New Orleans Pelicans: Game grades for loss to Washington Wizards
Despite playing pretty terribly through most of Saturday night’s game against the Washington Wizards, the New Orleans Pelicans had a chance to send a road game to overtime on the final possession. But the team failed to execute and get a good shot and Tyreke Evans missed a contested fadeaway three at the buzzer as the Pelicans lost their third consecutive game and fourth out of their last five, 83-80 to the Wizards.
Other observations:
- The Pelicans right now need Ryan Anderson, Anthony Davis, Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday to basically play their opponents entire team even on most nights so any bench points the Pelicans get can push them over the top. Tonight only two of those four played well and it hurt the Pelicans in a close game.
- In a three point game, the Pelicans missed seven free throws, which really hurts. Asik, Babbitt and Davis each missed one and Rivers and Anderson each missed two. The Pelicans expect Davis and Anderson to make basically all their FT attempts so three misses from those two in a three point game is super disappointing.
- The last play was just a disaster. It looked like the original plan was a handoff to Evans but once that didn’t happen the Pelicans just kind of panicked and they never stood a chance at getting a good look. This team should execute better than that at this point and the fact they don’t rests on both Monty Williams and the players.
- The Pelicans get back to the court on Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder who just welcomed back Russell Westbrook and could reportedly be welcoming back Kevin Durant. So things aren’t getting any easier.