New Orleans
Pelicans

A wild rollercoaster of extreme shooting variances defined this midseason stretch for Trey Murphy III, oscillating violently between disastrous shot-chucking and transcendent two-way dominance. When his shot selection soured, the results were catastrophic. During a brutal 01/30 vs MEM matchup, he forced multiple heavily contested looks to finish with just 8 points on 2-of-14 shooting, generating a miserable -13.2 impact score that actively shot his team out of the game. Even when he managed respectable scoring totals, a lack of efficiency often dragged down his actual value. He dropped 19 points on 01/31 vs PHI, but posted a -6.3 impact score because clanking 13 of his 21 field goal attempts severely damaged his offensive footprint. Yet, when he paired his lethal floor-spacing with engaged defense, he looked completely unstoppable. He delivered an absolute masterclass on 02/04 vs MIL, burying 12 three-pointers for 44 points and a staggering +21.1 impact score driven by elite shot selection and suffocating point-of-attack defense. Ultimately, Murphy is a terrifying weapon, but his nightly value hinges entirely on whether he reads the defense or recklessly forces the issue.

This stretch was defined by sheer physical terror in the paint, as Zion Williamson spent weeks bullying defenders before hitting a late-season wall of stagnation. During the 02/26 vs UTA matchup, he posted a relatively modest 20 points but generated a staggering +14.3 impact score. That massive rating was driven entirely by high-activity hustle plays (+6.5 hustle score) and elite defensive metrics rather than raw scoring volume. However, his brute strength couldn't always hide his flaws. On 03/11 vs TOR, despite an efficient 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting, he logged a -1.9 impact because glaring defensive lapses completely dragged down his overall value. By the close of this run, the physical toll caught up to him. On 04/03 vs SAC, his rating plummeted to a -6.7 impact. Stagnant offensive possessions and a total inability to generate his usual downhill momentum turned the star forward into a passive bystander.

A maddening pendulum of explosive highs and self-inflicted lows defined Saddiq Bey's midseason stretch. When his jumper was falling, he looked utterly unstoppable, peaking on 02/26 vs UTA with a massive +18.0 impact score fueled by explosive shot-making and a 42-point eruption. Yet, his raw scoring totals frequently disguised hidden costs. During the 02/04 vs MIL matchup, Bey poured in 22 points, but a string of costly live-ball turnovers plummeted his overall impact to a disappointing -3.0. A similar illusion occurred on 02/21 vs PHI, where his 20 points were completely undermined by a glaring lack of effort on the defensive end that resulted in a -5.5 impact rating. He could occasionally salvage rough shooting nights with sheer physicality, generating a +13.3 impact on 03/08 vs WAS by abandoning a broken three-point stroke to relentlessly attack the interior. Ultimately, erratic shot selection and defensive lapses made him a highly volatile weapon.

A chaotic pendulum swing between brilliant high-post playmaking and maddeningly empty shifts defined Derik Queen's late-season stretch. He was a wildly volatile asset off the bench before finally moving into the starting lineup. Look at Apr 07 vs UTA for a perfect example of his hidden flaws. He stuffed the box score with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists, yet posted a dismal -8.1 impact score because a rash of illegal screens completely tanked his overall value. Conversely, he barely looked at the basket on Mar 21 vs CLE, scoring just 9 points, but generated a massive +10.3 impact. Operating as a brilliant offensive hub, he picked apart the zone with pinpoint passing while anchoring the floor with exceptional defensive metrics (+10.0 def). He finally merged his raw production with winning habits on Apr 10 vs BOS. Bullying his way to 25 points and 11 rebounds, Queen posted a +9.6 impact driven by dominant two-way execution and flawless defensive positioning.

Wild inconsistency and a constant tug-of-war between shot volume and actual value defined Jeremiah Fears’s late-season stretch. Too often, his respectable scoring totals masked underlying inefficiencies that actively hurt his team on the floor. During his Feb 28 vs UTA appearance, he stuffed the box score with 18 points and 11 rebounds but posted a dismal -5.4 impact score because of forced attempts and chilly 5-for-14 shooting. Similarly, on Mar 16 vs DAL, he dropped 17 points but dragged his impact down to -2.3 due to costly defensive miscommunications and poor closeouts that gave points right back. Yet, when he reined in his worst habits, he looked like an entirely different weapon. He capped off this run on Apr 07 vs UTA with an absolute masterpiece, erupting for 40 points on 17-for-29 shooting. That sheer isolation dominance systematically dismantled the defense and generated a massive +16.2 impact score, highlighting his immense ceiling when he finally plays under control.

