NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Despite being 3-point favorites ahead of tip-off, the Pelicans experienced being on the wrong end of a 122-90 rout at home to the Celtics instead of getting their first win of the season.
The Pelicans suffered a crushing loss, including a 31-4 run by Boston to close out the game, despite the Celtics playing without their star Jayson Tatum on the second night of a back-to-back.
Jaylen Brown, who has done the bulk of the offensive work for Boston, was a game-time decision before tip-off and played, finishing with 15 points, despite the risk of re-aggravating a hamstring injury.
The Pelicans are now the only winless team in the Western Conference, and the immediate forecast doesn’t get easier as they prepare to face the Nuggets in Denver Wednesday night (Oct. 29).
With just a couple of hours before game time, franchise star Zion Williamson showed up on the injury report with a left foot bone contusion.
“This was supposed to be different,” lamented Locked on Pelicans podcast host Jake Madison on his latest episode, pointing out the implied changes fans were expecting when lead executive Joe Dumars was brought in before the offseason.
Unfortunately, this kind of start to the season is something all too familiar to Pelicans fans. Madison says that if the organization doesn’t want to be content to stay on the same path, it must make some “tough decisions”.
“You’re already falling into things we’ve seen in game three,” Madison said. “You know, when he got ruled out, it was basically 2 p.m. on game day, and he was not on the injury report before that.”
In a pre-game press conference, coach Willie Green said that the injury likely occurred in the 120-116 overtime loss to the Spurs on Fri., Oct. 24. He also said that Williamson practiced on Sunday, but couldn’t finish the practice due to discomfort.
Williamson did not appear on an injury report before being listed as “questionable” around 2 p.m. on Monday before being ruled out less than two hours before a 7 p.m. tipoff.
“There’s some question about, did it happen in practice?” Madison wondered. “It sounds like it happened in the Spurs game. So why wasn’t he on the injury report?”
Madison commented that if players are dealing with injuries, it’s okay for them to sit. However, he also pointed out that the offseason plan for players like Jordan Poole and Trey Murphy III to produce when Williamson isn’t on the floor hasn’t yielded wins.
Madison said that even if the Pelicans can’t find a quick fix, he believes they must make changes at an organizational level if they want to show they’re willing to flip the script.
“This team has to make immediate and big changes,” Madison said. “Look, that falls in one area, your head coach.”
Madison contends that of all the criticisms Green may face, the only area that matters is results, which seem to be more of the same for New Orleans.
The Pelicans, in Madison’s view, have to act now rather than later because next year’s first-round pick was traded to get back into this year’s first round to draft both Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen.
Looking ahead, the Pelicans have a three-game road trip coming up that includes the Nuggets, Clippers, and NBA Champion OKC Thunder. All of those games will air on the Gulf Coast Sports and Entertainment Network. Check your local listing for tip-off times.
For more of Madison’s commentary, watch Tuesday’s episode of the Locked on Pelicans podcast at 10:30 a.m. on the Gulf Coast Sports and Entertainment Network. Catch every episode of Locked on Pelicans weekdays on GCSEN at the same time.
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