New Orleans Pelicans: Key Statistics in the Big Win over Memphis

Key Statistics in New Orleans Pelicans’ win over Memphis: Free Throws

The Old Nemesis

The Pelicans could have run away with the game had it not been for their old nemesis, free throws.

On the positive note, the Pelicans got to the line 39 times, which is a good sign. They were being aggressive and not settling for three’s. Brandon Ingram took eight in the first quarter alone and the Pels need to continue to be this aggressive.

The problem is that they only made 24 of their 39 attempts for an abysmal 61.5%.

The Grizzlies only shot 15 free throws but made 13 of them for 86.7%, a number the Pelicans could only dream of.

It’s not a good sign when I am happy when any Pelican makes one of two free throws. Even J.J. Redick missed two in a row last night, a sign of just how bad things were.

Brandon Ingram missed four, Zion missed five, while Jrue and Lonzo combined for just three of five.

It didn’t end up making a difference, as the Pelicans were able to pull away in the fourth quarter behind strong play from Zion and some clutch shots by B.I., but this is going to kill them at some point in a close game.

They missed five in the two-point loss to Utah, so I guess you could say it already has.

The Pelicans have to continue to draw contact and get to the line, but they simply have to start knocking them down. They are leaving too many points on the free throw line and it is costing them games.

Next up is the Sacramento Kings, another tough test for the Pelicans, who are still very much alive in the chase for the 8th seed.