Another slow start likely ended the New Orleans Pelicans’ playoff hopes.
Barring a miracle, the New Orleans Pelicans will not make the playoffs after a disappointing 122-113 loss to the Spurs in which the Pels got out to another slow start.
The Pelicans came out lifeless again and got down early, pretty much losing the game before I could open my first beverage.
I had to open plenty, as the Pelicans were sloppy early, turned the ball over often and let up a bevy of wide open three’s to the Spurs.
Sound familiar?
Turnovers and lack of effort killed the Pelicans again, and though they turned it around in the second half, it’s fair to ask if a few heads are going to roll after this one.
Here are my instant reactions to the New Orleans Pelicans loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
A Tale of Two Halves
The Pelicans came out with no life and played the first three minutes like they all ate too much gumbo last night.
They turned the ball over three times in the first three minutes, all of which led to Spurs’ baskets. One was a layup where Derrick Favors didn’t run back on defense. On one, Lonzo Ball got ripped and the Spurs got an uncontested dunk and on the third, Brandon Ingram didn’t hustle back and the Spurs got an open 3-pointer.
The Pelicans kicked the ball all over the place in the first half, particularly Jrue Holiday, who ended the game with five turnovers, giving him 26 total in six games. The Pelicans ended with 20 turnovers that led to 30 Spurs’ points. There is your game.
The Pels took better care of the ball in the second half and got back into it behind the kind of effort we should have been seeing all game. The Pels put up a good fight in the second half, but you can’t spot teams in the NBA 17 points and expect to win.
Is this it for Alvin Gentry?
I’m not going to get into whether Gentry should be fired. But I’ll leave this here:
It’s not out of line to say that the Pelicans are at least as talented as the Spurs, and probably more. One team came out with intensity, made few silly errors and executed a clear game plan. One did not.
Gentry has to be given some credit for using the “all hustle” lineup in third quarter, which got the Pels back in the game, but he stuck with it too long and the Pels’ inability to score eventually caught up with them.
If Gentry was coaching for his job, I don’t think this game helped.
No Show from Lonzo
The Pelicans’ starting backcourt was 4-22 for 12 points combined and had eight turnovers. Yikes.
I wrote previously that Lonzo had left his swagger outside the bubble and he had another poor shooting performance today, going 2-10 and missing all four of his three’s.
Both Holiday and Ball were disappointing in the bubble and at least stayed consistently so in this one.
It was a frustrating loss. The New Orleans Pelicans were given an engraved invitation to the playoffs, but didn’t put in the consistent effort to get there.