Jonas Valanciunas Fouling Up The Gameplan

NEW ORLEANS- The New Orleans Pelicans knew that Jonas Valanciunas might not post jump-out-of-the-sheet stats every game but the playoff-tested veteran is one of the NBA's most reliable two-way talents. A double-double threat every time he steps on the court, Valanciunas has been an iron man this season for the Pelicans.

However, the Lithuanian is getting into too much foul trouble and messing up Willie Green's game plans. Working backward over the past 10 games, the Lithuanian big man has been a mix of inconsistent, sloppy, and either overaggressive or too timid depending on the matchup.

Going back to when Zion Williamson was healthy, there is evidence that the value of Valanciunas is diminishing regardless of foul issues.

Anthony Davis was fouled by Valanciunas 35 seconds after tip-off Tuesday night against the Lakers (3/14) and it took 49 seconds before Valanciunas fouled Portland's Cam Reddish (3/12) in the previous game. A usually solid wager to post a double-double on the stat sheet, a passive Valanciunas had 3 fouls, 13 points, and just 4 rebounds in the lethargic, blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder (3/11).

Valanciunas had 2 fouls and a turnover in the first 100 seconds against Dallas on March 8. He was whistled for a foul on the opening tip and finished with 5 turnovers in just over 6 minutes of action but New Orleans still found a way to win despite the sloppiness.

Jonas was decent in Sacramento (3/6) but the Pelicans still dropped a winnable game since the Kings were without De'aaron Fox. He was also a bit more rested than Domantas Sabonis by virtue of having sat out road games against Golden State (3/3) and Portland (3/1).

The disaster against Dallas came after one of the most disappointing performances of an 11-year career. The starting center had 8 points and 5 rebounds in 23:15 of action against Orlando's Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr.

The Pelicans need more production from that position, and for that $17 million salary, to be a serious playoff contender. Valanciunas had two turnovers and a foul within four minutes. Paolo Banchero put up 29 points. Carter Jr. and Wagner added another 11 points each along with 16 combined rebounds.

This is not a new trend either. The issues stretch back to before Williamson pulled up with a hamstring injury on January 2, 2023. Valanciunas fouled out of that game in Philadelphia (1/2) and the previous game versus Memphis (12/31/22). Worse, the Pelicans sometimes look better with their starting center on the bench.

Against Phoenix on December 11, Valanciunas picked up his fourth foul with 9 minutes remaining and the Suns leading by 1. 66-65. With just under 5 minutes left in the third quarter, New Orleans had run up a 13-point lead.

Two quick second-quarter fouls got Valanciunas yanked from a 121-106 win over Denver (12/4/22). He had 20 first-half points in a 132-112 win over the Washington Wizards but ended with 27 points and 5 fouls. Two quick fouls in the second half all but ended his night and the quest for a new career high in points.

The Pelicans are running out of time to make a playoff push and need a strong finish from Valanciunas to have even a puncher's chance. He does have five double-doubles over his last nine games and is averaging 12.2 points with 9.7 rebounds in just 24.0 minutes per game since the start of February.

It wasn't always this way. The Pelicans had the best record in the Western Conference a few months ago. Valanciunas did not have more than 4 fouls in a game for the first month of the season. It took until Black Friday, when Brandon Ingram injured his toe, for the big man to get 5 fouls in a game.

Valanciunas has had less than 3 fouls in just 13 games since Thanksgiving. Five of those have come in the last 11 games as coach Willie Green has made some tough adjustments to the big man minutes allocation. There is faith the seven-footer can find a groove again but it will have to come as part of a team effort.

Green explained after an embarrassing loss to the Lakers, “We have to have more attention to detail. Our guys know how to do it. They have to go out there and put it together. Then if a few shots are not falling, mix it up. Get to the paint. Get to the free-throw line. Throw the ball to JV. Settle the offense down.”

Sure Valanciunas needs help and works better with another big man roaming the paint but Zion Williamson is still at least a week away from returning. Losing 101-93 to the Magic at home with playoff pressures mounting as the team falls down the standings is just one sign of the bigger issues that need addressing this offseason.

Until then, Valanciunas can help inject some consistency into the starting lineup by staying out of foul trouble. This team runs into too many other issues when they have to deviate from the game plan.

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