Results: Loss versus Toronto, 122-104; Win at Hornets, 115-110; Loss versus Houston, 122-116
The New Orleans Pelicans have had a brutal start to the season that has only grown worse through matters not even on the court. Injuries to Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram left both out of action for Monday’s contest against the Rockets. For Ball, Monday’s game was the second-consecutive contest he sat out after suffering an injury in last week’s game against the Brooklyn Nets.
With Ingram on Saturday, New Orleans grabbed its second win of the season on the road against Charlotte. Without him on Monday, the underpowered Pelicans struggled against one of the Western Conference elites in the Rockets.
As reports have begun circulating that Paul George could make his return to the court on Thursday this week against the Pelicans, matters may only get worse moving forward if New Orleans can’t start to turn things around.
Player of the Week: J.J. Redick
15.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 43.3 FG%, 50.0 3P%
In lieu of handing Brandon Ingram the award again (he certainly deserved it), we’ll instead focus on JJ Redick this week.
Redick had largely struggled through the opening weeks of the season. In fact, he struggled against Toronto in the first game of the week. But in the win over Charlotte and loss to Houston, Redick finally broke out, scoring 22 and 24 points, respectively. Redick went 12-of-24 from beyond the arc and was a combined +29 in those two games.
Once the team gets back to full strength, Redick playing at this level will be vital if the team has hopes of turning it around. He provides sorely needed outside shooting and, as a result, has some of the strongest gravity on the court in that regard of anyone in the league.
Play of the Week:
Not a set play of any sort on this one but a play that has signified some of the good and the bad of this team.
In one regard, the Pelicans’ struggles offensively – they have slipped to13th in offensive rating – can be traced to poor shooting from beyond the arc. New Orleans is shooting 33.8 percent from three in the last four games.
Part of the reason there’s still optimism about this group, though, is showcased by plays like what Kenrich Williams made. As cliche as it has been, the “Won’t Bow Down” moniker the team has adopted through social media this year has been appropriate this season. His extra effort led to a four-point play and a huge momentum swing.
Lineup of the Week:
Holiday-Redick-Hart-Williams-Favors
Minutes – 17
Off. Rating – 102.7
Def. Rating – 83.3
Net Rating – 19.4
The Pelicans had two different lineups that played in 17 minutes over the course of the week with the above lineup being the only one of the two to feature in two games. On Monday, it’s the lineup that started with Josh Hart stepping in to replace Ingram.
Hart has been a jack of all trades from the Pelicans this season. Redick’s improved play over the week helped bolster the lineup offensively but its the defense that set this group apart.
The defense has been a struggle all season and the team still sits 29th. Obviously, this lineup is a very small sample size but it’s a window into how the team will have to turn things around this season with the changes needing to come on the defensive end, not the offensive.
Stat of the Week: -26.2
The Pelicans themselves have pointed out all season that brief lapses of concentration have cost the team. Coincidentally, those stretches have consistently come in the second quarter this season. Here’s a look at the net rating of the team by quarter this season and the league rank in parentheses:
First quarter: -1.1 (16th)
Second quarter: -26.2 (30th)
Third quarter: +2.9 (12th)
Fourth quarter: +7.4 (10th)
The second quarter is astronomically bad for the Pelicans this season that it completely derails anything they’re able to accomplish in the second quarter. It’s not necessarily a rotations issue as Alvin Gentry has switched them up.
Not only is every player a negative in the second quarter this season, they’re BIG negatives. As in the leader in net ratings in second quarters this season is Kenrich Williams at -9.4. Whatever the issue may be, whether it’s a lack of focus or lack of execution or a little of both, it has to get figured out for the Pelicans to even stay in games in the second half.
