Once upon a time \u2014 well, actually just two weeks ago \u2014 the New Orleans Pelicans seemed to have figured some things out.<\/p>\n
The Pelicans were riding high on a five-game winning streak. It was the first time they had won five games in a row since the 2022-23 season. Everything seemed to be clicking, which shouldn’t have been much of a surprise with Herb Jones in the lineup.<\/p>\n
In the third game of that winning streak, Jones\u2019 stellar play on defense helped dig the Pelicans out of a 25-point hole to beat the Houston Rockets. It was the Pels\u2019 best win of the season. Jones frustrated one of the greatest shooters of all time (Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant) that night.<\/p>\n
Things were trending in the right direction.<\/p>\n
Zion Williamson was embracing his new role coming off of the bench.<\/p>\n
Role players were doing their part.<\/p>\n
Shots were falling.<\/p>\n
Fans were starting to believe that maybe things were turning around. Perhaps the Pelicans had found the identity that executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars was looking for.<\/p>\n
But after Jones sprained his ankle, the Pelicans flipped back to their old ways and have lost six straight games. They\u2019ll try to end their slide Sunday at the Miami Heat.<\/p>\n
What will it take to get things turned around?<\/p>\n
\u201cPride,\u201d Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado said. \u201cWe know we are capable of winning. We\u2019ve just got to do the right things. Not talk about it. Be about it. We are trying to figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Based on how things have gone during the six-game losing streak, there is plenty to figure out. The Pelicans (8-28) have lost in every way possible during this recent funk.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a look back.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers 141-118 on Dec. 23.<\/p>\n
The 141 points were the second-most points the Pels have given up all season and the most in regulation.<\/p>\n
“From start to finish, a poor defensive effort,” Pelicans interim coach James Borrego said after the game.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Lost to the Phoenix Suns 115-108 on Dec. 26.<\/p>\n
This time it was free throws that did the Pelicans in. The Pelicans made just 25 of 42 free throws (59.5%). They missed 17 free throws that night, which will lose almost every time on any level of basketball.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Lost to the Suns 123-114 on Dec. 27<\/p>\n
The Suns dominated on the offensive boards, grabbing 22 rebounds on that end. It led to 30 second-chance points. Wins don’t come when you get beat on the boards like that.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Lost to the New York Knicks 130-125 on Monday.<\/p>\n
This was your reminder that the Pelicans aren\u2019t good at finishing games. The Knicks made plays and the Pels didn\u2019t down the stretch. The night ended with Jordan Poole, trying to draw a foul, heaving a shot that had no chance.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Lost to the Chicago Bulls 134-118 on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
This was your reminder that the Pelicans always will lose a game they have no business losing. The Bulls were without their top two scorers (Josh Giddey and Coby White). It didn\u2019t matter. The Pelicans gave up the fifth-most points they\u2019ve allowed all season.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Lost to the Portland Trail Blazers 122-109 on Friday.<\/p>\n
It was the first game of the new year and also a reminder of years past. Something Pelicans fans are all too familiar with (the injury bug) started biting. Three starters (Trey Murphy, Saddiq Bey and Derik Queen) watched in street clothes. It was too much to overcome.<\/p>\n
If there is a way to lose, the Pelicans have found it.<\/p>\n
The most recent losing streak didn\u2019t start until Jones suffered that ankle sprain. That\u2019s often the case. The Pelicans struggle when Jones doesn\u2019t play.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t believe me? Check this stat out: Since Borrego took over as interim coach after Willie Green was fired, the Pelicans have played 24 games. The Pelicans are 5-5 in games that Jones played. They are 1-13 when he doesn\u2019t play. The Pelicans have allowed 127.5 points per game during the losing streak.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne guy left the lineup, Herb Jones,\u201d Borrego said. \u201cHe\u2019s incredible. But that doesn\u2019t excuse our defense. If we\u2019ve got to get Herb back to hold people under 130, that\u2019s unacceptable.\u201c<\/p>\n
This six-game losing streak is one of many lengthy ones this season. The Pels lost their first six games of the season. They also have losing streaks of nine and seven.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been in this place before,\u201d Borrego said. \u201cWe found our way out of it. You\u2019ve just got to keep plugging away. Keep chopping. Keep working. The No. 1 thing is stay together. Keep our heads up. Keep spirits up and keep fighting.<\/p>\n
“This group has not dropped the sword. We can\u2019t drop the sword. We\u2019ve got to keep fighting and keep believing.\u201d<\/p>\n
For now, they have to do it without their best defensive player.<\/p>\n
Borrego gave an update Saturday on Jones\u2019 progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re moving, we\u2019re getting there,\u201d Borrego said. \u201cI miss him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Pelicans have a losing streak to prove just how much they miss Jones.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Once upon a time \u2014 well, actually just two weeks ago \u2014 the New Orleans Pelicans seemed to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":396087,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3796],"tags":[7,5498,6,478,470,4073,4072,675],"class_list":{"0":"post-515046","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-orleans-pelicans","8":"tag-basketball","9":"tag-hardwall","10":"tag-nba","11":"tag-new-orleans","12":"tag-new-orleans-pelicans","13":"tag-neworleans","14":"tag-neworleanspelicans","15":"tag-pelicans"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/115834155918298396","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/515046","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=515046"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/515046\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/396087"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=515046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=515046"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=515046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}