New Orleans Pelicans Player Grades: Pelicans Succomb to Blazers
By Nathan Heck
After the beat down the New Orleans Pelicans suffered at the hands of the Golden State Warriors last night, many expected them to show up on their game tonight. Unfortunately, that was not the case, particularly in the first half. The Pelicans allowed 70 points in the first half , courtesy of some truly atrocious defense. After the disaster that was the first half, the team seemed more driven and determined in the second half, but it was too little and too late. The Pelicans fell to the Blazers 112-94.
69. Final. 112. 34. 94
B-. Holiday moved the ball extremely well early in the game, but in a cruel bit of foreshadowing, his teammates couldn’t knock the looks down. His defense was spotty all night, but he and Davis came alive in the fourth quarter to bring the Pelicans within 8. During that run, Holiday scored from all over the floor and seemed to be in control.. PG. New Orleans Pelicans. JRUE HOLIDAY
D-. If you just glance at the box score, you’d think <a href=. SG. New Orleans Pelicans. ERIC GORDON
New Orleans Pelicans. DANTE CUNNINGHAM. B. <a href=. SF
ANTHONY DAVIS. B. In the first half, Davis was awful. There is no use sugar-coating it. He looked lost, he played poor defense and he struggled to score. In the second half, though, Davis sprung to life and led the failed comeback attempt along with <a href=. PF/C. New Orleans Pelicans
C. New Orleans Pelicans. KENDRICK PERKINS. D. Perkins finished up with four points and four rebounds tonight. We were not treated to a repeat performance of his post play from last night, and Perkins returned to his below-average self.
Anderson had his usual defensive struggles, but he was able to carry the team for stretches by getting hot, totaling 21 points. He only shot three for nine from deep, but his scoring was a dim bright spot in a very bleak scene for good portions of this game. He missed a few looks on the inside that he should have finished, and that will need to improve.. PF/SF. New Orleans Pelicans. RYAN ANDERSON. C+
D. <a href=. PG. New Orleans Pelicans. NATE ROBINSON
After Ridicul-Ish reared his head last night, Ish Smith fell back down to Earth by shooing a dismal 3 of 14. He got similar looks to what he able to get against the Warriors, but unlike that game, the shot wasn’t falling. On the positive side, Ish was able to log 8 assists and keep the ball moving, particularly in the second half. Not much more can be expected of Ish while operating with such a rudimentary knowledge of the system.. PG. New Orleans Pelicans. ISH SMITH. C
D. Ajinca played little tonight, but it wasn’t pretty when he did. Managing only two rebounds and two points in seven minutes isn’t what the Pelicans expected from Ajinca this offseason when they extended him. Hopefully, he can return to form as he regains his footing. In typical Ajinca fashion, he fouled twice in those seven minutes.. C. New Orleans Pelicans. ALEXIS AJINCA
Gee was really bad tonight. Like <em>really </em>bad. Like -30 bad. Like only scoring three and grabbing two boards in 17 minutes bad.. SF. New Orleans Pelicans. ALONZO GEE. F
Next: Pelicans Get Handled by Blazers
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