It’s time to just say it: The New Orleans Pelicans should be embarrassed after another blowout loss to the NBA-worst Minnesota Timberwolves.
Lonzo Ball had a lot of big talk during the All-Star break and it all sounded good, but talk doesn’t add up to much in the NBA.
"“We still have a lot of time, a lot to play for,” Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball said. “This season is far from over. We know we have to move uphill for the second half of the season. But I think we’re all ready for the challenge.”"
If the Pelicans are indeed “ready for the challenge”, then it didn’t show last night against the Timberwolves, as the Pelicans suffered their worst loss of the season and looked like a team that didn’t really care.
Here is what Stan Van Gundy had to say after the game:
"“A really embarrassing evening for us tonight,” Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy said following the defeat. “(The Timberwolves) were inspired and we didn’t seem to care. … I’m not putting it all on the players, but I’m not absolving them. It’s all of us (to blame).”"
New Orleans Pelicans: It is gut check time for the Pels
Stan Van Gundy is right, every member of the team from the coaching staff to the bench needs to take a look in the mirror after being humiliated by the league’s worst team.
This is the second time the Pelicans have lost to the Timberwolves, which means the Pels have accounted for 25 percent of the ‘Wolves wins this season.
Is this the loss that finally sends the New Orleans Pelicans to the basement of the Western Conference or will they find some pride and turn it around?
Those are fair questions to ask. If the Pels do indeed locate some pride, there is time but right now it is hard to believe in this team for a number of reasons.
New Orleans Pelicans: Why can’t the Pels beat bad teams?
Of the Pelicans’ 22 losses this season, 13 of them have come against teams that are below .500, including two to the league-worst Timberwolves and one to second-worst Pistons.
For a team that had playoff aspirations coming into the season and has two of the most talented young players in the game, the Pelicans have absolutely stunk against teams who have far less talent, at least on paper.
Here’s the thing, the games are not played on paper but someone forgot to tell the Pelicans, who think they can just show up and beat bad teams.
News flash, even the worst teams in the NBA are loaded with talented players and if you don’t show up or give consistent effort, you will get embarrassed, as the Pelicans did last night against the Timberwolves.
The Pels allowed rookie Anthony Edwards to drop 27 points on them while their young players barely showed up.
They allowed 2nd-round draft pick Jaylen Nowell to look like an All-Star, dropping 28 points on 6-of-7 from long range with very little resistance from the Pelicans’ “defense.”
The Pels let up 40, 38 and 30 points in the final three quarters against the worst team in the NBA, which is nothing short of pathetic.
The only silver lining is the the Pels’ defense is so bad that they are an easy team to bet, and I have been cashing in all season and did again last night.
Just bet against the Pelicans’ defense and 3-point shooting and you will practically never lose. The Pels hit just 6-of-32 from long range against the 26th ranked defense in the NBA.
It’s time to admit that the reason the New Orleans Pelicans can’t beat the bad teams is that they are one.
New Orleans Pelicans: Does this team have a leader?
Stan Van Gundy has been noticeably exasperated on the Pelicans’ bench lately and spends most of the game pulling down his mask so he can scream at his players.
Other than that, you barely hear a peep from the Pelicans. Their three best players, Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball rarely speak or communicate with teammates.
Not every player has to be a vocal leader, and personally I prefer guys who lead by example, not with their mouths, but the Pels desperately need someone to step up and lead this team.
They need a guy who is not afraid to get in his teammates’ faces and demand some effort and accountability for their complete and total lack of focus.
They need some one to bang some heads, break a wall, throw a chair, something that shows this team actually cares about what is happening.
Josh Hart is the closest thing the Pelicans have to this type of guy but he is a bench player and might be on his way out the door anyway.
Lonzo Ball is the most likely candidate for this duty, but he has never been that kind of guy, so the Pelicans may have to look outside of their own roster for leadership.
When you watch the way guys like Chris Paul lead their teams, it’s easy to see that the Pelicans are lacking this type of veteran who can get the attention of the young guys.
This was an embarrassing loss to be sure, and the New Orleans Pelicans can either let it destroy what is left of their season or use it as fire to improve. We shall see.