New Orleans Pelicans: Grades for offensive explosion vs. Grizzlies
Sometimes teams need to be called out when they aren’t playing hard, which is exactly what Josh Hart did before the New Orleans Pelicans played the Memphis Grizzlies.
Hart had grown tired of watching his teammates go through the motions (join the club) and had some harsh words about effort that may have been veiled critiques.
Hart’s words seemed to have the desired effect, as the New Orleans Pelicans played with a renewed sense of urgency against their rival Memphis Grizzlies.
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Or it could just be that they were playing Memphis, as the Pels have owned the Grizzlies of late and always seem to have big nights.
Whether or not this is enough to turn the season around is yet to be seen, but for one night Josh Hart was the leader the Pels have lacked this season.
It was an all-around team effort on a night where the Pels scored a season-high 144 points, an explosion they hope will get them going long term.
Here are the grades for a big win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Memphis Grizzlies: Grades for point guards
Point Guard. New Orleans Pelicans. LONZO BALL. B+.
Lonzo Ball didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, going just 2-of-7 from 3-point range, but he did everything else, adding five assists while pushing the pace and playing tough defense with two steals.
Lonzo had one of those nights where his contributions didn’t necessarily show up in the stat sheet but he was a part of the Pels’ most effective lineups.
Most importantly, Lonzo cleaned up the turnovers that have plagued him the last few games, only turning it over once against his five assists.
B. . Point Guard. New Orleans Pelicans. KIRA LEWIS JR.
It’s strange to say about a 19-year-old rookie point guard but Kira Lewis Jr. has been a steadying hand off the Pelicans’ bench.
The rook rarely turns the ball over and after last night has a 26/8 assist to turnover ratio for the season, which is excellent, especially for a rookie.
Lewis Jr.’s efficient play and quickness have been weapons for the Pels and it appears he has taken Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s spot in the rotation for now.