New Orleans Pelicans: 3 things we’d like more of against the Utah Jazz
The New Orleans Pelicans will try to make it two-in-a-row against the red-hot Utah Jazz.
The New Orleans Pelicans have looked great at times this season and at others looked like they are headed back to the lottery.
The Pelicans have been inconsistent to say the least, which was to be expected for a young team with a new coach.
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The Pels finally snapped their losing streak against Sacramento and all of this was on display, as the Pels built a huge lead behind an unstoppable offense before going cold, giving it all back and nearly losing the game.
They can’t continue to play this way against good teams and this includes the Utah Jazz, who are looking for their sixth win in a row.
There was plenty to complain about against Sacramento, but there were some positive signs and things we’d like to see more of moving forward.
New Orleans Pelicans: The defense needs to step up
More Defense
After starting the season playing well defensively, the Pelicans have fallen back to earth.
During their five-game losing streak, the Pels let up an average of 114 points, pretty close to last season when the Pels had one of the worst defenses in the NBA.
They allowed 123 against the Kings in a game that resembled an All-Star game defensively.
A lot of focus has been put on the struggles of the Pels offense, which never really worried me. This team has too many talented offensive players to continue to struggle and it looks as though some of them may have broken out against the Kings.
It’s the defense that concerns me, as the Pels have little chance of winning if they are allowing 115 points a game.
It would be nice to see the Pels hold Utah to around 100 points, which will give them their best chance of winning.
If the Pels keep having to score 125 points to win, this season is going to go south quickly.