success."
On Monday against the Golden State Warriors, Hield had nine points, a season-high six rebounds and one assist in almost 28 minutes of play. The Warriors lost behind a record-setting night from Stephen Curry. Curry led the Warriors to a 116-106 win with a game-high 46 points. After shooting 0-for-10 against the Lakers from three-point range over the weekend, Curry set a single game NBA record with 13 treys on Monday night against Hield and the Pelicans. Klay Thompson, son of Bahamian basketball legend Mychal "Sweet Bells" Thompson, struck for 24, and Kevin Durant scored 22.
The Pelicans were led by Anthony Davis' 33 points and 13 rebounds. E'Twaun Moore had 15 points and point guard Tim Frazier was their only other player in double figures with 13 points. He added 10 assists. Hield and Langston Galloway both scored nine off the bench.
Hield and the Pelicans are still looking for their first win of the season. Their result against the Kings last night was unavailable up to press time.
Sheldon Longley, Guardian Sports Editor
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