SAN FRANCISCO – In at least one way, Nicolo Melli is a basketball coach’s dream. While some players must be encouraged to curtail their tunnel vision and pass the ball to teammates more, Melli has often had the opposite problem during his NBA debut season.
“We’re going to keep on screaming to him to shoot the ball,” New Orleans guard Jrue Holiday said of Melli’s occasional reluctance to fire.
Indeed, despite being one of the league’s most accurate shooters – Melli leads the NBA in three-point percentage (49.3) since Jan. 1, minimum 50 attempts – it can be difficult for him to shake the pass-first mentality he developed over a lengthy pro career in Europe.