Basketball: Pelicans 'dud decision' to cut Breakers guard Corey Webster

Corey Webster has been in sublime form for the Breakers since re-joining them after a pre-season stint with the New Orleans Pelicans. Photo/Getty.

The decision by the New Orleans Pelicans not to sign Breakers guard Corey Webster has been labelled a "dud decision" by an Australian basketball commentator.

Paul Suttor of the Sydney Morning Herald says the Pelicans passed over a great player when Webster was cut from their final roster last month after having limited game time in three preseason games for the NBA franchise.

Since re-joining the Breakers a couple of weeks into their ANBL campaign, Webster has been in eye catching form and his strong performance in last Sunday's win over Melbourne United in Auckland left Suttor believing the Pelicans had erred in cutting the 26-year-old loose.

"There's a huge gap between being a fringe NBA player and a star in a competition like the NBL but the way Webster is tearing it up for the Breakers, combined with the Pelicans' pathetic start to the season, surely adds up to a missed opportunity for both parties," wrote Suttor.

"You don't hit the same practice floor as Anthony Davis without picking up a few pointers, particularly how to get your shot off when there is someone between you and the hoop who can swat away your attempt from an altitude somewhere near the rafters.

"He was only given seven minutes per game in three pre-season contests and incorrectly used strictly as a point guard by New Orleans. Webster should have been given more of a chance to strut his stuff in The Big Easy, especially in the shooting guard slot."

While Webster shines for the Breakers, Suttor noted the 3-11 Pelicans have failed to find stability in their guard rotation. Their main point guard, Jrue Holiday, is on a minutes restriction, as Tyreke Evans makes his return from pre-season knee surgery, while the highly paid Eric Gordon has been unable to produce his best form.

Suttor praised Webster's effort against Melbourne, saying he "looked like a man on a mission" as he scored a career-high 39 points - the highest single-game total by any NBL player this season - while marking Chris Goulding.

"From the get-go, Webster shot well. He went cold in the second quarter but then finished the match on a different level," Suttor observed.

"The quantity was immense but it was also the quality of his scoring that stood out. It was ruthless, it was efficient and the United defence had no answers. Webster drained seven three-pointers, getting open when he needed to but also making several contested jumpers."

Melbourne coach Dean Demopoulos admitted Webster had had "a hell of a game", saying: "I've seen Kobe [Bryant] get 60 on my team, I've seen great players get high numbers and that was about as quiet a 39 as I've seen - it was so efficient, just three three three three."

The Auckland-born former Westlake Boy's product leads the league in scoring with 25 points per game in seven appearances, and is shooting at 42 per cent, including 39 per cent in threes, prompting Suttor to declare him "the best thing to come out of the Shaky Isles since Flight of the Conchords became the "almost award-winning fourth-most-popular folk duo in New Zealand".

Suttor had some sympathy for Kiwi basketball fans, after the ANBL made it clear a new Wellington franchise is not among their immediate plans for expansion, but believes Webster's class will give the Breakers "a very good chance of defending their title to make it five trophies in six seasons."