Are the New Orleans Pelicans back on track?
It took three games, but in their matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies, the New Orleans Pelicans finally looked like the team many expected them to be in the restart. After a 109-99 victory over the Grizzlies, it appears that the Pelicans have finally been unleashed in the bubble.
This game, of course, had intrigue beyond the matchup between Zion Williamson and Ja Morant. There were playoff implications as both teams are fighting for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
New Orleans showed that after an awful performance against the LA Clippers that they were ready to just that, and the team play of their starting unit led the way.
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Teamwork is the key for the New Orleans Pelicans
For the Pelicans, this matchup against the Grizzlies showed the team was ready to play as one rather than just five individuals sharing the court. The teamwork New Orleans showed on both ends of the court was key to their victory against Memphis and certainly will be what leads them the rest of the way.
The starting lineup of Lonzo Ball, Jrue Holiday, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, and Derrick Favors continued to show that when all healthy their one of the most lethal lineups in the league, while bench shooters J.J. Redick and Josh Hart came in when needed to support them.
Starting on the defensive end of the floor, the team’s defensive concepts were the key to them making the game tough on Memphis. The entire starting lineup for the Pelicans poses a tough combination of size and length that made it hard for the Grizzlies to kick start their offense.
Continually switching on the perimeter and in the interior, the Pelicans versatile defense stymied Memphis by keeping them confused with players would actually be guarding them against one moment to the next.
The result is that the Pelicans were able to hold Memphis to under 100 points, shooting only 39 percent from the field and a horrible 12-43 (27%) shooting performance from deep.
From there the Pelicans were able to outrebound the Grizzlies 49-43, consistently getting defensive boards off Memphis’ misses. That allowed the Pelicans to create their deadly transition offense which is a chaotic one to stop because all five players in the team’s starting lineup pose some kind of threat starting a break a transition.
The Pelicans’ offense was more than just run-and-gun against Memphis though, the offense played one of the smoothest games they have all year in which they consistently moved the ball looking for the best shot.
New Orleans had 25 assists for the night with five double-digit scorers. The matchup nightmares of Zion Williamson’s athletism and Brandon Ingram’s crafty moves kept exploited the Memphis defense the most, but it was a total team effort.
Players on the Pelicans were consistently in motion cutting to the basket, setting screens, and then the passing IQ of the team lead to smart basketball plays such as dish-outs for open 3’s and hockey-style assists that swung the ball to open men on close-outs.
Overall, it one of the best team performances New Orleans has shown all season, one that was likely caused due to the team finally being fully healthy after dealing with multiple injuries to key contributors during the season.
A push for the Pelicans?
For the Pelicans, this play is extremely encouraging and shows that the team was ready for the battle with Memphis but there’s still more that needs to be done and the Pelicans need to continue to play like this rather than how they did against the Clippers to make the playoffs.
With Memphis, San Antonio, and Portland now all in the same three-game range as New Orleans, the team is going to have to continue to win games if they want to be the team that’s lucky enough to secure that final playoff spot.
Luckily for New Orleans, unlike the teams they’re fighting, they have a very easy schedule. Two games against the Sacramento Kings who have played just awful basketball in the season’s restart along with a matchup against the depleted Washington Wizards and the Orlando Magic.
The only true test that remains for New Orleans will be trying to fend off fellow competitor San Antonio and if they play the way they did tonight, then chances are San Antonio’s young lineup will have a hard time stopping them.
It’s clear that the 8th seed is the Pelicans seed to take, it’s just a matter of continuing to do what they did against Memphis, put their heads down and play an all-out team style on both ends of the floor.