Pelica Debrief
Fansided

Player Grades: New Orleans Pelicans Fall Short Against Los Angeles Clippers

ByCharles LaRocca|
Dec 2, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) controls the ball against LA Clippers forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) during the second half at the Smoothie King Center. The Clippers defeat the Pelicans 114-96. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 2, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) controls the ball against LA Clippers forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) during the second half at the Smoothie King Center. The Clippers defeat the Pelicans 114-96. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Pelicans could not extend their five-game home winning streak, as they fell short to the Los Angeles Clippers.

The New Orleans Pelicans could not  complete the L.A. Sweep this week.

After beating the Lakers Tuesday, they looked to beat one of the Western Conference elites. That team being the Los Angeles Clippers, the same Clippers who played in Cleveland last night.

The Pelicans, who hadn’t played since Monday, were presented with a golden chance to steal a game against a clearly better team.

New Orleans would fall well short.

The Pelicans started the game with great energy. New Orleans pushed the tempo against the tired Clippers, leading to easy transition baskets. Anthony Davis finished with eight points after the first quarter. New Orleans led 30-25 and it appeared the Pelicans may be on their way to another impressive home win.

Then midway through the second quarter, the game completely shifted.

Davis would go to the locker room with a shoulder injury and for awhile, it looked as if New Orleans would be able to hold firm. The Pelicans led 44-35 with 7:18 left in the second. The Clippers would retake the lead with 3:56 left in the quarter.

Davis would return but the damage had been done. New Orleans would not lead for the rest of the game. The tale of the tape was the stark contrast in three point shooting.

The Clippers would shoot 10-24 (41.7 percent) from three.

The Pelicans shot 5-20 (25 percent) from three.

Here are the individual grades from tonight’s contest.

In this clip, you can see Hill frozen to the spot. It’s just one example, but he needs to do more on the defensive end to justify his large contract.

The brief moments of brilliance by Terrence Jones. Plays like this leave you jaw dropped and oozing about his potential…. However they are usually followed up by plays like this.

Now there is bad defense all-around here. Davis should be at the rim to help, yes. But Jones does a poor job of recognizing the roll and is standing flat-footed in no-mans land.

Disappointing loss but not disheartening. The New Orleans Pelicans next travel to Oklahoma City for a match-up against the Thunder Sunday Night.

PLAY OF THE GAME 

Next: What if the New Orleans Pelicans Had Kept Nerlens Noel?

Home/Pelicans News