Lonzo Ball #2 of the New Orleans Pelicans. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Over the last half-decade, we’ve seen a gradual shift in the way NBA teams are built. Gone are the days of playing someone like Tony Allen thirty minutes a game just to play defense. If a player only gives you something on one end of the court it will be on offense these days, which is why the New Orleans Pelicans could just lean into theirs.
Many fans will mention the Golden State Warriors as the reason for this shift, and yes, their offense was dynamic and only stopped by injuries (especially once they got Kevin Durant).