The New Orleans Pelicans (7-19) effectively quit in their latest “effort” against the Phoenix Suns (12-16). The score of 104-88 shows a decisive victory, but it does not indicate the absolutely unacceptable reasons why the game was decided so early in the contest.
In the pre-game post, efficiency, turnovers, and getting to the line were all discussed. The Pelicans were a healthy 32-38 from the line (led by Gordon’s 9-11 performance) compared to 10-17 for the Suns. This 22 points was, of course, completely earned by the Pelicans, but it cover up a 94-56 level of domination from the field. Moreover, that’s 94 field points on 84 shots compared to 56 field points on 71 shots. That unbelievable. So, the pre-game comment about free throws was spot on.
The pre-game comment about efficiency was not. The Suns’ defense is normally poor because they allow efficient performances, but that was no issue against the Pelicans.
This is where it gets dicey. Why? Why could they not perform? Well, they actually did in the first quarter. They ran plays, moved the ball, had Phoenix on their heels defensively. Several plays were run to get Gordon the ball open at different spots along the arc. There were executed well, and Gordon took the shots without deliberation (which was an issue earlier in the season). Most of the shots did not fall; he was 1-6 from three in the first, then 0-1, 1-1, 0-0 for the rest of the game. Wait, what? Yeah, the game changed that much for the Pelicans.
It wasn’t just Gordon, and it was not the defense of the Suns causing these shots to rim out at a higher than normal rate (as measured by eyeballs and the heart of a fan). Cunningham was the recipient of some good passes at the end of good plays for two near-mid-range shots, but they did not fall (those were his only attempts in his 5 minutes).
Still, the Pelicans had the lead early, then lost it after a quick surge by the Suns. After Gordon’s misses from the arc, Anderson came in, promptly missed a three (he ended up with 3 points on 3 shots in 21 minutes), and the score ballooned for the home team. It wasn’t just Anderson or Asik that made the difference. When the plan did not work and the first set of changes did not work, the Pelicans just quit. It was obvious. Alvin Gentry said so . . . after the first quarter.
There are other issues, like Davis not being decisive in his leadership (which is not necessarily behind schedule, but he acknowledged this himself in an taped interview shown in the game . . . he cited age, but experience and that salary bump will make a difference in time). Evans’ continual lapsing back into relying on himself rather than the game plan remains an issue, and it’s painfully obvious when you look for it. I hear other mention it, but when they are also just grinding their personal axes, it covers up any sense they actually make.
This team needs new blood, and we all knew it this offseason. The question is when they can get it. I’m sure someone is going to say Gentry was supposed to be that or whatnot, and that is what the team was selling this offseason, but that’s your fault if you bought it. I’m on record as to my thoughts on the Gentry hire, including why it was made and why Williams was dismissed, and as to why moves were not made this summer, but this team will not get better until some players are traded. I hear Gordon and Asik, and I understand the desire, but that is wrong on two counts. First, they can’t actually improve by dumping these player. Second, these players serve roles that are hard to fill and the team wants and needs them filled. I know many “experts” disagree with me on Asik, and that is fine; it looks like the team and Davis agree. I’ve said for a while the players likely to be cashed in are Evans and Anderson. They are players of value whose fit is increasingly worse on this team. They need to move whatever they can, sans Davis and Holiday (not that he’s a hot item today) to get that player to sit between Davis and Holiday, and it needs to happen by February, likely, because it’ll be much harder this summer when every team is flush with cap space.
Mike has used the term “blow it up” to mean something less than it is taken as, and I think there needs to be less change than he does, largely, I think, because I do not believe that Dell believes that this version of the Pelicans’ core was ever expected to be a stable core (though I do believe there is shock and just how bad it is post-Williams). The histrionics around this idea are laughable, however. It’s amazing how much of the conversation surrounding this team merely an imperfect echo chamber where things are repeated and misunderstood to the point of nausea.
At any rate, until then, it’s a matter of getting these guys to play hard through adversity and play smart when they are on top; both are proving a challenge, and that is the main reason the defense is horrible.
The Pelicans’ long road trip ends against the Nuggets Sunday at 7 pm CT (UTC -6).
15 responses to “Pelicans Completely Fold Against Suns”
Yup.
Is anyone else besides me getting tired of hearing all of
those “energy”/”effort” and “low player IQ” excuses that seem to have become the conventional wisdom of the day? Did a lack of “energy”/”effort”
and “low player IQ” cause last night’s game to spiral out of control, or did
the “system” fail, thereby causing a group of players to have a deflated “energy”/”effort”
and consequent “low player IQ”?Last
night’s loss to to the Suns suggests it was the latter.
This loss was already a foregone conclusion
with 1:40 left to play in the 1st quarter, because that is when the
loss of “energy”/”effort” and “low player IQ” kicked in.Here’s what happened: With 1:40
remaining in the 1st quarter, Eric Gordon was benched, after going 1
for 8 and the team trailing 14-21 (Gordon didn’t make his 2nd and
final field goal until the very end of the 3rd quarter).Now, what we have to ask ourselves is:Was it the game plan for Gordon to take 8
shots from the field during the first 10 minutes?Well, the answer is:yes and no.Certainly, no one would want a shooting guard to miss 7 of 8 shots
during the first 8 minutes of a game.But was Gordon doing what these coaches have coached him to do?Unquestionably, the answer is yes.Don’t you want a career 44% shooting guard (a
player who also shot 45% from 3 point land last season) taking open shots?Absolutely.But it is completely nonsensical to have a very cold shooting guard taking
8 shots in 8 minutes.With players like AD23
and Tyreke Evans on the court, do you want any other player taking 8 of your
team’s 1st 18 shots of the game (especially when AD and Evans take
only 1 each during that same time span)?Of course not (it also
didn’t help that Evans had to sit early with 2 fouls).
