The New Orleans Pels (26-45) fell to the Indiana Pacers (38-33) in Indianapolis tonight in a 92-84 loss that was a tick closer than it might appear. It’s possible the Pelicans could have won, but, alas, they did not have enough healthy letters.

The Pelicans were without anyone who can really lead a team to a win, but they still managed to hang around. In fact, the 8-point margin is precisely that of the second quarter. Given that the Pelicans closed the gap late . . . clearly, not by enough . . . it’s reasonable to inspect the second quarter for a source of “oops.” And there it is. The Pelicans actually held a small lead up until the Pacers took it back with 6:09 left in the half, 34-33. A minute later, the score was 38-35 in favor of the home team, and subs were made during an official timeout. Frazier, who left the Pelicans in assists with 5 . . . yes, 5 . . . and quite a nice scoring game, sat, and the offense sat with him. The next score by the Pelicans was at the 1:57 mark, just over 3 minutes later . . . by Tim Frazier . . . making the score 44-37. In other words, they were down 9 when Frazier scored. There you go.

There.

You.

Go.

That’s the season, right there. A philosophy predicated upon reasonable shooting, ball movement, and good basketball sense simply can not be deployed without competent ball movers and shooters, almost by definition. This team invested in them, brought in a coach to take advantage of that talent . . . not to say that he is without problems . . . and the competent ball movers have been picked off as if Agatha Christie was running the NBA. Tim Frazier is not the answer, but when the team is that starved for what he brings, you can really see the effects of it coming and going.

This was one.

In this time of hunger, starvation, we can actually see most clearly what is important. At bottom, here in the gutter, it is clear . . . what could have been and perhaps what could be.

How to get there? Will we get the chance to see? Do we end this incarnation of the Pelicans or try again, just once more?

That is the question.

To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outraaaaaageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them: to die, to sleep
No more; and by a sleep, to say we end
The heartache, and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to? ‘Tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep,
To sleep, perchance to dream; aye, there’s the rub,
For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come,
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause.

The Pelicans return to the Smoothie King Center Saturday, hosting the Toronto Raptors at 6 pm CT (UTC -5). The game will be on Fox Sports New Orleans and the Pelicans Radio Network, 99.5 FM locally.