Jordan Poole's first twenty games were defined by maddening volatility and a destructive addiction to erratic shot selection. Even when his jumper was falling, hidden costs routinely dragged him down, perfectly illustrated during a 30-point eruption on 10/31 vs LAC. Despite burying seven threes in that contest, his -1.7 impact score revealed how empty defensive possessions and momentum-killing mistakes completely neutralized his offensive firepower. His shot diet frequently sabotaged the offense, bottoming out on 11/04 vs CHA where he forced heavily contested jumpers on his way to an abysmal -13.9 impact. He was a walking pendulum swinging between the starting lineup and the bench. He poured in 21 points on a scorching 6-of-8 from deep on 01/11 vs ORL, yet still posted a -0.4 impact because his defensive apathy and loose ball security gave every point right back to the opponent. While brief flashes of rhythm kept his scoring totals afloat, this stretch was ultimately anchored by a player whose reckless habits hurt his team far more than his highlights helped.

An agonizing offensive slump and erratic perimeter shooting defined Herbert Jones’s mid-season stretch, turning one of the league's premier stoppers into a frequent overall liability. Even when his shot occasionally fell, hidden costs dragged him down, as seen on 02/28 vs UTA when underlying mistakes entirely erased a 17-point, 8-rebound outburst to leave him with a -1.1 impact score. Total offensive invisibility routinely punished his value. During a bleak outing on 01/23 vs MEM, he failed to score a single point or grab a rebound, cratering his net impact to -11.1. Yet, his elite defensive instincts occasionally salvaged his night when his jumper completely abandoned him. On 02/24 vs GSW, Jones shot an abysmal 1-for-8 from the floor for just 5 points, but still scraped together a +0.7 impact score by putting on an absolute masterclass in perimeter containment to erase primary creators. He remains a terror at the point of attack, but this stretch exposed how drastically his value collapses when he cannot hit an open three or punish closeouts.

Bryce McGowens spent this twenty-game stretch battling a severe case of empty-calorie basketball. Even when the ball actually went through the hoop, hidden costs on the defensive end routinely dragged his overall value into the red. Look no further than his 20-point outburst on 01/07 vs ATL, where a heavy offensive load merely masked a negative -1.1 impact score. Defensive lapses were his ultimate undoing, bottoming out completely on 03/01 vs LAC. He managed just 6 points in that contest, but a disastrous habit of consistently losing his man off the ball cratered his impact to a staggering -14.3. Ironically, his most effective shifts occurred when he stopped forcing the issue and focused on the margins. On 02/24 vs GSW, McGowens scored only 7 points but generated a highly impressive +6.9 impact simply by taking high-value shots and playing perfectly within the offensive flow. To become a reliable rotation piece, he must realize that defensive focus and smart spacing matter far more than raw shot volume.

This stretch was defined by Yves Missi evolving into a low-usage, high-leverage wrecking ball. He dictated games entirely through rim deterrence. During the 03/13 vs HOU contest, Missi managed just 5 points but posted a massive +9.2 impact score because his relentless rim protection completely suffocated the opposing offense. He replicated that exact blueprint in a spot start on 03/05 vs SAC, turning a modest 7-point outing into an exceptional +8.4 impact through sheer defensive intimidation. Yet, when his defensive focus wavered, his value plummeted. A perfect shooting clip on 02/02 vs CHA meant absolutely nothing when fatal defensive lapses in pick-and-roll coverage dragged his impact down to -2.5. Missi is currently a pure specialist who swings games with verticality and hustle, but only when his rotational discipline remains airtight.

