Pelicans, Davis Return to Old Habits in Loss at Magic
By Spencer Darr
The Pelicans are back – back to old habits. New Orleans’ road woes continued, completing the trinity of terrible: losses to the three worst teams in the dreadful East, all coming in 2015, and while stretching their losing streak to a season-high four games.
Coming out of a long All-Star break and wild trade deadline, the playoffs loom eight short weeks away. Every game is critical.
Coming into the All-Star Weekend New Orleans, Oklahoma City, and Phoenix all were a game apart, fighting for the 8-seed.
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By Wednesday the Suns best player, Goran Dragic, had made it clear he was going to walk in free agency this summer. Most believe Dragic’s dissatisfaction stems back to this summer’s signing of PG Isaiah Thomas.
By Thursday afternoon, both players were gone, with Brandon Knight coming back to Phoenix after a series of transactions.
Knight is a solid starter who will eventually help the Suns win games, but their hopes for the playoffs are all but snuffed out. Two talented players went out, only one came back. Now the Suns have to adjust to an entirely new style of floor leader at PG.
This is a long way of saying the window is wide open for the Pelicans to take the 8-seed for themselves.
The Thunder got back on the court Thursday with a win over the Mavericks. But Durant hobbled off the court in the final minutes, favoring his problematic right foot.
This is a long way of saying the window is wide open for the Pelicans to take the 8-seed for themselves. Friday night, they fumbled that opportunity away in Orlando
This was the Pelicans first matchup against the Magic since Game 1 of the 2014-15 NBA season, Oct. 28th. Anthony Davis started the season modestly that night with 26 pts 17 rebs and 9 blocks.
With the wear of 52 games, and fresh off of a shoulder sprain, Davis was far from his usual self. His range was limited to about 6 inches from the hoop, struggling to 5-15 from the field. Struggling to handle the ball all night, Davis also had 4 TOs.
Feb 20, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) drives to the basket as Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) defends during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Orlando’s young backcourt trio of Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo, and Evan Fournier, set the winning tone for the Magic. Payton put up a double double (10 pts 10 ast) and Fournier seemed to hit shots when the Magic needed them most, totalling 16 pts with a staggering +19 plus/minus.
Oladipo, Orlando’s freak-in-residence, scored a game-high 22 points – though he was victimized by a shameful from-behind, backboard-slapping Davis block.
Most of the night was a close contest, with each team taking turns at 8-10 point runs. 30 seconds into the 4th Ryan Anderson (13 pts 3 rebs) tied the game at 73-73 with a 20 ft stepback.
Over the next six minutes though, the Magic cracked it open – building a 14-point, 89-75 lead over New Orleans with 5:19 remaining. The Pelicans only converted 3 field goals in the fourth, a surprising collapse coming off a two-week break.
Depth is still an issue, with Holliday out at least another three weeks and Fredette the equivalent of 2010 undead Mike Bibby.
Trade deadline acquisition Norris Cole will hopefully make an immediate impact in New Orleans’ rotation. The closer Fredette is to playing zero minutes, the higher the Pelican’s chances are of making the playoffs.
Cole had many impressive moments in his tenure at Miami – moments I choose to solely focus on when imagining how he fits with the Pels.
His outside shooting abilities will be appreciated on nights like these (5-19 from deep as a team). As will his driving, off-the-dribble tendencies – sorely needed on a night when Evans placidly bricked 5 3-pointers while avoiding drives to the hoop against one of the worst rim protectors in the league (Vucevic allows 54.1% Opp FG% at Rim – worst than world-famous stiff Kevin Love).
Nikola Vucevic had a great night against an unfavorable matchup in Davis and Omar Asik – Orlando’s center nabbing 13 rebounds compared to New Orleans’ duo combining for 15 rebounds.
Despite his struggles, obviously do to his injury recovery, Davis did flash a move I haven’t seen often – a deep sky hook. With his back to the basket on the right block, Davis shimmied, drop-stepped baseline, and floated up a pretty sky hook from 9 feet. Davis’s back-to-the-basket game is one of the least developed of his offensive arsenal.
If he is able to work in a mid-range baseline hook Davis will make grown men cry on the court.
Playing in their fifth game since firing Jacque Vaughn, Orlando improved to 3-2 under James Borrego.
The New Orleans Pelicans will continue their tour of the sunshine state with a game at the Heat Saturday night.
It is a good opportunity to snap the losing streak and earn a rare road win – Chris Bosh is out and Goran Dragic will be playing in his first game with his new team.