Pelicans Jostling Against Josh Hart Once Again
New Orleans, La.- Josh Hart was the first player introduced on the night when the Portland Trail Blazers visited the Smoothie King Center in November. The New Orleans announcers tried to squeeze Hart's introduction in just after the national anthem yet still there was a secondary cheer for the former New Orleans Pelicans combo guard.
The respect and appreciation for how Hart represented the city will always be acknowledged by Big Easy basketball aficionados. The same can be said for New Orleans head coach Willie Green, who explained to me before the early season matchup against Portland, "Josh and I, for the time he was here, developed a really good relationship. I’m proud and happy for him with the success that he is having, especially under Chauncy, who is a close friend of mine."
Feb 13, 2023; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) celebrates his three point shot against the Brooklyn Nets during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Well, the Pelicans will again be tested by Hart. The New York Knicks are 3-0 since trading for the sixth-year veteran, who is averaging 17 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 26 minutes per game on 62% shooting from the field since moving to the Big Apple. Hart, who won a championship with Villanova, believes the move back to the Atlantic coast with the Knicks is the "perfect situation."
The newest Knick knows the lyrics to “Go New York Go,” the Knicks’ anthem of the mid-1990s, by heart. The last first-round selection in the 2017 draft, already on his fourth NBA team and sixth coach, might have finally found an NBA home. His former agent, Leon Rose, is now running New York's front office.
As for the team this season, “I think we can be a really good team, we can make a run,” Hart said. “We’re a team who can make a run, who I think teams won’t want to play.”
Looking more long-term. Hart wants “a home. I want to find a home. This is a place where I would love that home to be. On the court, there are so many things that align with my principles as a player, and off the court just being around with friends and close to family. This would be an amazing spot. Hopefully, they feel the same...It’s a perfect situation for me on and off the court.”
It's a not-so-perfect setup for the Pelicans right now. They have lost three of the last four games. Going back to November, the locker room knew the scouting report on Hart, yet still, the former Pelican was hard to contain in that homecoming of sorts. Without Dame Lillard in the starting five, Hart dropped 17 points on 7/13 shooting, grabbed 7 rebounds, dished out 2 assists, and snatched a steal to lead Portland to a 106-95 road win.
Hart scored Portland's first points by outhustling Zion Williamson and then driving through the lane as a one-man fast break. It was a very familiar sight to those in attendance.
I also asked Portland head coach Chauncey Billups about Hart back in November. Billups expressed his admiration for Hart because "Josh has been incredible for us. We were really excited to get him when we got him last year in the trade. Obviously, we were working through a lot of things, so he wasn’t able to really play that much and have the impact that we knew he would have, but I just feel like Josh he is my type of guy."
Feb 11, 2023; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) reacts after making a three point basket against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Billups detailed how everyone in the NBA knows Hart "is tough, plays hard, plays through everything, is unselfish and will guard your best player all game. He will do whatever you ask him to do and he is a great teammate, so he has given us an edge that we need. You guys are very familiar with him and you all know about Josh Hart, so just like you guys appreciate him here, we appreciate him in Portland."
Green agreed, pointing out that, "(Hart) does a lot of the same things that he did here. He’s attacking you in transition, so all of our guys know his game, but we need to do a good job in getting back. He’s a really good rebounder. He’s a gamer. If it’s competitive, you know Josh is going to be in there causing havoc...”
The Pelicans will have to cause some chaos for Hart and Jalen Brunson. If not, the two former Villanova Wildcats could push New Orleans out of a playoff spot altogether on Saturday. Jostling for postseason positioning was tough already. Going head-to-head against Hart once again just makes this trip to NYC that much more challenging for the Pelicans.
