The New Orleans Pelicans had the Thunder right where they wanted them. They entered the night up two games on OKC and needed one more win against them to clinch the tiebreaker, and oh yeah, Kevin Durant was out. But the Thunder still had that Russell Westbrook guy and he was absolutely fantastic tonight, going off for 45 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 31 complaints to the referees. The Pelicans were happy to let Westbrook shoot the mid-range J, and he was hitting tonight – racing off to 17 points in the first quarter.
Then, Westbrook got going in transition as the Pelicans guards missed several point-blank layups, which gave the Thunder numbers in transition. And when it came down to crunch time, it was clear which team was filled with playoff experience, as New Orleans settled for jumpers while OKC attacked the rim. Ryan Anderson’s three-pointer put New Orleans up 91-89 with 5:39 left in the 4th, but the Pelicans never scored again, eventually falling to the Thunder 102-91.
It was a tough loss because of what a win could have meant, but there is a lot that the Pelicans can learn from in this game – and a lot that some anxious fans can learn from as well. It is clear as day that Jrue Holiday is needed at the point of attack on defense to slow All-World point guards like Westbrook. As for the Pelicans, they need to learn from tonight quickly, because they are heading to OKC on Friday to complete the season series with the Thunder. A win will give the Pelicans a two game lead plus the tiebreaker, while a loss will pull the Thunder even with the Pels.
Notes and Observations
– The Pelicans shot selection was not horrible by any means, but they just couldn’t hit. In the 4th, all but two of their shots were in the paint or behind the arc. Shots just didn’t fall and it really killed us because when we missed at the rim, the Thunder got into transition and outscored us 27-8 in fast break points.
– One thing that I can say was poor with regard to the Pelicans offense was the guards’ inability to get to the free throw line. Pelicans guards attempted ZERO free throws tonight. Good offenses don’t have dry spells because they can get to the line. When your jumper is off (like it was for practically everyone tonight), you must get to the line and our guards do not do that. Westbrook had 9 attempts tonight, and this is not an aberration. As I have said in the past, Westbrook averages more FT attempts than Jrue, Gordon, and Tyreke COMBINED. This is a long-term issue for the Pels. Eventually, they are going to have to add at least one more perimeter player who can get to the line and help us get into the bonus quicker in quarters.
– I thought Anthony Morrow hit some big shots to keep the Thunder in it so that Westbrook could dominate down the stretch. Because of CBA rules, there is really no way we could have kept him once OKC offered him three years, but man, I would love to have that guy right now.
– While Morrow hit some tough, contested threes, Jimmer missed two big wide open ones for the Pelicans. He was feisty on the boards and stuck his nose in the paint on the defensive end. He also had a great pass to AD and a couple of nice floaters, but he has got to knock down wide-open threes. He just has to.
– The Pelicans wouldn’t have been in this game if not for Pondexter tonight, and while he gave it all he had, even he couldn’t slow down Westbrook. The guy was just on fire tonight and sometimes you have to tip your hat. The Pelicans forced him into 11 pull-up two-point jump shots and the guy drained 8 of them. If he would have hit his season average, he would have drilled 4. He got going early, and he just couldn’t miss after that. Tip your hat.
– Tyreke Evans is a high variance player. After a few really good games, it seems like some people forgot that and were willing to anoint him, but he will always have games like this (5-20 from the field). You can not prevent him from having nights like this – you just hope he has more good ones than bad ones, and that on the nights where he struggles, somebody else is red hot. Unfortunately, Gordon was off too (3-12), and again, when you aren’t getting to the FT line, that is impossible to overcome.
– Friday is going to be a tough game at OKC, especially if Durant returns. The Pelicans won’t magically find an answer for Westbrook by then, but honestly, their offense is their defense when they play the Thunder. When Tyreke attacks and makes his layups, the Thunder have to take the ball out from under the rim. When Tyreke or Gordon miss, we only have one guy back to stop them in transition. The Pels will simply have to hit their shots on Friday. If they don’t, we will probably see a similar result.