So how did it happen that Gordon took so many
shots so early?Because of “the system,”
dummy.Gordon was simply doing what he
has been coached to do.In this system, you
take the first open shot.Unfortunately,
that “system” resulted in 5 of 18 shooting from the field by this team, and 1 of
8 shooting by Gordon.By the time the 1st quarter
ended, the Pelicans were 6 of 21 from the field, and Alvin Gentry was already trashing
his players on national television.And,
as painful as it is, we must constantly remind ourselves that this is
the same group of players who ran set plays on offense last season, made the
playoffs, fed AD as he became a superstar, and weren’t last in the league in
defense.
Boy this Gentry hiring is really paying off lol. Let’s see we’ve a 60 year old coach who’s only winning track record was when he was an one year wonder as an assistant with the Warriors? I have to say this but this team was better with Monty or better yet Thibs or Van Gundy not the accidental head coach in Gentry.
Don’t like to make this personal, but the main write-up here seems mainly a defense of (1) Gentry, presumably against anyone foolish enough to expect more than this team has produced so far this year, and (2) 2 core (& arguably underperforming) players (Asik & Gordon), while trashing all readers too insipid or gullible not to buy into this assessment. It’s really a tone completely dismissive of the impassioned, thoughtful fans like “Come On Pelican” that are the lifeblood of a fan site, and likely explains the near-total lack of reader participation on this particular Pelican site.
6thMan You are reading incorrectly, adding things in that are not there, and I can’t help that. I can’t help that you have expectations of the site or me that are unreasonable and irrelevant. I can’t help that I really don’t care about “fan participation.” I’m probably the least commented-on writer at this site . . . by fans, at least. One reason is that I simply write about things fans largely do not care about. Another is that I often leave little left to be desired by way of discussion. By the way, I see you didn’t dispute any facts or claims presented here, which kind of proves the point.
Let me help you understand the article, which is a game recap. The most glaring issue, as I saw it, was effort. There are other issues. I did not list all the issues. The point is not to list all the issues. When I criticize Gentry, and I will, I will point out what he does well and otherwise, and similarly for his staff, but that is not the case here. I’m discussing the players in this case and some larger issues in that vein. There are multiple ways in much multiple people have multiple problems. Here, I’m pointing out a thin slice. And, yes, i dared to point out that there are errors others are making, as I do often. I do it quite clearly and publicly and in an unapologetic way.
If you want to know more, check back. If not, don’t read. I’ll keep writing, just as I have for years, as I did even in the lockout.
Come On Pelican I’m tired of hearing it, but I’m more tired of it being the case. I don’t mind the scheme, but I mind that he went away from it early or that the players quit. Either way, it’s a coaching problem of one kind or another.
Something has got to change, because time is ticking, not on the season, but on Davis.
ryanschwan Yup.
Jimmy Lee Dobbs I think your criticisms are a little vague and based on imagining what other coaches would do or what a coach you heavily criticized did.
Also, there are some clear issues with this team that were common to both Williams and Gentry. Do they both fail in the same ways on those fronts, or is there an issue with some players as well?
It really does suck to be honest. But hey got to be optimistic for the season. Some people hope to tank others not. I just want to see what the direction is for the team so I can continue to root for them!
Go Pels!
Jason Calmes Jimmy Lee Dobbs Sorry, Jason. His criticism is a fact of record. Those two guys had better records than Gentry. Next thing is. I will agree and disagree with one of your points. Yes the Pelicans would be hard pressed to fill the role Asik is supposed to play. Problem is that Asik has never filled that role!!! The media wrote articles like we were getting a terror. We got a 28 year old with the speed and strength of a 80 year old.
Gentry knew the players! He devised gameplans to expose these guys. Now he’s suddenly shocked by all this. He went on record saying he wanted them back. He vouched for Asik. So the criticsms of Gentry are correct. Gentry is full of ***! If he really wanted to send a message Ish Smith would start! Of all the players that have played Ish and Alzono Gee have been embodied “his system”. Sooo either run your system with the players that will run it or shut up and run a half court with what you have.
BenHanchett Jason Calmes Jimmy Lee Dobbs The record is a matter of fact. What that has to do with this team is questionable. What another coach’s record elsewhere has to do with this team, if they were really available, is also questionable.
As far as what “the media” said or what role you think Asik should fill, I can’t comment on that, but I can tell you that Davis wants a bigger Center on the team to deal with guys Davis doesn’t want to deal with. That’s also a matter of record. If you honestly believe every word that comes out of this franchise’s figurative mouth, then i would revisit that habit. I know I don’t believe it all.
Jason Calmes It’s not just about the record nor the injuries but it’s a fact that Gentry was a big mistake. If things don’t turn around between now or the end or the season. We could hear rumors of AD wanting out. AD is a winner not some scrub that can play on a bad team year after year with modesty. Gentry is just overrated and full of hype. If Gentry philosophy really would have worked not re-signing Asik would have made sense. Having athletic centers in a uptempo offense that he wants is what he need not an unathletic center that can’t play offense.
What makes you think I disagree? Did you read what I said about why he was hired?
Jason Calmes BenHanchett Jimmy Lee Dobbs Jason, of course AD does. Because he’s not a center! Period! Kevin Durant is damn near the same size as AD yet no one ever tried to stick him at the 5. To keep up with the thought is just ludicrous.
Jason Calmes Nope. Can you link to that article.