Wild inconsistency and destructive shot selection defined this turbulent stretch for the chaotic guard. He occasionally exploded as an offensive flamethrower, catching fire vs PHI on 02/11 to drain eight three-pointers for 26 points and a massive +22.5 impact score. Even when his jumper vanished, his trademark point-of-attack harassment could tilt the floor; he managed a +11.2 impact score vs HOU on 02/21 despite scoring just eight points, relying entirely on a +5.2 hustle metric to disrupt the opposing offense. However, erratic decision-making frequently sabotaged his value. During a spot start vs MEM on 03/18, he tallied a respectable 15 points in 32 minutes, but poor shot selection from beyond the arc resulted in a disappointing -3.3 impact score. Opponents also learned to neutralize him by hunting him mercilessly on defensive switches, dragging him to a brutal -8.7 impact vs OKC on 03/04. Ultimately, while his relentless energy remained a weapon, the sheer volume of errant floaters and defensive mismatches made him a highly volatile rotation piece.

Kevon Looney spent the first twenty games of the 2025-26 season mastering the unglamorous art of low-usage, high-hustle dirty work. He rarely looked at the basket, yet he generated a massive +11.3 impact score on Jan 03 vs POR by grabbing 12 rebounds and anchoring an elite defensive effort (+8.8) without needing a single play called for him. However, his offensive limitations occasionally punished the rotation. Clunky interior finishes and blown layups on Jan 01 vs CHI dragged him to a -1.0 impact despite pulling down 10 boards. He also bled value when his mobility waned, posting a brutal -9.2 impact score on Dec 03 vs MIN after looking a step slow in drop coverage and allowing guards to relentlessly turn the corner. When his legs were fresh, though, he dominated the margins. During a spot start on Nov 06 vs DAL, his timely offensive rebounding fueled a highly productive +9.5 impact score in just 15 minutes of action. He rarely scores, but his bruising screens and textbook verticality still swing games.

This stretch was defined by a masterclass in hyper-efficient, low-usage role-playing that eventually ran out of gas. Matković routinely generated massive value without demanding the basketball. On 02/28 vs UTA, he scored just 8 points but posted a stellar +8.6 impact by suffocating opponents with defensive dominance and active passing. He reached his absolute peak on 03/16 vs DAL. By stepping out to bury pick-and-pop jumpers, he completely altered the floor's geometry, yielding 13 points, 10 rebounds, and a staggering +14.4 impact score. That flawless execution eventually vanished. During a brutal outing on 03/19 vs LAC, he bricked all six of his field goal attempts. Being an absolute zero on the offensive end severely punished his team, resulting in a dismal -5.5 impact despite respectable hustle metrics.

A catastrophic offensive freeze-out defined this brutal middle stretch of the season for Jordan Hawkins, as his perimeter touch completely vanished and his rotation spot evaporated. The nadir of this slump arrived on 01/02 vs POR, where he laid a goose egg in 17 minutes and posted a disastrous -16.5 impact score. Missing all four of his field goal attempts, his inability to space the floor paralyzed the second unit's offense. Even when he actually found the basket, hidden costs routinely dragged down his overall value. During the 12/23 vs CLE matchup, he scored a stretch-high 7 points in 22 minutes but bled value on the defensive end to finish with an ugly -8.3 impact score. He occasionally found ways to contribute without a hot hand, notably on 01/18 vs HOU. Despite scoring just 6 points, Hawkins generated a +3.4 impact score by relying on defensive tenacity and a strong +2.4 hustle rating to salvage a rough shooting night. Ultimately, you cannot play a perimeter specialist who cannot hit shots.

A brutal offensive identity crisis defined this stretch of the season for Micah Peavy, as he toggled between complete invisibility and deeply damaging shot selection. During a disastrous bench stint on Jan 28 vs OKC, he chucked his way to a -9.6 impact score by missing all five of his field goal attempts and completely ignoring the flow of the offense. Even when the coaching staff bumped up his minutes late in the year, his underlying flaws only magnified. He finally found the bottom of the net on Apr 07 vs UTA, dropping 20 points on an efficient 9-of-13 shooting. Yet, that massive scoring surge was entirely undone by catastrophic decision-making with the ball in his hands, dragging his overall impact down to a miserable -8.3. The wheels completely fell off just days later on Apr 10 vs BOS. Thrust into the starting lineup again, Peavy forced terrible looks to finish with just 2 points on 1-of-7 shooting, resulting in a cratered -18.2 impact score that effectively derailed the team's half-court execution.