New Orleans Pelicans: Grades for crushing loss vs. Blazers
The New Orleans Pelicans suffered a crushing setback after an embarrassing capitulation against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Pels were up 16 points with ten minutes to go in the fourth quarter, but Portland chipped away at that advantage behind Damian Lillard’s heroics until it was no more. It was an awful loss for New Orleans on the road, who have blown ten double-digit leads this season alone.
After sparking out the Cleveland Cavaliers and then the Los Angeles Clippers consecutively, the Pelicans continue to be the frontrunners for the most baffling team in the association. There is little rhyme or reason for the Pels’ fluctuations. The only consistency at this point is the team’s inconsistency.
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Tuesday night’s game will be rightfully remembered for Lillard’s performance. The all-star guard yet again demonstrated why he is arguably the most clutch player in today’s game. Lillard ended his night with 50 points, scoring 20 of those after the third quarter. He was the one who dragged the Trail Blazers out of the doldrums, of course including the free throws that won the game for Portland.
In the wake of a demoralizing loss, here are my grades for the Blazers game, starting with my personal MVP:
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Blazers: Grading the best player
A-. . Big. New Orleans Pelicans. ZION WILLIAMSON
Another elite game from Zion Williamson, who finished with 28 points on 65 percent shooting from the field. Williamson also finished with a career-high eight assists but was not as imposing on the glass as he is on other nights.
The Pels’ all-star continues to be their most consistent and dependable performer. Robert Covington was overwhelmed by him, while Derrick Jones Jr. was overpowered by him. It’s no secret at this juncture that Williamson is an extremely hard cover for any wing or forward in the NBA.
I’ve read some criticism about Williamson not being “the man” down the stretch, but I’m not sure I agree. He played the most minutes of any Pelicans player in the fourth quarter and took the most shots while also handling the ball quite a bit. There are definitely nights where Williamson hasn’t seen the ball as much as he should down the stretch, but I don’t share the sentiment that this was one of them.