New Orleans Pelicans: Player Grades in Disappointing Loss to the Kings

New Orleans Pelicans: Player Grades for the shooting guards.

Shooting Guards

J.J. Redick was deployed ineffectively by Alvin Gentry, who pulled him out of the game even though he had the early hot hand. This was partly because Redick, like the rest of the Pelicans, couldn’t guard anyone and Gentry was trying to find someone who could. Still, Redick ended the game with 18 points and should have been in the game more in the second half. He didn’t play in the third quarter which was really when the game got away from the Pelicans and they could have used his presence on the floor.

Alvin Gentry may be in “play the young guys” mode already, which is too bad considering the Pelicans were still alive yesterday.

Jrue Holiday has been an enigma in the bubble. Against Memphis his defense and energy set the tone for the game and he was able to lock up Ja Morant. Bogdan Bogdanovic, not so much. Holiday could not stop Bogdanovic anywhere on the floor, letting up wide open three-point shots, back door cuts, post ups and pretty much any other shot you can imagine. Not only was his defense non-existent, but Holiday turned the ball over four times again, something that has been a big problem for him in the restart. On one Pels possession Holiday caught the ball in the corner after some nifty ball movement by the Pels, only to jump in the air without a plan and be forced to throw a rocket pass to no one for the turnover. He was getting to the hoop sporadically, but would then settle for a three early in the shot clock.

The Pelicans can’t beat anyone if Jrue Holiday doesn’t show up. This was a game where they needed the best from him, especially defensively, and they didn’t get it. Bogdanovic ended up with 35 points and Fox had 30, which is mostly on Jrue’s shoulders as he defended both of them throughout the game.