Pelica Debrief
Fansided

New Orleans Pelicans player grades: Pelicans torched by Curry once again.

By Matt Cianfrone

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Halloween in New Orleans was supposed to be plenty of fun for the New Orleans Pelicans and their fans. After a playoff appearance last season, the Pelicans entered Saturday night’s home opener with high hopes and expectations. Then Stephen Curry took a flamethrower to them all and burned the nets at the Smoothie King Center to the tune of 51 points on just 27 shots as the Golden State Warriors prevailed 134-120.

120. 69. Final. 134. 41

B+. <strong><a href=. PG. New Orleans Pelicans. JRUE HOLIDAY

<strong><a href=. SG. New Orleans Pelicans. ERIC GORDON. D

B. <strong><a href=. PF/C. New Orleans Pelicans. ANTHONY DAVIS

D. This was a rough game for <strong><a href=. C. New Orleans Pelicans. OMER ASIK

A. The argument can be made <strong><a href=. PF/C. New Orleans Pelicans. RYAN ANDERSON

C. The 7-12 shooting was nice but <strong><a href=. PG/SG. New Orleans Pelicans. TONEY DOUGLAS

D. <strong><a href=. SG. New Orleans Pelicans. ISH SMITH

DANTE CUNNINGHAM. C. 2-2 from three is a nice sign but it is hard to really remember <strong><a href=. SF. New Orleans Pelicans

ALONZO GEE. D. Even <strong><a href=. SF. New Orleans Pelicans

LUKE BABBITT. C. It was nice to get <strong><a href=. SF. New Orleans Pelicans

A-. The numbers look nice but <strong><a href=. C. New Orleans Pelicans. ALEXIS AJINCA

Other Observations:

  • Jrue Holiday was supposedly on a minutes restriction to start the year. Saturday night he played 27 minutes. Brett Dawson reported after the game that Alvin Gentry said he was cleared for 25 minutes. That is a good sign but it raises questions about how the restriction will last until January with the speed it is increasing.
  • Anthony Davis’ defense needs to be way better. At one point early in the game he got screened and stood around and watched the rest of the play. That cannot happen under any circumstances.
  • Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to great players. Saturday was one of those nights. Stephen Curry went insane and made some ridiculous shots, shots that no other player in the league can make. It happens. Unfortunately that has happened twice already for the Pelicans.
  • Omer Asik will help this defense. Tyreke Evans will help this offense. But how quickly upon their returns both do it is the key. The Pelicans are going to need time to jell. The unfortunate part of that is it means that won’t happen until January. There are going to be some really frustrating nights until then. The key is not getting too down on the team and overreacting.

Next: The Awards from the Game

Tuesday night is the Pelicans chance to bounce back and get their first win of the season as they take on the young, exciting, upstart Orlando Magic.

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