Suns @ Pelicans Takeaways
Chrissy Smith • January 22, 2024
Team Stats
(Suns @ Pelicans)
Final Score: 123-109
Rebounds: 48-42
Assists: 32-27
Blocks: 3-5
Steals: 7-4
Turnovers: 8-11
Stat Leaders
(Suns/Pelicans)
Scoring Leaders: Devin Booker, 52; Zion Williamson, 24
Rebound Leaders: Jusuf Nurkić, 15; Jonas Valančiūnas, 11
Assist Leaders: Jusuf Nurkić, 9; Brandon Ingram, 11
My Player of the Game: Brandon Ingram
Takeaways
- It's so frustrating how the Pelicans rarely seem to show up against the really good teams.
- The Pelicans didn't play badly, but they didn't play anywhere close to their best.
- It's games like this that let everyone know the Pelicans don't seem like an actual playoff contender, and that's unacceptable.
- Prior to this game, the Pelicans made 25 threes, and it was as if they were expecting to shoot that same way against the Suns. Instead, not only did they not shoot that way, but they allowed the Suns to kill them behind the arc.
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Team Stats (Pelicans at Nuggets) Final Score: 88-122 Rebounds: 36-57 Assists: 17-40 Steals: 9-5 Blocks: 3-5 Turnovers: 12-14 Stat Leaders Scoring Leaders: Jeremiah Fears, 21; Nikola Jokić, 21 Rebound Leaders: Trey Murphy III, 7; Nikola Jokić, 12 Assist Leaders: Jeremiah Fears, 6; Nikola Jokić, 10 My Player of the Game: Jeremiah Fears Chrissy's Key Takeaways * The starters for this game were Fears, Murphy III, Jones, Zion, and Deandre Jordan. So that was different, and it didn't work at all. * With most of the third quarter over, Zion had five total points in the game. He finished with 11. * The Nuggets went on a 32-4 run in the third quarter. The Pelicans came out very slow to start off the third. * New Orleans went 7-of-33 from the three-point line. * Nikola Jokić had a triple-double. The Pelicans had no answer for him all night. * Do the Pelicans know that the season has started because the majority of the guys out there look like they still think they're playing Summer League. * The problem with this team isn't the talent because they have that. So what's the problem? Coaching, effort, etc.? This has to be fixed ASAP. Follow @TheKneaux on X, and follow me there too, @SportsChrissy.
Team Stats (Celtics at Pelicans) Final Score: 122-90 Rebounds: 54-35 Assists: 25-17 Steals: 5-7 Blocks: 7-0 Turnovers: 11-13 Stat Leaders Scoring Leaders: Anfernee Simons, 25; Jordan Poole, 22 Rebound Leaders: Neemias Queta, 11; Yves Miss, 7 Assist Leaders: Payton Prichard, 8; Trey Murphy, III, 5 My Player of the Game: Jordan Poole Chrissy's Key Takeaways * The first two losses of the season were tough but at least the team looked good. In this game, no one looked fired up to compete except Jordan Poole and Jose Alvarado. * Zion did not play because he's been spending all offseason getting in shape just so he could rest after two games. Makes no sense to me. * Trey Murphy and Herb Jones need to find their spark and stride. These guys have been putting in a ton of work in the offseason but it isn't showing right now. * Willie Green has got to be on a short leash because this 0-3 start feels like the team is just picking up where they left off except this time they're healthy and have all the momentum in the world. * The next three games for the Pelicans will be on the road against Denver, Clippers, and Thunder . Follow @TheKneaux on X, and follow me there too, @SportsChrissy.