It might be time for the New Orleans Pelicans to definitively wave goodbye to their playoff aspirations after a devastating loss against the San Antonio Spurs.
The Pels dropped a crucial game against arguably their most direct rival in the play-in tournament picture. It was another performance in a winnable game that ultimately was not good enough.
All we have to do is take a look at some of the most important figures on the stat sheet. The Pelicans committed 19 turnovers, harkening back to the team’s problems last year under Alvin Gentry. More importantly, New Orleans missed a grand total of 15 free throws. The game was decided by a two-point margin, so just do the math.
If the Pelicans cannot be crisp in both of those areas during such a pivotal game, then they probably do not deserve to have a chance to get into the post-season anyways. There is a lot of work to do in the big easy this upcoming off-season, even if things miraculously spin New Orleans’ way and the team somehow winds up in the play-in tournament.
That, however, appears increasingly unlikely. With this loss, the Pelicans are now four games behind the 10th-placed Golden State Warriors and 4.5 games off the Spurs. The Pels are closer to the 12th-placed Sacramento Kings than to the playoff picture, which is a big blow considering the high hopes the team carried at the start of the season.
New Orleans battled from behind for most of the contest. The Pels were down nine points at the half-time break but managed to get within a single point to start the fourth quarter. In the clutch, DeMar DeRozan carried the Spurs to the win, making tough shot after tough shot. Lonzo Ball had a decent look from three that could have tied the game with around 30 seconds left, but it’s not like it was an unmissable shot.
Here are the player grades for the Pels’ loss against the Spurs, starting with my personal MVP:
New Orleans Pelicans vs. San Antonio Spurs: Grading the best player
Another imposing performance from Zion Williamson which demonstrates the Pels’ need to build the team around him this summer.
Williamson manhandled the Spurs’ wing defenders, constantly overpowering Keldon Johnson and Luka Samanic. The Pels’ all-star did most of his damage around the low post in this game, getting the ball on the left side of the court before spinning and attacking the rim. He finished with 33 points and 14 rebounds.
The Spurs occasionally bothered Williamson by smothering him around the basket—something that is becoming increasingly easy for teams to do, considering the Pels’ rickety three-point shooting. Still, he did well gathering his misses and putting them back in. Williamson finished with a team-high five offensive rebounds.
It is very unlikely that we will get to see Williamson in the playoffs this year. The good news is that he is only two seasons into his NBA career and, in terms of games, hasn’t actually completed the equivalent of an entire season. However, the Pelicans have no time to waste. They need to prove that they are serious about winning and flesh out a team around Williamson that can at least consistently make the playoffs.
That will mean moving some pieces in the summer, probably adjusting players’ roles, and giving Williamson easier looks on the court. I’m tired of opponents being able to crowd his space without having to worry about the consequences.