Halo

Entering the 2014-15 season, the New Orleans Pelicans seem poised to compete for a playoff bid. Their exceptional blend of impactful newcomers and essential returners boasts the potential to achieve this feat.

However, New Orleans will squander this opportunity if certain players don't step up their game. Whether it requires improving a specific aspect or assuming a larger role, these athletes must enhance their play for the Pelicans to attain success.

Three players in particular—Jeff Withey, Austin Rivers and Eric Gordon—must focus on raising their performance.

Let's explore how each can accomplish this, shall we?



Jeff Withey



Although head coach Monty Williams will feature a frontcourt rotation of Anthony Davis, Omer Asik and Ryan Anderson, center Jeff Withey will still obtain consistent minutes down low. Much like last season, Withey will be expected to anchor the defense while filling the 5 spot.

After initially playing in only 29 contests last year, the big man appeared in each of New Orleans' final 29 games, according to ESPN.com. The 24-year-old used this time to display his abilities as a dominant defender. Swatting opponents with his lengthy 7'3" wingspan, he was second behind Davis in blocks with 2.6 per match through the last nine games.

Withey needs to protect the paint like this throughout the entirety of 2014-15. His small, effective stretch last season is noteworthy, but he must provide this regularly to help the Pelicans thrive defensively without Asik and/or Davis on the court.

In addition, Withey must improve his rebounding, as the center disappointingly finished ninth on the team in rebounds per 36 minutes with 7.9. This weakness is something he is aware of and has mentioned in the past, per NBA.com:

I need to rebound better. I want to get better at that. That kind of comes with getting stronger, not getting pushed around and knowing how to be in the right place. We’re going to continue to do whatever it takes to get stronger, because in this league, someone with my body frame can’t last that long. I have to pack on that weight, so I can take that beating and stand my ground.

Playing at 220 pounds last season, the 7'0" Withey represented the epitome of a walking human skeleton. However, he focused on adding 15 pounds of muscle during the summer and is currently listed at 235 pounds.

New Orleans finished a lowly 22nd in rebounding last year with 41.7 per game. In order for the team to rise in the ranks in this important category, it is critical for Withey to grab more boards. The extra weight should help, but the responsibility ultimately lies in the big man's effort.

Essentially, Withey needs to step up his consistency on defense as well as his rebounding. If he succeeds, it will aid the Pelicans' output in these areas, subsequently raising their chances of playoff qualification.



Austin Rivers



Rivers will play a significant role in his third NBA campaign. He is positioned to serve as the primary backup 2-guard, and he is expected to provide a scoring punch off the bench.

The 22-year-old has proven himself a capable scorer, displaying consistency in driving the lane as well as an ability to hit from three. This has led to him averaging seven points per game through his first two seasons.

However, to aid in New Orleans' postseason push this year, Rivers must transform into a more well-rounded point producer. And the best way for him to accomplish this is by strengthening his mid-range game.

In his first two seasons, Rivers' shooting from 10 to 23 feet was atrocious, as his percentage sits at an appalling 29.5 percent. To compare, this output is roughly 10 points lower than the league average of 39.8 percent.

Rivers understands this flaw, and he has performed the necessary actions to fix it. "I've strictly worked on mid-range and getting my body stronger this summer," Rivers said, per John Reid of The Times Picayune. "I've got both of those things and I'm ready to prove and show people that this year."

Whether or not evidence of this emerges remains to be seen. It is, however, an incredibly positive sign that the shooting guard focused on this weakness.

By adding a mid-range shot, Rivers can apply a completely new element to his offensive approach. The ability to abruptly stop a drive and convert pull-up jump shots is invaluable to a scorer. Already an established attacker, Rivers would constantly keep defenders guessing if he incorporated a reliable mid-range game.

This would allow for more efficient scoring, subsequently leading to quality bench output. Naturally, solid pine play would increase the Pelicans' playoff potential.

Last season, New Orleans finished eighth in bench points with 34.9 per game, according to hoopstats.com. But the team lost multiple key pieces, and Tyreke Evans—who played a majority of the games as a substitute—will likely assume a starting role this year.

Consequently, Rivers must step up his scoring in order for the Pelicans to put forth a strong bench. The team's postseason fate will partially depend on the pine's success or failure, and the 2-man will fill a key role in this regard.



Eric Gordon



Before falling victim to left knee tendinitis in March, Eric Gordon experienced a relatively successful 2013-14 campaign. He participated in 64 games—the most he's played since his rookie season—and finished the year third on New Orleans in scoring with 15.4 points.

Gordon underwent successful surgery in April after the conclusion of the regular season. The shooting guard is completely healthy now and boasts a chance to build upon last year.

Once again, Gordon will serve as a main scorer. But for the Pelicans to vie for a playoff spot, the 25-year-old must improve certain aspects of his style.

Specifically, the 2-guard needs to raise his shooting efficiency and enhance his explosiveness, both of which go hand-in-hand.

At 43.6 percent, Gordon's field-goal percentage proved less-than-stellar last season. His three-point shooting was superb at 39.1 percent, but his 45.6 percent shooting from two served as the main source of his struggles.

Gordon's shoddy percentage of 43.4 within zero to 10 feet played a significant part in his poor output from two. Sensibly enough, this low efficiency can be attributed to the guard's inconsistent explosiveness attacking the rim—sometimes he finished strong, but other times, he held back in an effort to play cautiously.

According to Gordon himself, regaining that explosiveness—something he flaunted often early in his career—was a focal point for him over the offseason, via Jim Eichenhofer of NBA.com:

That’s what I’ve really been working on, explosiveness to the rim, trying to beat people (off the dribble). I don’t think I was very consistent, because with all of the injuries, it would slow me down at times, because I would be so hesitant to make a move or even explode to the basket at times.

This year has been well because I’ve actually been able to work out as hard and as long as I want to, during the summer. So it’s been a lot better.

It seems the 2-man is on track to improve in this area. By doing so, he would up his efficiency near the rim, resultantly bettering his field-goal percentage and scoring output as a whole.

As a leader for New Orleans, Gordon's play can drastically effect the team's success. Healthy, productive stretches by the guard will lead to more wins, while poor, injury-marred stints will undoubtedly pile on losses.

Gordon must improve his shooting and explosiveness for the Pelicans to earn a postseason spot. Should he fall short, his franchise will do the same in the competitive Western Conference.



(Unless otherwise noted, all stats are courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com)

Josh Haar is a NBA Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @JHaarNBA.

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