9 responses to “Pelicans Can’t Take Advantage of a Golden Opportunity”
Ibaka gave us fits all night: 6 blocks, almost all right at the rim on shots which we going to be scores. Related to our guards not getting to the rim is the problem that Tyreke seems to be our only player consistently willing to attack off his own dribble, especially in 2nd halves when defenses intensify: Gordon probes & then passes, Ryno has maybe a half-dozen dribble efforts a game; Davis even fewer. In the 3rd quarter when our 11-point lead started to skip, it seems we were left with Tyreke hoisting lower % jumpers, as Ibaka was consistently cutting him off at the rim — not a long-term recipe for success, but really who else is comfortable initiating his own O against really tough D? Hence, in retrospect those bombs that Reke launched in the 3rd may have been our best hope. Replay that dreadful stretch in the 3rd, and ask yourself (with Gordon ice cold, Ryno covered, and Davis not particularly sharp) where the points were going to come from. Obviously, the same lull haunted us in the 4th. The only other option I come with is something we have rarely seen all year, Monty playing Davis & Ajinca together. Might they be our two best mid-range jump shooters, our Lull-Busters?.
Only one mention of AD, and it’s in a sentence about Jimmer. He kept taking baseline jumpers, and they kept missing. Several times he had free range to the basket and just stayed put.
If Davis is mentally checked out, like he looked tonight on D, this team sucks, quite frankly. He’s the best player, he can’t afford to do a Boogie impression
bobmurrell AD can’t have 30-10-4-4 every night..
At this point he has earned the right to have an “off-night” from the field..
The other 8 guys in the rotation has to identify when those rare nights occur and pick up the slack when needed… TONIGHT THEY DIDN’T!!!
I think Monty should try a change in personnel and tactics Friday. First, zone trap Westbrook on the sideline from quarter 1 until. Make him give up the ball and dare OKC to beat you with outside shooting. That approach means no Asik. He’s not mobile enough to really protect the rim and he’s useless in a trapping defense with his limited mobility. Furthermore, he’s a wasted roster spot on offense because OKC is committed to mugging anyone under the rim with their bigs. Even when he rebounds, there’s a 50% chance he fumbles it or they take it from him. They should be invited to shoot 15-footers after Westbrook gives up the ball. If they can beat you that way, then power to them, but there’s no real evidence that without Durant they can. Fast breaks the other way off their misses, but none of this Tyreke kamikaze assault on five guys clogging the lanes.
Finally, post AD down low regularly instead of having him drift at the foul line. AD floating on the perimeter all game only lets them pack the lane with no consequences. Have him be Kareem 2.0, either taking short bankers or dishing to cutters and spot-up shooters. That means Pondexter and Cunningham (no Salmons!) in heavy doses, with Ryno in short, strategic bursts. Tyreke can only be a factor if he has an open lane to barrel through. Yeah, the Pelicans were terrible shooting from outside tonight, but it was an act of desperation late in the shot clock type of approach. They don’t have the personnel to win that way if every shot is a desperation heave. Ball movement with AD as traffic cop, inside out, would create more perimeter opportunities.
Serge Ibaka had a huge 3rd quarter to keep them in the game until Westbrook got it going again. We had a lot of bad luck tonight, but I agree with McNamara: Jrue Holiday being out tonight was the difference. No one was quick enough to stay with him, and this game was a stark contrast to the last time OKC played here and Jrue gave Westbrook fits all night.
Also: could Westbrook cry or whine anymore to the refs? How did he not get a technical at any point during that game? I can’t wait to see the guys again on Friday.
xman20002000 Asik is being paid max money, but not all from us. He had a poison pill in the contract. Surely, you must know that. People need to stop pretending he’s a max player and should, therefore, give us 20 a night. That’s not the case and all of the informed fans know that. Just…stop.
Have to give him and his agent credit for that…I do think he can improve offensively and if so he really would be valuable given his rebounding presence…I am beginning to worry that he is a marked man now as I have seen some questionable fouls called on him recently when jockeying for rebound position. Kind of like Tyreke when he drives…he contorts to avoid contact, which limits his free throws, but since he is so stong, contact often gains him a charging call…
I agree…Ibaka really began to assert his presence on both sides of the ball…have not seen that from him in a while
6thMan
I agree Serge Eblocka was the difference tonight