The Pelicans‘ “new-look” roster is struggling, Justin Verrier of ESPN writes. While the blockbuster trade for DeMarcus Cousins brought peak national interest, the Pels currently sit 4.5 games behind Denver for the eighth seed. Anthony Davis had no answers for the team’s recent shortcomings.
“I don’t know the reason. We’re just not making shots,” Davis said. “Guys are in the gym every day practicing those shots and making those shots. But it’s not disrupting everything else we’re doing. Of course, it helps when we make them. Whoever’s shooting, if they’re open, we tell them to keep shooting. That’s the only way it’s going to help our offense.”
The team’s period of adjustment with Boogie and AD has been “jarring,” despite the modest resources the team gave up to acquire Cousins.
More from NOLA…
- With Cousins by his side, Davis could cement his role as basketball’s greatest rising star, Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report writes. “He [Davis] turns 24 Saturday, more aware than ever that the only way to make that leap from hypothetical franchise player to historic one is via winning,” Ding writes. “His positivity regarding the Pelicans franchise despite poor personnel work by management and the uninspired hiring of Alvin Gentry has now been rewarded with Cousins’ arrival, so the window for excuses is starting to close.”
- Jordan Crawford, who scored 19 points in his team debut Wednesday, discussed his NBA return with William Guillory of NOLA.com. “(Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry) said he was going to play me and I was surprised he threw me in so early,” Crawford said. “I just wanted to be aggressive and play my game. I worked towards it–getting back. It feels good just to continue the process.”
- Cousins was fined $50K for “two instances of inappropriate language directed toward fans,” Justin Verrier of ESPN writes. Cousins was caught on tape in each instance, following match-ups with the Jazz and Lakers. Damian Lillard of the Trail Blazers took issue with Boogie’s fine, tweeting “Boogie got fined 50k ? For saying something back to a fan? Smh I done had some wild stuff said to me out there…. That’s a lot of bread.” (Twitter link)
Teams been very underwhelming so far. I know it’s supposed to take time to gel but they don’t have time. AD is very young but he will be 28 29 before you know it. Problem maybe Alvin Gentry. Team has way more than enough to win right now but pelicans rotations look terrible.
AD is 23 slow down there man 28-29 is still a long way off.
KD was 23-24 and they were coming off a finals run. Title favorite year in and out but they were unable to deliver. Thunder did very little and the Thunder were unable to retain him when he reached 27-28. It’s not that far, the future is much closer and imminent then you think bud.
it’s Alvin. he’s the black version of Mike D’Antoni, no defense required. What he say when hired, AD has to shoot 3s, not he needs to shoot 3s but we still doing what he does best, it was just shoot 3s. Fire him and watch that team succeed.
If it takes time to gel then maybe teams shouldn’t make these trades at the deadline in the first place. Not unless they have already secured a playoff spot.
We keep seeing 9th place teams do these things, and it’s literally never ever worked.
Not true Lakers were playoff bubble before they traded for Gasol and then made it to the finals that year after the trade
Thats the next season. His comment was specfically for current season 9th place teams.
They need an offseason, they will attract veterans and get lots of depth in the offseason and be a legit super power.
The video of Cousins cussing at a Laker’s fan can be found on – World Star Hip Hop . Com.
As soon as I saw it, I knew he would be in trouble. That site gets a lot of viewers.