In today’s Pelican Debrief Pod-Cap, Preston Ellis (@PrestonEllis) discusses another New Orleans Pelicans’ Second Half Comeback, in their win versus the Grizzlies.
Just two weeks ago at a record of 25-40, the New Orleans Pelicans season was effectively over.
New Orleans was pronounced dead by even the most diehard Bayou faithful.
But breathe again, Pelicans fans!
It’s Boogie on the Bayou night, as DeMarcus Cousins is the king of tonight’s game.
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Cousins would single handedly bring the Pelicans back to life tonight, with 41 points on 5-9 shooting from three point range. Five made three-pointers ties a career high for Boogie in long range makes in a game. He also had 17 rebounds.
Cousins was electric from the get go, with 16 points in the 1st half. H kept the Pels, afloat as they staggered to a 41-34 halftime deficit. 34 marked New Orleans’ new season low for a half. That includes a “Too Nightmarish to be Read” 13 points in the second quarter.
For the second game in a row, Head Coach Alvin Gentry opted to sit his big three to start the 2nd quarter.
Spoiler Alert:
It did not work then and it did not work tonight.
But Boogie put the entire team on his back in the second half. He exploded with 14 3rd quarter points and 11 points in the final frame.
Anthony Davis also contributed 19 points and 13 rebounds, on a night where he was a bit under the weather. It did show early on. He shot 50 percent, but lacked the aggressiveness we have seen in the past two weeks. He did cut down on his five turnovers from Sunday to, with just two in tonight’s contest.
Jrue Holiday shot a dreadful 5-17 from the field, continuing his shooting woes with Boogie in the lineup. However, he contributed in other ways, finishing with a net rating of +24. That led the entire team in plus-minus. He scored 11 points and dished out six dimes..
The Grizz looked tired all around and no one played particularly well for the Beale Street Bears. Mike Conley led them with 16 points and six rebounds, on 6-14 shooting from the field.
Marc Gasol gave 10 points and eight boards on 5-13 shooting. Zach Randolph put up only four points, while Vince Carter had four points on 2-9 shooting.
Former Pelican Wayne Selden Jr., also had four points and started tonight for Memphis.
Bird Writes joked on Twitter, that it was only slightly less awkward than Kevin Durant’s return to Oklahoma.
Wayne Selden Jr. is starting for Memphis tonight. It's probably not as tense as when KD went back to OKC but I can't confirm
— The Bird Writes (@thebirdwrites) March 22, 2017
The New Orleans Pelicans move to 30-41 and cling to lifem as they trail the Nuggets by only 3.5 games. They have three head-to-head clashes left between the clubs. The Nuggets have a murderers row of contestants coming up, that starts with the Cleveland Cavaliers tomorrow night. One would think by tomorrow at midnight, the Pels will find themselves just three games back!
Next up for the Pelicans are the smoking hot Houston Rockets, fresh off their win against the Nuggets last night. It came in dramatic fashion, as James Harden broke the Mile Highers’ hearts with a lay in to win at the end 125-124.
You can find our Editor Rick Stone’s warmup to that on Friday morning.
Next: Grades for Tonight's Win for the New Orleans Pelicans Against the Grizzlies
In addition, and I’m so pumped to let you guys in on this. We will be hosting on the Pelican Debrief Podcast, Space City Hoops’ Kelly Iko, to talk Pels/Rockets before Friday night’s contest.
Iko is a contributor for Houston’s FanSided affiliate, Space City Hoops. I am very excited to hear his take on Friday night’s matchup.