After three plus quarters it looked like the same old New Orleans Pelicans heading for the same old result. Then things changed in a hurry.
The New Orleans Pelicans entered the fourth quarter of Wednesday night’s game against the Utah Jazz trailing by six points and having given up 16 points in one quarter to Derrick Favors. About halfway through the fourth quarter things remained the same thanks in large part to Ryan Anderson putting New Orleans on his back. Eventually the rest of the Pelicans joined in, as New Orleans used a 17-6 run to storm ahead of the Jazz and come away with a 104-94 victory.
Other observations:
- The Pelicans won this game but there were still a bunch of mind-blowing mistakes, especially Tyreke Evans’ foul at the end of the first half. There is no place where reaching in 60 feet from the basket with time running out is a good idea and Evans did just that. Until things like that get cleaned up it is hard to get too excited over this team.
- The same goes for selfish plays like Norris Cole holding the ball at the end of the first half instead of throwing a ball towards the rim. That shot may not go in but you can’t make a shot you don’t shoot. That ball has to be launched and Cole not doing it is not a good sign. It was nice to see Anthony Davis a bit annoyed with the play after it happened.
- Utah killed New Orleans when they ran the pick-and-roll, hit the roll man and had that guy turn and throw passes to the corner for open corner threes. In the fourth those shots didn’t go in but teams will surely keep exploiting the Pelicans defense until that is fixed.
- They will also continue to put Omer Asik in pick-and-rolls like Utah did tonight with some success.
- Asik also needs to start pretending to be part of the offense. At one point early in the game he started to sprint back on defense after an Eric Gordon pump fake. Too often he never sets foot inside the three-point line on a half court offensive possession. The Pelicans cannot be forced to play five on four offensively right now. They aren’t good enough five on five at the moment.
- Who knows if this game means anything or was just a case of a late collapse by the opponent. Only time will tell.
The Pelicans return to action on Friday when they take on the Phoenix Suns.