As Ersan Ilyasova‘s potential game winning shot headed towards the rim things looked grim for the New Orleans Pelicans. Ilyasova had gotten a wide open look from behind the arc and the shot seemed headed right for the bottom of the net.
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Then it reached the rim and shot straight up into the air and out, providing the Pelicans with a win that they may not have deserved and a spot back in the Western Conference playoffs.
The miss bailed out late mistakes from Tyreke Evans and a frustrating final possession that didn’t involve the ball touching Anthony Davis‘s hands to give the Pelicans a type of win that playoff teams get.
Other observations:
- Tyreke Evans remains baffling. After so many good games and decisions in a row, Evans went backwards tonight. One especially bad sequence was a fast break in the fourth quarter where Evans was running with Anthony Davis and instead of being patient he forced a shot that didn’t even come close to touching the rim. It was horrendous.
- The last Pelicans possession also wasn’t great. While defenses are going to do what they can to take away Anthony Davis going almost 24 seconds on the most important possession of the game without one of the best three players in the NBA touching the ball is hard to be ok with. Considering Davis isn’t a liability from the foul line it just is hard to be ok with.
- AD’s passing is great but imagining it with Jrue Holiday is even more exciting. At one point in the first quarter Davis caught the ball, read the double and threw a pass to Tyreke Evans in the corner. Evans bricked the jumper but imagining Jrue Holiday getting that shot is imagining made threes.
- It is great to see Omer Asik close games. Too often this year Asik has sat on the bench as the Pelicans struggled to close things out. His defense and rebounding are huge assets late in close games and it showed again tonight.
Tweet(s) of the Night:
Sometimes luck is all that matters.