New Orleans Pelicans: Player Grades in 118-109 Loss to the Lakers

The New Orleans Pelicans dropped a tight game to the Lakers, but showed the “won’t bow down” mentality as they make a run at the Western Conference playoffs.

Several times during the game it looked as if the New Orleans Pelicans (25-33) were going to get blown out of the gym. The game started with a 14-2 Lakers’ run, none of the Pelicans’ shots were falling and they looked overwhelmed. It would have been easy for them to put their heads down and slink out of the Staples Center, but the Pelicans kept battling back and eventually regained the lead late in the third quarter.

Unfortunately for the Pelicans, the Lakers (44-12) have this guy called LeBron James, who put together a spectacular performance, almost as a way to say to Zion Williamson, “not yet, son.” LeBron poured in a season-high 40 points and had an answer for every New Orleans Pelicans’ run.

Every great young team has a veteran team that they must overcome to make it to the next level. For now, it appears as though the Lakers will be that team for the Pelicans. It was a night of ups and downs, which the grades will reflect, but ultimately the New Orleans Pelicans can hold their heads high after a tough and competitive loss to the Western Conference’s best team.

Point Guards

Ball’s much hyped return to Los Angeles didn’t go quite to plan, but he had a good game, putting in 10 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the loss. Ball had some flashes, including a spectacular lob pass to Zion early in the game that nearly brought the roof down.

But he also shot the ball poorly, going 4-11 from the field. He continued to struggle around the rim, missing a couple of easy short-range shots and even getting completely stuffed by Alex Caruso in the third quarter. Ball looked to be pressing a bit and took a couple of ill-advised 3-pointers early in the shot clock that he probably wishes he could have back. Ball played good defense throughout the game, but it would have been nice to see him match up against LeBron, who was killing the Pelicans in the paint against the much smaller Jrue Holiday. Lonzo was good, but the New Orleans Pelicans needed more if they were going to take down the Lakers on the road.

Shooting Guards

Holiday was given the unenviable task of trying to guard LeBron one-on-one. This strategy proved to be unsuccessful, as Holiday was not only battling LeBron, but the laws of physics as well. James bullied Holiday in the lane and got wherever he wanted. Holiday was a game defender and did force LeBron into some tough fadeaways late in the game, but ultimately James was just too much. Not surprisingly, guarding LeBron took a lot out of Holiday and it affected his offensive game. He ended with just 11 points on 5-19 shooting, including 1-5 from behind the arc. Holiday did add nine assists and five rebounds, but also coughed up four turnovers. His defense against LeBron was admirable, but Alvin Gentry needs to find a new strategy if he plans on ever beating James and the Lakers.

Hart struggled in his 22 minutes of play, taking just four shots and hitting one of them for three points. The bench generally played well against the Lakers and the Pelicans were able to chip away when LeBron was on the bench, but it wasn’t enough. Hart missed a few wide open 3-pointers that would have been game-changers at the time. He seemed tight against his former team and was never able to get in a rhythm.

This was a game that the Pelicans needed someone other than Zion and Brandon Ingram to step up, but Redick was not that guy. The Lakers swarmed Redick every time he touched the ball and were clearly trying to stop him from getting any daylight to get off a shot. Redick looked somewhat rattled by the pressure from the larger Lakers’ defenders, with two turnovers in just 20 minutes of play. He did add five rebounds and four assists, but this was a night when the New Orleans Pelicans needed a calming veteran presence and Redick wasn’t it.

Forwards

You know expectations are high when a 19-year-old scores 29 points against the best team in the conference and still only gets an A-, but that is where we are with Zion. Williamson was a little shaky early on, with three turnovers and was often frustrated at the rim by the long and tall Lakers, who are one of the best defensive teams in the league. Zion kept battling though and showed that he wouldn’t back down. Williamson played great defense on Anthony Davis and got to the free throw line 19 times, hitting 13 of them. For the first time since his return, Zion shot less than 50 percent from the floor, hitting just eight of his 18 shots.  In his first game at the Staples Center, Zion showed that he is a generational talent who will be battling LeBron for years to come. James may not be ready to pass the torch just yet, but that day is coming.

Zion vs. LeBron was the big story coming into the game but it was Ingram who was most impressive for the Pelicans. The lanky small forward played a spirited game against his former team, dropping 34 points and adding seven rebounds and four assists. Ingram carried the Pelicans early on when the team had a hard time getting buckets. He was aggressive in transition, played good defense with two steals and kept bringing the New Orleans Pelicans back every time it looked like they were going to get blown out. Ingram did have seven turnovers, which is why this grade isn’t an A, but Ingram had a great game and showed why the Pelicans made him the centerpiece of the Davis trade.

Melli continued his strong play, dropping 11 points on 5 of 8 shooting. Melli’s calling card has been his long-range shooting, but he took just three 3-pointers, hitting one of them. The Lakers were clearly trying to run the Pelicans off the 3-point line and continually made them go into the paint where there was always a large rim protector waiting. This strategy was effective and kept Melli from getting going from 3-point range, where he’d had the hot hand. The Pelicans finished the game just 8-27 from 3-point range for a miserable 29.6 percent. Melli did add six rebounds, two assists and a block, but also turned the ball over two times, one of which was at a crucial juncture late in the game.

Centers

Favors continues to be the anchor of the New Orleans Pelicans’ defense and had a couple of really nice stretches against the Lakers, including this defensive stand that changed the momentum of the game.

The Lakers are one of the biggest teams in the NBA, so this was a night where the Pelicans really needed Favors’ toughness and defense in the paint. Favors impacted the game when he was in, going 4 of 5 for eight points and adding three rebounds a block and a steal, but once again he found himself on the bench with foul trouble, which necessitated a rare Jahlil Okafor appearance. Favors has to stop picking up random and useless fouls in games where the Pelicans need his size and rebounding. His veteran presence was big for the young New Orleans Pelicans, but it doesn’t matter much if he’s not in the game.

Luckily the Pelicans won’t have to wait long to get another shot at the Lakers. The two teams play again on Sunday, this time at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The Pelicans’ crowd will be ready, and so will their young team, who showed that they are not quite to the top of the mountain yet, but are ready for the climb.