New Orleans Pelicans: Why the Pels are struggling to close out games

The New Orleans Pelicans have missed chances to close games in the 4th quarter.

The New Orleans Pelicans lost a heartbreaker to the Indiana Pacers in a game that they definitely should have won.

They coughed up a six-point lead in less than a minute, and what looked like a sure Pelicans’ win turned into an overtime loss.

Failing to close games is a trend for the Pelicans going back to last season when they were one of the worst crunch-time teams in the NBA.

They blew a second-half lead against the Heat in their first loss, nearly blew them in wins against the Spurs and Raptors, and most recently in agonizing fashion against the Pacers.

Here are some of the reasons for the Pels’ late-game struggles.

New Orleans Pelicans: The Pels are blowing too many leads

Too much iso

The Pelicans learned a painful lesson against the Pacers (and nearly against Toronto), which is that you cannot take your foot off the gas against NBA teams, especially late in the game.

The Pelicans have built big leads, only to watch them disappear when their offense turns into isolation ball with Brandon Ingram.

The Pels were moving the ball beautifully as they built a ten-point lead vs. Indiana but once they got the lead and decided the game was over, it was Ingram isolation time.

Someone forgot to tell the Pacers.

The Pels can’t go away from what built them the lead in the first place, which is moving the ball, getting into the lane aggressively and using the pick-and-roll.

You can’t play “prevent” in the NBA and have to keep scoring.

A point guard who can’t shoot free throws

One of the greatest weapons a team can have is a guy who can ice the game late with free throws, and if that player is your best ball handler, even better.

The Pelicans have a lineup full of guys who are not great free throw shooters, headlined by Lonzo Ball, who is shooting 55.6 percent from the line on 1.3 attempts per game.

Part of the reason J.J. Redick was still in the game late against Indiana was in case the Pacers started fouling. Redick hadn’t hit a shot all game and ended up slipping on the play that decided the game.

That ball should have went to Lonzo, but because he can’t shoot free throws, Redick was the better option.

Only Brandon Ingram has shown himself to be a good late-game closer from the line which creates problems when the Pels are trying to win a close game.

Let’s hope the early season problems holding late leads is just an anomaly and not a trend that started last year.

But the Pels have to execute their offense better down the stretch, not rely so much on isolation plays and have their guards step up to ice the game.