3 Instant Takeaways from the New Orleans Pelicans 106-104 Loss to Utah

The New Orleans Pelicans hurt themselves with turnovers and missed free throws.

Turnovers and Free Throws

I feel like I’ve written about this too many times before.

The Pelicans did not take care of the ball, and turned it over 20 times. Turnovers are the key stat for the Pelicans, as they can be solid defensively when they have the chance to get set.

Turnovers led to more than 20 points for the Jazz, who also coughed it up 20 times. Some of this is due to the pace the Pelicans play at, but some of it is just plain carelessness.

If the Pelicans want any chance of making the playoffs they have to take better care of the ball.

The Pels also left a lot of points at the free throw line, though they only shot 18 as a team, making 13 of them for their bottom feeder average of 72%.

The Pelicans not only didn’t get to the line much, but sent Utah to the line for 28 free throws and they made 24 of them. There is your game.

These two statistics have plagued the Pelicans all year long and will be their undoing if they can’t turn things around.

The Pelicans have to take care of the ball, get to the line more often and make the free throws when they do.

They also have to stop points in the paint.