Pelicans.com continues its look back at the 2014-15 season with player-by-player analysis of the team:

2014-15 OVERVIEW

Due to the July trade acquisition of Omer Asik and the Pelicans being incrementally healthier this season compared to 2013-14, Ajinca’s minutes per game dipped slightly (from 17.0 to 14.1), but his production and efficiency still increased nearly across the board. One of New Orleans’ most improved players, Ajinca notched career highs in scoring (6.5 ppg) and field-goal percentage (55.0), while primarily coming off the bench behind Asik.

The native of France was called upon to start eight times when Asik was sidelined, and used his extensive experience from the previous season (30 starts out of 56 appearances) to often perform well. Ajinca averaged 9.6 points and 6.8 rebounds as a starter, even though his minutes weren’t starter-like (21.6 per start). Whether by mathematical fluke or otherwise, the Pelicans’ won-loss results varied drastically based on Ajinca’s role: They were 41-27 when he played, but just 4-10 when he did not. They were 2-6 with him as a starter, but 39-21 when he entered the game as a reserve.

Like his team, Ajinca made another notable step in his progression in 2014-15. The skilled, 7-foot-2 center viewed New Orleans’ 11-win increase and first trip to the playoffs with this group as partly due to the adversity of the recent past.

“We’re learning every year,” the upcoming unrestricted free agent said. “Last year was the same problem with injuries. We still learned a lot from it. That helped us this year, to go through it and get better. We came out this year ready and able to go to the playoffs.”

Ajinca, who spent a significant chunk of his ’14 offseason working out at the Pelicans’ practice facility in Metairie, will be participating again this summer with the French national team. His extensive international court time has been invaluable during his second NBA stint.

“We hope what happened this year will help us go farther next season. I want to keep working on my game, offensively and defensively,” he said.

TOP THREE ALEXIS AJINCA GAMES OF 2014-15

#3, Jan. 30: New Orleans 108, L.A. Clippers 103

Ajinca continued to put up exceptional numbers in home games vs. the Clippers, a unique trend that dates back to the 2013-14 season. This time, Ajinca netted 17 points and nine rebounds (four offensive boards) in just 24 minutes. Last season, he had a 14-point, 11-rebound home game vs. LAC, along with 19 and 12 in another contest. All three of his double-doubles in 2013-14 were against the Clippers.

#2, Feb. 27: New Orleans 104, Miami 102

For the second time in a span of just over a month, Ajinca established a career high in scoring, tallying 24 points in 22 minutes. In a game televised nationally by ESPN, he also finished off the victory by scoring the decisive basket with 26 seconds remaining, off a feed from Eric Gordon. Ajinca grabbed eight rebounds vs. the Heat.