When Brandon Boston Jr. sent his prayer from behind the arc and then dunked on the fast break with three minutes remaining, he and the Pelicans had no idea what was going to happen next. That these would be the last points scored by the Pelicans against the Nets.
And that the latter, trailing by 4 points (101-105) after this passage by the former Clippers player – the score had not changed one minute from the end – were going to find a way to get back in front to win ( 105-107).
The return of Trey Murphy III (12 points and 5 rebounds) will not have avoided a new disappointment for the Pelicans, who lost a fifth game in a row, including the fourth at home.
What happened during these last minutes of play? Brandon Ingram first missed a good 3-point shot, then Javonte Green narrowly missed a contested counter-attack, then the same Brandon Ingram saw his shot at the very end of the possession still ricochet off the circle…
Standing still to finish
The locals have missed their last eight shots. “ We took some complicated shots in the last three minutes. We tried to put ourselves in a position to attack some of their weaker defenders. We were slow. They got their hands on us. It's the same story “, regrets Willie Green.
His training gave the impression of treading water, of stopping play in the hope of gaining time. An unsuccessful strategy embodied by this sequence where Trey Murphy III dribbles… 31 times without sharing the leather, before taking a damaging shot.
Pels shot 0 for 8 in final 3:34. This was worst possession to me. Counted 31 Trey Murphy dribbles. Had two timeouts. Didn't use one to draw something up. pic.twitter.com/hWa4qXi2UI
— Christian Clark (@cclark_13) November 12, 2024
“ On three possessions, we took the shot with three seconds remaining. We threw the ball in the air. We could have executed better at the end », rightly remarks Brandon Ingram, one of the few major players on the team not to be injured (Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray).
He adds: “ We try to find a certain way of doing things offensively. We have new guys on the field. We have to find a solution in the end. This isn't the first match like this. »
The schedule is getting tougher
Their coach reminds us that adversity is part of everyday life in the league, and that the Pelicans are fully facing it at the moment “ with the number of guys we have less. We don't like that. Nobody in the NBA likes that. There is always a lesson to be learned, we will stay together and over time, it will work out in our favor. »
For now, his team has a record of 3 wins for 8 losses, including two losses against the Blazers, another against the Warriors deprived of Stephen Curry, or the Magic without Paolo Banchero. Then this defeat against the Nets, from which Willie Green nevertheless retains something positive.
“ I liked the team sent to the field today. We fought, these guys played together. They did a lot of what we asked them to do, and I know they're tired of hearing me say it, but there are a lot of positives to take from this game », Judges the technician.
Enough to be calm with the schedule – trip to OKC, reception of the Nuggets and Lakers, then Mavs and Cavs away – to come?
