Demoralizing. That's the word that sums up the Pelicans’ Saturday night loss, 115-98 to the Atlanta Hawks. Every single night, it feels like the Pels are in this game at the end of one quarter and then enter quarters two and three looking like a completely different team. New Orleans left the first frame up four and ended the half being outscored 35-21.
In the final nine minutes of the second quarter, the Pelicans' offense didn't move. It was swing, swing, swing, let the shot clock tick down, and either turn it over or take a bad, heavily contested shot. Jalen Johnson was getting whatever looks he wanted, and he was practically walking his way through the paint. Defensively, Dyson Daniels was guarding Derik Queen, making it impossible for him to act as the team's hub and leading to countless turnovers.
But entering the second half down just ten, a comeback was still possible. Make a few adjustments, run some real sets, get the ball moving, and they could get back in this game. No. Nothing changed—the offense remained stale, and the minimal defensive energy stayed the same. Resulting in what is the team's ninth straight loss.
Players look disinterested — and things might be turning ugly
Something I also want to note is the body language of all the players during this loss. Obviously, I understand losing isn't fun, and that is going to be reflected in the player's body language. But the vibes I was getting from this group made it seem like certain players were already checked out 16 games into the 2025-26 campaign.
Trey Murphy III is someone who is specifically starting to give off the vibe that he might be ready for a change of scenery, and I don't blame him. He's entering his prime and has the potential to be a Derrick White-level contributor on a contender, but instead, he is on a team at the bottom of the Western Conference, forced to shoulder the entire offense.
If this keeps up, I wouldn't be surprised to see Murphy III moved in the coming months, potentially triggering a domino effect that leads to other trades.
The Pelicans still have Derik Queen, Jeremiah fears, and Micah Peavy to be excited about for the future. However, potential on its own isn't enough to turn around a season. To become a successful team, potential must turn into direction.
Unless something changes soon, this season may be remembered less for young talent and potential but for disappointment and frustration.