New Orleans Pelicans: Player Grades in Disappointing Loss to the Kings
The New Orleans Pelicans’ defense never showed up against the Kings.
The New Orleans Pelicans let the Kings get out to a red-hot start and they never looked back, trouncing the Pels in a must-win.
This was disappointing to say the least, as the Pelicans have gotten plenty of help from the teams they are chasing in the bubble and would have been in prime position if they had just won.
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Now the Pelicans need a miracle as they have four teams in front of them for the ninth seed. If the Pelicans were to win out, they might have a chance, but there has been no indication that is going to happen.
Here are the player grades for the 140-125 loss to the Kings.
Point Guards
Point Guard. New Orleans Pelicans. FRANK JACKSON. C+.
Frank Jackson got extended run against the Kings, whose guards were lighting the Pelicans up all game. Jackson was brought in to try and stabilize the defense and bring some energy, which he did. His minutes in the first half were effective and he was part of the unit that got the Pelicans back in the game. The problem was that he couldn’t make a shot. Jackson was just two of eight from the field and almost all of them were wide open. Jackson might have a role as a backup point guard with this team, but only if he can start making shots.
New Orleans Pelicans. LONZO BALL. C. . Point Guard
Lonzo Ball looked better in this one. He was aggressive taking the ball to the hoop (something we need to see more of moving forward), ended with 11 assists and at times played good defense on De’Aaron Fox. Then there were the other times. Lonzo is still struggling from long-range, making just one of four. At one point he took an ill-advised step back three-pointer in the second quarter that could have tied the game, but came up short, which was typical of the Pelicans in this one. Ball got torched on defense a few times by Fox, had two egregious turnovers, and in general wasn’t the aggressive, cocky Lonzo we got used to before play was suspended.
Lonzo hasn’t been the same guy in the bubble and seems to have lost the swagger he had after getting red-hot before the break. He still does some amazing things every game, but Lonzo has a lot of work to do on his focus, turnovers, free throws and finishes at the rim.