Unfaithful Pelicans Fall to New York Knicks 92-99

If what I suspect is true, travel plans for this May could be changing and my living situation could get really complicated.

The Pelicans might be cheating. For years we have been flirting with dreams of the playoffs: late-round runs into June, trips to San Antonio, Los Angeles, or the Golden Bay.

Lately though, the Crescent City’s beloved Pels have been exhibiting some suspicious behavior.

Don’t get me wrong, last year was great. Sure, we had a losing streak or two, but who doesn’t?

Atlanta, Golden State, the Clippers, those were playoff teams! Yes, New Years Eve wasn’t great, losing to the Spurs, but we took the champs to overtime!

2015 was looking bright, two months into the season and the 8-seed was the Pelicans’ to lose. Especially impressive after facing the second-toughest schedule in the league.

Then came January.

First there was the loss to Charlotte on the road. That raised an eyebrow or two, but dropping contests at Boston and Philadelphia is the Doomsday Clock-equivalent of two minutes to midnight.

Things haven’t been the same since.First there was the loss to Charlotte on the road. That raised an eyebrow or two, but dropping contests at Boston and Philadelphia is the Doomsday Clock-equivalent of two minutes to midnight.

With a heavy heart I tuned into the Pelicans-Knicks matchup, searching for the truth to the question at hand – are the Pelicans being unfaithful to New Orleans’ playoff dreams?

Jan 18, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) and guard Jrue Holiday (11) look on from the bench as neither player played against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Pelicans beat the Raptors 95-93. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Trouble found the Pelicans early, with Anthony Davis (toe) and Jrue Holliday (ankle) both scratched for the third straight game. Their absence was especially notable as the New Orleans suited up for their third game in four days, and fifth straight road game overall.

The starting lineup came out noticeably sluggish. The Knicks commentators comically compared the Pelicans to their own team, describing them as ‘lethargic and slow’.

After only a few minutes, the Knicks had built a quick 11-point lead. Carmelo Anthony started putting buckets in early and often, tallying up 12 of his 24 points in the first half.

With the lead hovering around 11, the supporting cast for the Pelicans struggled to score. The two healthy stars, Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon, combined for 29 of the Pelicans 41 first half points.

The Knicks and Evans traded 3’s on the final four possessions, closing out the first half with a 53-41 lead over New Orleans.

The highlight of the halftime show was the Knicks broadcast showing off their tragically thin smattering of celebrity attendees, ironically noting a Dancing with the Stars dancer, before the obligatory Spike Lee close-up.

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The second half started like the first: Knicks players draining 3’s. The Pelicans supporting cast pushed within 6 points, only to allow a handful of Melo drives to the rim and a few 2010-era Amare Stoudemire dunks.

Two minutes into the third and the lead was back at 12 behind Jason Smith playing like a scorned loved. The final tally against his former team came to 12 pts on 6-9 shooting with 6 assists and 2 blocks. Following back-to-back Smith jumpers the lead was 15 with :30 left in the 3rd quarter.

Out of nowhere, those pesky 4th quarter Pelicans showed up, first with a Ryan Anderson 3-pointer to cut the lead to 10. Alexis Ajinca contributed with some late put-backs and clutch free throws, following up his career night with 8 pts and 11 rebounds (6 offensive).

There is little doubt that Tyreke Evans plays with anything but the intention to win, hitting the game-winner for the comeback victory against Toronto on Sunday. Monday he got hot late yet again.

With the support in the second half of Anderson and Quincy Poindexter 3’s, the Pelicans steadily cut the Knicks lead down to 3. With less than two minutes remaining Evans willed the Pelicans within one point – 92-93 – after scoring on three consecutive possessions, including two effortlessly difficult layups.

After a defensive stand and a miss on the right elbow from a wide-open Ryan Anderson, the Pelicans needed another stop for a shot at the lead.

With great effort on defense and the shot clock expiring, Langston Galloway forced a pass to the rolling Louis Armundson, who flopped over an outstretched Omer Asik as the ball ricocheted off his shin and out of bounds. Whistle-blows, foul – Knicks ball with 24 seconds back on the shot clock.

After a brief review, the officials concluded their (questionable) call was indeed made before the shot clock expired and thus stood. The Knicks got the ball to Melo at the top of the key as two New Orleans defenders closed in, quickly skipping a pass to a wide-open Jose Calderon. Calderon promptly drilled a 3 to all but seal the victory for the Knicks.

Jan 19, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Jose Calderon (3) reacts in front of his bench after hitting a three-point basket against the New Orleans Pelicans during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks defeated the Pelicans 99-92. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

A few seconds and errant possessions later, the Knicks 16-game losing streak was over and the Pelicans fall below .500 yet again. With FiveThirtyEight Sport’s latest playoff odds, the Pelicans sit just above the Orlando Magic and just below the Brooklyn Nets.

With the Pelicans season sporadically careening into late-lottery oblivion, my tepid fear of unfaithfulness appear to be true. Am I a fool for believing things will change? The competition is not getting any tougher the next few weeks and a change may be in store at the coaching level.

One thing that is certain: fans of the New Orleans Pelicans aren’t happy, and management MUST make a change soon. This team has performed well below expectations; and they risk not only losing their fan-base, but eventually one of the NBA’s biggest and brightest young superstars, as well………

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“Unfaithful” Pelicans Fall to Knicks, 99-92

By Spencer Darr | Jan 20, 2015