Pelicans 125, Pacers 118 Hawks 126, Pelicans 111 Beat the Pacers Friday despite the short roster, and then Zion was held out of the Hawks game with "hamstring tightness." (I saw one mention that this was really an excuse at load management on the first night of a back-to-back; we'll find out later today) So for the Hawks game, we were without Murray, Jones, McCollum, Zion and Murphy....that's 5 of your top 6, and the 6th - Ingram - played most of the night in foul trouble. No suprise that the Pels and Saints have the same ownership/upper management since they have the same two basic problems; the only thing more laughable than the head coaches lackadaisical reactions to losing is the complete incompetence of the conditioning/medical staffs. I will say this as a positive, Brandon Boston, Jr. has been a great free agent addition, and he's going to be hard to keep out of the rotation even after everyone is healthy. Home vs Portland tonight, 8:30 tip off to satisfy the West Coast audience.
Blazers 118, Pelicans 100 This time, the excuse for Zion's absence was a "sore thigh" that (Willie Green said after the game) prohibited his even attending the game. Plus, Jordan Hawkins sat as well, leaving the Pels without 6 of their top 7 players. This organization is really getting ludicrous with the health issues....6 different starting lineups in 8 games. Anyway...even outmanned, Pels led by 3 going into the 4th quarter, but Portland shot 79 freakin' % in the 4th and ran the Pels out of their own gym. Rumors are beginning to circulate that a Zion for Giannis trade could be in the works. Pels host the undefeated Cavs tomorrow.
Cavaliers 131, Pelicans 122 Maddening. Its the same thing every night: start off strong and then start to get lazy. They always fall back into this pattern of wasting the first 17 seconds of the shot clock and then have someone go one-on-one trying to create a good shot in the last 7 seconds. Then when the shot does fall, they're slow to get back on defense and give up an easy layup or wide open 3 to the opponent, who always seems to play with more energy and urgency. And the coaching staff just doesn't seem to see it. Zion returned, took himself out of the game early in the 2nd quarter with the same thigh problem, but came back and played pretty well, 29 points, 8 rebounds. Alvarado was the only other real spark with 27 points (7 of 7 3's), 5 assists and 3 steals. Also Missi, with 10 points and 3 blocks, but he did all of that in the first half, then sat for much of the 2nd half. Terrible home stand at 1-3, 3 straight losses. At Orlando Friday, and Banchero is out, so maybe a chance.
Loss at Orlando Friday night. I just don't feel like looking up stats, especially in light of the news that Zion is now out indefinitely. How can a specimen like that be so brittle? On the bright side, Trey Murphy will make his season debut tonight (with a minutes restriction) against Brooklyn.
Nets 107, Pelicans 105 Merry Christmas, Brooklyn! Willie Green just gifted you a win. Team played well for 45 minutes and then slammed on the brakes, reverting to the 4-guys-stand-in-the-corners-and-watch-someone-dribble-for-20-seconds-and-then-force-a-bad-shot offense for the last result. Team goes 0-for-8 in the last 3 minutes and lets Brooklyn come from behind. Wasted Missi's first career double-double, career highs in points (17) and rebounds (11). Five consecutive losses through what may have been the easiest stretch of games on the entire schedule, and now it gets crazy. Next five are at OKC (Wednesday on ESPN, terrific), vs Denver, vs Lakers, at Dallas, at Cleveland. Ten game losing streak is a distinct possibility.
Pelicans 101, Nuggets 94 Lakers 104, Pelicans 99 Broke the losing streak against Jocic-less Denver, but (IMO) gave away another one against the Lakers. Offense looked much more cohesive in both games, but they went back to old habits at the end of the Lakers game, and, there's the final score. Ingram was fantastic both nights. Murphy sat vs LA, but that was cautionary. I'm liking what I see from Trey Jemison III; works hard on both ends of the court and the coaches say he communicates well on defense. Daniel Theiss has gone to the end of the bench, and it looks like they're going with Missi as the first center with Jemison backing him. Jaylen Nowell is also getting his feet under him. Once everyone's healthy, the Pels are going to be a very guard-heavy team; Nowell will probably be odd man out, but maybe there's some trade value there. At Dallas tomorrow night, and I'm thinking CJ McCollum should return some time this week.
Disappointing loss to the Warriors Friday. It was there for the taking, but 8 missed FT's and missed FG's on about 10 opportunities to grab the momentum in the 4th quarter sealed it. Bright side, Murphy is beginning to get his legs under him, Hawkins returned (obviously rusty), CJ should play tonight at Indiana and we could get Murray back before this week is out.
Pacers 114, Pelicans 110 Very similar to the Warriors loss, played from behind most of the game. Another bad FT shooting game and missed opportunities (Murphy and McCollum both got wide open looks at 3's to tie the game in the last minute, both missed). Crucial was a 3 pointer by McCollum that went in for a 2-point lead with about 3:00 left that was waived off for a ticky tack offensive foul. Pacers went on an 8-0 run and we never caught up. Wasted a brilliant game by Elfrid Payton - 21 assists (most in the league this year, 2nd most in franchise history), 12 points and 7 rebounds, and they look so much better with an actual point guard who's looking to facilitate an actual team offense. Missi had a double-double (he was something like +22, while Daniel Theiss was -24, that guy is dead weight), Murphy had 24, but only 5 in the second half, and CJ had 23 in his return. Lost 11 of the last 12, but looking so much more competitive, just need to get over the hump. Maybe tomorrow at home against Toronto, because Dejaunte Murray returns!
Pelicans 117, Suns 115 Welcome back, Herb Jones! The Pels are simply a different team when he's on the floor. Overall, much disruptive on defense and active on both ends of the floor. Ingram also returned after missing 5 games, and with the most complete starting lineup they've had since the season opener, snapped a 9-game losing streak and nipped the Durant-less Suns. Allowed Devin Booker 15 points in the first quarter, and then shackled him the rest of the night (constant double teams, Herb and Murphy combined to deny his potential game winning 3 at the buzzer); he ended up with 28, but I think had only one FG after the 1st quarter. And with offensive options on the floors, Suns couldn't devote all of their attention to BI, and he went for 29 (21 point 3rd quarter), while McCollum had 25 and Murphy 19. Tough back-to-back this weekend, OKC Saturday then at San Antonio Sunday.
