It was a Thanksgiving Eve to forget for the New Orleans Pelicans, who suffered a humiliating 119-93 loss to the struggling Toronto Raptors. The Pelicans, who started the season with good promise, have now extended their losing streak to six games. Dejounte Murray, who had an outstanding performance in his first game with the team, expressed his frustration after the game, saying, “If you don’t feel embarrassed and really angry about it, that’s a problem.” The atmosphere in the arena was tense as boos rang out from disappointed fans.
Murray further underlined the disappointment of losing in front of his own crowd, stating: “I mean, even the fans booing – I mean, what would you do if you were a fan paying his money? You want to come watch a competitive basketball game, especially your home team. So, they have every right to say what they want, to feel how they feel. They deserve a better game.” The Pelicans’ recent struggles can be attributed to injuries to their key players since Murray fractured his hand earlier in the season.
With Zion Williamson and other starters still on the field at the start of the season, the Pelicans were able to get off to a 2-0 start. However, injuries have hit their top eight players hard, leading to 15 defeats in their last 17 games. This dropped them to an overall record of 4-15 in the competitive Western Conference. The absence of Murray and other crucial players certainly had an impact on the team’s performance.
The Pelicans’ disappointing defensive performance against Toronto was evident, as they allowed their opponents to make a season-high 21 three-pointers. CJ McCollum expressed his disappointment in their defensive effort, calling it a “bad performance” by the team. Coach Willie Green also criticized the lack of competitiveness, saying, “We allowed a team to come to our field and make us look weak.” The Pelicans’ lack of intensity was evident, and it’s clear that immediate improvements are needed.
With 63 games left in the season, the Pelicans still have a chance to turn the situation around and fight for a spot in the play-in. However, their next game against Memphis will be crucial in determining their level of effort in improving their performance. The players were given part of Thursday off to spend time with their families before leaving for Memphis for Friday night’s game. Murray stressed the importance of reflecting on their recent defeat and not letting bad habits carry over into future matches.
Injuries have undoubtedly disrupted the team’s rhythm and rotations, making it difficult for them to establish consistency on the pitch. McCollum acknowledged this, but stressed that they cannot afford any more bad games. Time is running out, and if they want to save their season, they need to start turning things around soon.
The Pelicans now face an uphill battle as they navigate injuries and try to regain their form. Their fans deserve better performances, and it is up to the team to overcome adversity and prove that they are capable of competing at a high level again.
