New Orleans Pelicans Grades: Pelicans beat themselves
By Nathan Heck
Unfortunately, the New Orleans Pelicans are not a good basketball team. This disheartening fact was on full display as the Blazers, despite being less talented, beat the Pelicans yet again.
The New Orleans Pelicans do not lack talent. Anthony Davis, Tyreke Evans, Ryan Anderson, Jrue Holiday and Eric Gordon are all extremely talented basketball players. Unfortunately, they just don’t seem to fit together. There was absolutely no flow in the offense in Portland and the Pelicans settled for poor looks for the entirety of the game.
Anthony Davis did his best to drag the team to victory, including a key offensive rebound on a crucial possession in the last minute, but he could not carry his teammates over the mountain of mistakes that accumulated throughout the course of the game. Effort seemed to be lacking yet again, and personnel changes may be on the horizon.
C. If you look at just the box score, this grade seems way too low. Despite his sheet-stuffing effort, though, Evans’ poor decisions, summed up nicely by a contested step back look from deep, haunted the Pelicans for the entire game. The perception is growing that Tyreke Evans, regardless of the preseason hype, may not fit with Gentry’s vision of this team.. PG. New Orleans Pelicans. TYREKE EVANS
D. Eric Gordon is on the court to score, and he did not accomplish that goal against Portland. Missing every single look from deep, Gordon was stunningly inefficient throughout. He made some nice moves inside and chipped in a few assists and steals, but the Pelicans need his long range shooting more than anything.. SG. New Orleans Pelicans. ERIC GORDON
ALONZO GEE. F. <a href=. SF. New Orleans Pelicans
PF/C. New Orleans Pelicans. ANTHONY DAVIS. A. Anthony Davis deserves better. His totals of 28 points, nine rebounds and five blocks should be enough for the Pelicans to win on most nights. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, and yet another great performance by Davis was wasted. Davis played some of the best defense he’s played all season, and it will be interesting to see if he stays motivated after the hopelessness of this season sets in.
D-. Despite getting the start, Ajinca only played 11 minutes as a result of him picking up three fouls in that time frame. When he was on the floor, Ajinca did little of note. After playing well in the last few games, Ajinca came crashing back to Earth.. C. New Orleans Pelicans. ALEXIS AJINCA
A-. Jrue Holiday is not one of the ill-fitting pieces mentioned before. It’s become apparent that Jrue Holiday is the player, besides Anthony Davis, most suited to play for Alvin Gentry. Against Portland, Holiday showcased his range, his passing and his defense throughout the game. Holiday did much more for the Pelicans than the stat sheet indicates, and it’s clear that he is recovering nicely from the stress fracture.. PG. New Orleans Pelicans. JRUE HOLIDAY
D-. Ryan Anderson needs to be traded. His ball stopping play is undermining everything the Pelicans are trying to build, and his insistence on shooting the Pelicans out of games is maddening. Anderson was a terrible five of 16 from the field and two of seven from deep. His unwillingness to pass out of unfavorable situations left points on the court time and time again.. PF. New Orleans Pelicans. RYAN ANDERSON
New Orleans Pelicans. DANTE CUNNINGHAM. D+. <a href=. SF/PF
New Orleans Pelicans. NORRIS COLE. D-. <a href=. PG/SG
C. New Orleans Pelicans. OMER ASIK. C+. <a href=
Inc. <a href=. PG. New Orleans Pelicans. ISH SMITH
Other observations
- Eric Gordon has disappeared as the others have returned from injury. It would be great for him to be more involved.
- The best lineup for the Pelicans was also the most traditional. Asik was playing the five while Holiday was at the lead guard spot. For some reason, Gentry did not go back to that after a very successful run.
- Watching Anderson force the faders, hunt for fouls and shoot in the face of three defenders may be the most unenjoyable aspect of the Pelicans right now; apart from everything about Norris Cole, of course.