New Orleans Pelicans: Grades for massive win vs. Clippers
The New Orleans Pelicans continue to be one of the most puzzling teams in the NBA after picking up a dominant 115-135 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Pels fans will hope that perhaps the embarrassing loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves is indeed proving to be a watershed moment in New Orleans’ seasons. Others will argue that this is what the team has been doing all year. They lose winnable games and then beat some of the best teams in the league. Previously, the example might have been the league-leading Utah Jazz, whereas now it is the Clippers.
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A game that was poised to be one of the Pelicans’ sternest tests of the season fizzled out into another blowout victory. Similar to Friday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, a large portion of the game’s second half amounted to glorified garbage time. With this win, the Pels remain eleventh in the east, but it is a great momentum builder as Stan Van Gundy’s squad continues to inch closer to the tenth-placed Memphis Grizzlies.
With that being said, here are my grades for the Clippers game, starting with my personal MVP:
New Orleans Pelicans vs. LA Clippers: Grading the best player
A. . Big. New Orleans Pelicans. ZION WILLIAMSON
Another commanding performance from Zion Williamson against one of the association’s top teams.
The first time all-star was unstoppable against the Clippers. The Los Angeles outfit had no response for Williamson’s uniqueness. The Pels’ franchise player blew past their defense time and time again. He finished with 27 points on 81 percent from the field, while dishing out five assists.
Williamson’s entire offensive repertoire was on display against the Clippers and he also competed on defense. Around the basket, it was what we’ve come to know about him. Williamson got to his left hand with ease and had little problems finishing through the Clippers’ defenders. Patrick Patterson, in particular, was completely overwhelmed by him.
But Williamson’s playmaking is also worth pointing out. He only turned the ball over twice and had some pretty passes, including a behind-the-back dribble into a lob pass for Jaxson Hayes to finish.