New Orleans Pelicans Weekly Recap: Struggling to find consistency

Two convincing wins to start the week led to two unimpressive losses over the weekend for Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans.

We’re all struggling with what to make of a New Orleans Pelicans team that can be flashy and dynamic one night and deeply unimpressive the next.

Big-picture problems like injuries and rotation inconsistencies, as well as technical difficulties like shooting and rebounding that were predictable ahead of the season, have made it impossible for the team as whole to find its groove. A 2-2 week is representative of exactly what the Pelicans have become.

LAST WEEK

Tuesday @ Atlanta Hawks: 112-94 W

I was at work on Tuesday night, following along online as the Pelicans went into what would be there first real test of the short Jrue Holiday Return Tour.

First E’Twaun Moore hit a three, then Tim Frazier hit another; the Hawks couldn’t buy a bucket. Next I knew, the Pelicans had opened a twenty-plus point lead and the game was decided. Nothing like a blowout to get the good vibes flowing.

There was this:

But Anthony Davis would return unscathed to bring a win back from Atlanta.

OUR PLAYER GRADES FROM THE BLOWOUT VICTORY IN ATL

Wednesday vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: 117-96 W

I understand that the Hawks have been much better through the first month of the season and that Minnesota has completely failed to meet expectations over that same time frame, but forgive me for thinking this win meant more than the Atlanta victory on the road.

Minnesota spanked the Pelicans in more than one instance last season, and the combination of guys like Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns is the sort of athletic crew that devastates these Pelicans. Fueled by Anthony Davis’s 45-point night, the Pelicans flipped the script on the T-Wolves, winning by 20 on their home court and inspiring hope in a dying season.

Unfortunately, Wednesday was the night in which forward Dante Cunningham sustained the fibula fracture that will sideline him for the next 4-6 weeks. The team is targeting Christmas Day as the earliest return date.

OUR PLAYER GRADES FROM THE WONDERFUL WIN

Friday @ Portland Trailblazers: 104-119 L

Both Portland and Sunday’s opponent posed unique challenges that the Jrue Holiday-led Pelicans weren’t ready for over the weekend. In Portland on Friday, the Pelicans faced a crowd more impactful and impassioned than any they had seen all year.

Those fans, combined with 51 combined points by Portland’s star duo of guards, was too much for Holiday, Davis, and Co. to handle. The Pelicans stayed in the game through the fourth quarter, but were unable to get the better of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum twice in a week.

There’s a certain amount of luck that goes into beating a tandem like that on their home floor, and the Pelicans were unlikely to have luck land their way twice in seven nights.

Too good.

OUR PLAYER GRADES FROM THE REALITY CHECK LOSS

Sunday @ Dallas Mavericks: 81-91 L

This was the worst one in awhile. Almost enough to eliminate any good vibes accumulated through the nice week following Holiday’s return. The team was good enough to corral Dallas’ star scorer Harrison Barnes during the entire first half, but in the fourth quarter, Barnes’ work in the paint and Wes Mathews’ shooting from deep broke the game open.

A poor rebounding effort against a small and injured Mavericks team was worrisome, as was the disastrously poor performance by every role player, from Langston Galloway to Terrence Jones. Competitive teams beat bad teams on their home floors, and they definitely don’t let fourth quarter leads slip. The Pelicans failed by both counts against a Mavs team that ranks as one of the worst in the entire league.

OUR PLAYER GRADES FROM THE ABYSMAL OUTING

BEST OF PELICAN DEBRIEF

Four of our most frequent contributors got together to hash out what we’re most thankful for this year. Not on the Thanksgiving table or in our personal lives, but on the court at the Smoothie King Center. Answers varied from the long NBA schedule to Langston Galloway’s hot shooting streak. Get into it.

BEST OF THE REST OF THE WEB

Most intriguing from the crop of Pelicans pieces this week is this clip from Alvin Gentry’s appearance on NBATV during the day on Tuesday. Keep in mind that this is prior to the Pelicans’ victories over Atlanta and Minnesota:

Finally, Francis Adu of Ridiculous Upside breaks down Cheick Diallo’s impressive recent stint with the Austin Spurs of the NBA Developmental League.

Most encouraging from this excellent piece of analysis is Diallo’s improved decision-making in the paint:

"Diallo seems to be getting a very good understanding of how to maximize spacing without having a threatening jumpshot from range. Even the lack of jump shooting may serve as a moot point if his increased confidence in his free throw shooting and midrange shot out of the triple threat remains. Shooting 11 for 30 beyond 10 feet from the rim doesn’t look overly impressive on paper, but is still a giant leap from the rudimentary stage of shooting development Diallo was in just last year."

Excellent. The hard work that Alvin Gentry has been praising all summer is finally rearing its head in the form of good ‘ole improvement. Perhaps we will soon see him on the court again for the Pelicans.

THIS WEEK

Tuesday vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Friday vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Sunday @ Oklahoma City Thunder

This three-game week will be a nice reprieve from the slog that was the Pelicans’ early-season slate. Considering this is the first week of what will be a very difficult December schedule, the Pelicans ought to appreciate the rest as it comes.

Next: Tim Frazier deserves more credit than he gets

Things won’t be getting easier. Gentry and his staff have to right the ship, and the players must continue to improve individually. If the team keeps shooting and rebounding poorly, there’s no amount of players returning from injury who can create wins out of thin air.