LOS ANGELES – A handful of games isn’t much of a sample, but after a rough start defensively coming out of the All-Star break and a multi-player trade, New Orleans (24-38) is now 11th in the NBA in efficiency at that end of the floor since the midseason hiatus. While that’s still a bit shy of the Pelicans’ seventh-place ranking overall – which includes all 62 games – it’s a sign of some progress. New Orleans allowed just 86 points in a Wednesday win over Detroit, then held San Antonio to 42.1 percent shooting Friday, albeit in a Pelicans overtime loss.
Pelicans shootaround presented by HUB International: Defense making progress with new-look lineup
