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Pelicans’ Struggles: A Deeper Look at New Orleans’ Challenges
Photo by Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The New Orleans Pelicans’ recent 85-118 loss to the New York Knicks was more than just a defeat; it was a glaring indication of deeper issues within the team. As a Pelicans insider, I can’t help but express my frustration over the team’s current state. Injuries are a part of the game, but the problems we’re witnessing go beyond missing key players like Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
Moral Victories and Regression
In recent weeks, I’ve noticed a pattern of moral victories in losses, where the team seemed close to turning things around. However, these moral victories only hold value if they lead to actual improvement. Unfortunately, the Pelicans appear to be regressing instead of progressing. The recent games against the Toronto Raptors and Memphis Grizzlies highlighted this troubling trend. Despite a competitive spirit, the team still fell short, and the loss to the Knicks was a stark reminder of the challenges we face.
Offensive and Defensive Struggles
The Pelicans’ performance against the Knicks was disheartening. On defense, the team seemed lost, lacking a coherent game plan. The Knicks exploited our weaknesses, and it was evident that we struggled to defend key players like Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. Offensively, the Pelicans relied heavily on isolation plays, a strategy that hasn’t been effective. Despite flashes of ball movement, consistency was lacking, and turnovers plagued our efforts.
The absence of key players like Williamson and Ingram is undoubtedly a factor, but it’s not an excuse for scoring only 28 points in the first half. The team’s approach and execution need a significant overhaul. The return of players like Dejounte Murray and C.J. McCollum should have bolstered our performance, but instead, we looked worse than before.
Roster Construction and Future Outlook
The Pelicans’ roster construction is another area of concern. The team has openly stated a goal of taking 40 three-pointers per game, yet we haven’t achieved that once this season. The roster, as it stands, isn’t built to play the style we aspire to. High-usage players like Williamson and Ingram don’t shoot enough threes, and the supporting cast lacks the shooting prowess needed to compensate.
The front office, led by David Griffin, must address these issues. While injuries have played a role, the roster’s inability to execute the desired style of play is a fundamental problem. Changes are necessary, and they need to happen sooner rather than later. The Pelicans must make tough decisions to ensure a brighter future.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Pelicans’ challenges, tune into the Locked On Pelicans podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Pelicans Podcast:
- Analysis of the Pelicans’ defensive breakdowns
- The impact of injuries on team performance
- Potential roster changes and strategic shifts
- Player quotes and reactions to recent losses
- Upcoming games and what to expect from the Pelicans
December 1, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates against the Sacramento Kings during the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images | Kyle Terada/Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
You’d be forgiven if, a quarter of the way through the season (yes), you haven’t given the following teams that much attention. Maybe your main rooting interest has been struggling, and it’s taken all your psychic energy to will them through the slump. Better yet, maybe your team is thriving and you’ve been enjoying the ride. Maybe you’re still looking for a team to get behind, in which case, the following three franchises would make great options.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks being on this list has not alleviated my general wariness of the Hawks as a whole, but they’ve been playing through some of the things that make me doubt them. First, the Hawks love to play up. That is, they tend to excel against technically better and markedly more skilled teams; teams farther along the competitive timeline that I always get they feeling Atlanta would rather emulate than put the work in to be at the same level with.
This season, the Hawks are still playing up — they’ve beat the best in conference Cavaliers twice — but they’re recognizing what should be easy wins, like against the Charlotte Hornets. With Trae Young injured and in and out of the lineup, Atlanta’s bench has provided some of the most needed and entertaining offensive bursts in the league, with De’Andre Hunter back with a vengeance after being out for 10 games with a knee injury. Hunter’s regularly putting up 20-plus points per night, and hounding the glass.
Atlanta has a string of high-low games this week, facing the Pelicans, Bucks, Lakers and Nuggets, which should be an ample test to whether they can play and stay consistent.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Milestone Jimmy Butler misses shot so Bam Adebayo can record a triple-double in Heat win (Bleacher Report)
Analysis The pairing of Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram has yet to yield successful results for the New Orleans Pelicans. Analyzing the dynamics, it is evident that their on-court chemistry requires significant improvement. Williamson and Ingram have struggled to find a cohesive strategy. (NOLA.com)
Preview The Pelicans will go up against the Hawks at State Farm Arena at 7:30 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
3peat (ICYMI)
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Pelicans podcasts.
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