Q-Pons actually shooting pretty well in feb so far

Also tidbits about dante:

Why are Q-Pons minutes decreasing?

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In 6 games, he has a 45.2 FG% and an impressive 42.1 3FG%. He hasn't shot over 40% from beyond the arc for a month since his best season in Memphis in 2012-13.

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Dante has been really bad offensively:

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On the other hand, Dante Cunningham has been struggling. Really struggling. In the last three games, he's made 1 field goal out of 11 attempts, and for the month, he has a poor 35.7 FG%. Looking deeper, he has taken 21 jumpshots in February but has only made 6 of them (28.6%).

Considering his primary role on offense is to serve as a release valve, normally somewhere from midrange, he's lately become a bigger detriment than usual. This was readily apparent against the Pacers. I noticed time and again, C.J. Miles cheating well off D.C. towards the paint. Already having to deal with Roy Hibbert inside, Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon found absolutely no free room to operate in the paint, combining for just 5 total shot attempts (1 make).

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Dante has been a solid fit when we're healthy but he's been exposed lately for sure.

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There is no question, when the team is healthy, Cunningham has proven to work alongside the starters. With Holiday/Gordon/Davis/Asik, the 5 man unit has produced a +4.4 NetRating. With Evans/Gordon/Davis/Asik, this lineup has posted a +11.3 NetRating. They've produced winning basketball and it's not difficult to decipher why. Three of the Pelicans are very adept at offense so the shortcomings of Asik and Cunningham are not fatal.

However, when this harmony is disrupted, opposing defenses find their jobs easier when the Pelicans lack the proper balance on the floor. Against the Jazz, Gordon and his teammates were en fuego (a rarity) from the perimeter so collapsing and sealing off the paint wasn't an option. Against the Pacers, New Orleans couldn't buy any sustained success until garbage time.

Going forward, the Pelicans need to be better cognizant of maintaining balance but to remember their strength remains on offense. To ignore their better performing side of the floor, one that is ranked inside the top ten, intentionally puts them at a greater disadvantage.

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