Tag: Pelicans

Ime Udoka’s Houston Rockets beat Willie Green’s team so bad Thursday night that Green called his New Orleans Pelicans’ effort “soft” afterward.

It was a 128-111 beatdown, one of 17 double-digit losses the Pelicans have suffered in what has been a hard season to watch.

One night later, the Pelicans lost to the Memphis Grizzlies, pushing the losing streak to nine games in a row and the record to 5-27.

Only the 2004-05 New Orleans Hornets have started a season worse than this, winning just three of their first 32 games.

As the losses have mounted, so has the frustration among a fan base that has suggested everything from trades to a coaching change.

It goes to show just how quickly things can change in the NBA.

Just eight months ago, Green led the Pelicans to a 49-win season, tied for the second most in franchise history. The Pelicans made the playoffs twice in three seasons, something that hadn’t been done since the then-Hornets made the playoffs in 2009 and 2011.

Udoka, whose Rockets recorded two blowout victories over the Pelicans in a seven-day span, had this to say about the job Green is doing.

“You see great coaches struggle at times throughout their career when injuries hit seasons,” Udoka said. “It’s not that they’re a worse coach all of a sudden. I feel for that situation. I know he is a good coach and put in a tough situation. And I know he’s just trying to stay afloat until guys come back.”

The Rockets have been just the opposite of the Pelicans this season. Udoka’s lineup Thursday was just the fourth different one he has used. That’s the second fewest in the NBA. Green, meanwhile, has used 17 different lineups, which equates to a different lineup almost every other game.

“You’re only as good as the players out there,” Udoka said. “Consistency comes with those guys being available. I feel for that situation with all the guys in and out. Luck in the NBA is a big thing with your record and having consistent lineups out there.”

Let’s be clear. Even without the injured Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans should be much better than what they’ve shown.

The starting lineup Green has played the last eight games (CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy and Yves Missi) should be good enough to win some games. And even when they don’t win, they should at least be competitive. They should more often than not look like they did against the Grizzlies on Friday than they did the night before when they showed little resistance vs. the Rockets.

Getting Williamson and Ingram back sure would help. Williamson has played in just six games. Ingram has played in 18. The Pelicans are 3-23 without Williamson and 0-14 without Ingram. Williamson, who has battled a hamstring injury, is expected to return to practice this week. So is Jose Alvarado, who has played in just 11 games.

“Durability is important,” Green said. “I don’t think I’m saying anything differently than anyone else on anybody else’s team. The availability of our players is extremely important. The continuity and that togetherness allows you to step on the floor and be your best. Without it, it’s an uphill battle.”

Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins knows all about it. This time a year ago, it was Jenkins juggling all the starting lineups. His Grizzlies used 51 different lineups last season, finishing 27-55. This year Memphis is healthy and in second place in the Western Conference standings.

“It was more about finding development opportunities,” Jenkins said about last season. “It’s definitely a challenge. Every day (for Green) is an opportunity to continue teaching his group. That’s what we focused on.

“Obviously we took our lumps last year. But hopefully that gave us some momentum in the offseason from a player-development standpoint. Obviously getting a healthy group back and you know what you’re capable of with that development on top of the guys that were at the top of the lineup.”

Green has seen that. Murphy, injected into the starting lineup in Ingram’s absence, has proven he can be a star in the NBA. He’s averaging 26.2 points per game. Missi, just two months into his rookie season, has gone from being a project to being in the Rookie of the Year conversation.

So there are some good pieces. It’s up to Green to try to make those pieces fit. 

“It’s hard for everybody, especially the head coach,” McCollum said. “… As the season has progressed, we haven’t done the little things as well as we would like. He’s done the best that he can do considering the circumstances of staying even keel and challenging us and holding us to a higher standard.” 

David Griffin, the Pelicans executive vice president, hasn’t spoken to the media since the season began. But Green, when asked Friday about Griffin’s message to him during these tough times, had this to say:

“He’s been great,” Green said of Griffin. “Just staying consistent with hoping our guys continue to get better. We understand the uphill battle that we face as a group with the amount of injuries that we’ve faced this season. Trying to have different lineups, shuffling guys in and out of the lineup. That’s what we are facing this year. Griff’s been great and been supportive. We’ll continue on that path as we progress.”