The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

WITH an increase in playing time, Buddy Hield has increased his productivity and is beginning to find consistency and establish his role with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Hield has scored in double figures for three consecutive games and in four of his last six. During the three-game stretch, the rookie guard has averaged 15.3 points on 47 per cent shooting from the field and 63 per cent from three-point range in 28 minutes per game.

He also experienced a career night in a 102-95 win over the Indiana Pacers when he scored 21 points on 8-17 shooting and 5-8 shooting from three.

Hield said the improvements in his game can be contributed to encouragement from his teammates and more appearances in the starting lineup.

“You get to set the tone for the team. You know you have to go out there and play hard and the team feeds off that energy. If I set the tone by making shots, or getting steals or a couple of rebounds or box outs, I can help the team get going,” he said.

“It feels good. My teammates give me confidence and find me in good spots and it really lifts me up. I’m beginning to get very aggressive, made some shots, but got to keep on building confidence and just be able to help lift the team in a positive way. I feel like it’s always good to bring that positive energy for your teammates.”

Hield’s opportunities to score have increased playing alongside All Stars Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday who recently returned to the starting lineup.  On the night of Hield’s career high, Holiday dished 14 assists, nine of which went to Davis or Hield.

“I’m playing around great players,” Hield said. “AD, Jrue, Solomon and all those guys help me. They find me in good spots...They do the little things to get me up and get me going. They’ve been really good to me, ” he said.

“It’s a great feeling. This is what I’m supposed to do, it’s why they drafted me here. I just have to keep focused, there’s always a next game tomorrow so I have to do it again. I just want to stay locked in and focused.”

Hield made just 18 three pointers during the first two months of the season but in December alone he has already made 23.

Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry  has been encouraged by Hield’s effort on both ends of the floor and that defensive adjustment is something Hield has focused on improving since training camp began.

“If you can guard somebody and you can score the ball that makes you a triple threat. That’s what they’ve been on me about from the time I first got here. I’ve heard ‘you’ve got to pick up your defence.’ I’m always locked in and focused.

“Defence comes down to effort, as long as you can guard somebody and have fun doing it you can make the game fun for you.”

The adjustment to the professional game has been a series of fluctuating results for Hield who, at one point, struggled to find his shot and playing time in the rotation.

That stretch of games included an eight-game stretch in November where he played approximately less than 10 minutes, including just one minute in a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. He was also shooting just 24 per cent from beyond the arch.

On the season, Hield is averaging 8.4 points on 39 per cent shooting and 34 per cent from three on just over 18 minutes per game and nine starts in 29 games.

Following his career high game, Hield scored 11 and 14 in back-to-back losses to the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs respectively.

“He made some big shots for us,” said Davis. “I think he’s just playing more relaxed and he’s starting to figure it out. He’s starting to calm down. He’s been working very hard and now it’s starting to pay off.”

The Pelicans will face the Philadelphia 76ers 7pm tonight at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.