Pelica Debrief
Fansided

Pelicans won’t quit on each other

By Terry Kimble

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 30: Frank Jackson #15 of the New Orleans Pelicans, Jahlil Okafor #8, Darius Miller #21, Kenrich Williams #34 and Jrue Holiday #11 react during a game against the Denver Nuggets at the Smoothie King Center on January 30, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 30: Frank Jackson #15 of the New Orleans Pelicans, Jahlil Okafor #8, Darius Miller #21, Kenrich Williams #34 and Jrue Holiday #11 react during a game against the Denver Nuggets at the Smoothie King Center on January 30, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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After the whirlwind week it’s been for the New Orleans Pelicans, the shorthanded team has shown grit and grind in playing their last two games.

Can somebody tell the New Orleans Pelicans to take it easy? After it went public on Monday that superstar forward Anthony Davis had no intention of re-signing with the team, the whirlwind of rumors and speculation ran rampant on social media and press. I’m sure the ESPN trade machine page went into a frenzy with fans and media alike dreaming up their best scenarios for their team.

What may have gotten lost in all the hoopla was that the Pelicans had actual NBA games to play. The first of which seemed as daunting of a task as ever as before the game it was announced the Pelicans would be without the services of Julius Randle, Nikola Mirotic, E’Twaun Moore, and of course Anthony Davis. Starting point guard Elfrid Payton was also a late scratch just to add certainty to a Rockets win, right? Wrong.

Even though the Pelicans were down 5 of their top 6 scorers and were going into James Harden‘s house, a guy who had been averaging over 40 points per game in January, the Pelicans willed their way to a 121-116 victory before a national TV audience. Big contributions from Jahlil Okafor and a career rebounding game from Kenrich Wiliiams sparked the big win.

Fast forward exactly 24 hours later and the Pelicans were hosting the Denver Nuggets, who sport the fourth-best record in the NBA, on another grueling back-to-back game. The Pelicans managed to battle despite the fact that again they were missing 5 of their top 6 scorers in this one as the same five remained sidelined from the night before. The result was different in this one as the Nuggets did prevail 105-99, but the heart and effort shown by the Pelicans did not go unnoticed.

Conventional wisdom here would suggest the Pelicans should tank the season and shoot for the highest draft pick possible. The young assets the Pelicans will inevitably receive in the impending AD trade coupled with their seemingly high draft pick will usher in the post AD era.

Related Story. Okafor playing big for the Pelicans. light

Credit has to be given to Coach Gentry for still having his team focused despite the injuries and impending departure of AD. Whether this translates to actual wins or not remains to be seen, but the New Orleans Pelicans fans know the team has not given up on them. That in itself is something to cheer for.

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