Pelica Debrief
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New Orleans Pelicans Player Grades: Pelicans’ self-inflicted mistakes lead to loss against the Los Angeles Lakers

By Rick Stone

Feb 4, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) and New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) react during the second quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) and New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) react during the second quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New Orleans Pelicans could not get over their own self-inflicted mistakes in a tight loss to the Los Angeles Lakers 99-96.

The New Orleans Pelicans continue to come into basketball games with a Jekel-and-Hyde attitude, this time it cost them in a loss to the bottom dwelling Los Angeles Lakers 99-96.

The Lakers started the game on a 11-2 run, showing the lack of early game execution from the Pelicans once again. While they kept it close throughout, they never really found any rhythm, finding themselves down double-digits for most of the second half.

Late in the contest, the Pelicans fought back to cut the deficit to just two with 21 seconds to go. New Orleans then decided to wait over 10 seconds to foul Kobe Bryant. It left just six seconds on the clock for the Pelicans after Kobe made only one of two from the charity stripe. Jrue Holiday got a look, but air-balled the long ball and the Pelicans fell.

Anthony Davis did everything he could to keep the New Orleans Pelicans afloat in this game. He scored 39 points, 11 rebounds, a block and a steal in the contest. Jrue Holiday, Ryan Anderson and Bryce Dejean-Jones all finished with at least 17 points on the night. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers in scoring with 27 points on 24 shots.

69. Final. 99. 20. 96

F--. <strong><a href=. PG. New Orleans Pelicans. NORRIS COLE

B+. <strong><a href=. SG. New Orleans Pelicans. BRYCE DEJEAN-JONES

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

B. <b><a href=. PF. New Orleans Pelicans. ANTHONY DAVIS

B-. <strong><a href=. C. New Orleans Pelicans. OMER ASIK

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

New Orleans Pelicans. RYAN ANDERSON. B. <strong><a href=. PF/SF

B-. <strong><a href=. SF. New Orleans Pelicans. DANTE CUNNINGHAM

<strong><a href=. C. New Orleans Pelicans. ALEXIS AJINCA. C

D. <b><a href=. PG. New Orleans Pelicans. TONEY DOUGLAS

Other Observations:

  • The Pelicans did not take advantage of the Lakers mistakes. Los Angeles turned the ball over a massive 16 times in this game. How did the Pelicans do off those turnovers? Just six points. That’s unacceptable.
  • When the team looks at the three-point loss, the 12 missed free-throws are going to eat away at them. They went to the line 26 times and made just 14. All five players who got to the line for New Orleans each missed one of their looks.
  • One stat that looks REALLY bad on the guards for this team is 12 rebounds for Kobe Bryant. The guards needed to box out the Lakers guards, especially since Los Angeles takes so many shots that could be longer rebounds. They failed on that tonight and it cost them.
  • Four Pelicans scored 92 of the team’s 96 points in the game. That’s bad. No balance in the team’s offense made life way too easy for the Lakers to play defense.

Next: Grades for Pelicans loss to San Antonio Wednesday

The New Orleans Pelicans will try to get back on the winning track Saturday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Tip is scheduled for 6:30 PM CST.

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