It hasn’t always been easy to objectively measure a team’s performance in categories such as effort and intensity, but during the 2016 playoffs, NBA.com debuted a new “hustle stats” section, tracking several unique categories such as loose balls recovered, charges drawn and contested shots by defenders. When the New Orleans Pelicans begin their 2016-17 campaign this fall, they’re likely to put considerable emphasis on areas such as those, for at least two reasons: One, they need to dramatically improve their defense, after ranking 28th in efficiency last season. Two, several of their most significant summer acquisitions were brought in to make the Pelicans a more aggressive, hard-playing squad.
Veteran additions expected to bring grit, toughness to Pelicans
