Pelicans' Must Find Answers To Third-Quarter Struggles

The Pelicans' self-inflicted third-quarter struggles are derailing any potential for success.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, but expecting different results.  Monday night's lost in Denver points to this disturbing trend for the Pelicans coming out of halftime.  They've repeatedly been lackadaisical in third quarters, and repeatedly, the outcome has been the same -- losing. 

New Orleans ranks No. 7 in the league for average points scored in the first half (59.3). The ranking plummets to No. 28 with just 50 points scored in the second half per contest.  The Pelicans' third quarters have been horrendous.  New Orleans has the worst point differential in the third quarter, with opposing teams outscoring the Pelicans by 16 points.

Nov 6, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (8) deflects the shot of New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) as guard Christian Braun (0) defends in the fourth quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The last three opponents for the Pelicans have scored 40, 41, and 34 points, respectively, in the third quarter. Meanwhile, New Orleans averaged just 22 points in the same timeframe.  Coach Willie Green knows the sloppy third quarters are undermining the good work the Pelicans put in the first half of games. 

"We're coming out of halftime sloppy and flat, and we're feeling like we've done enough, but we haven't," Coach Green told reporters after Monday night's loss.

That analysis is spot on. New Orleans averages the third-highest point differential in the first half, where they outscored opponents by +8.6.  In the second half, the Pelicans are dead last in the league after opponents outscore them by 13.6 points. 

Jordan Hawkins' Career Night Not Enough For Pelicans To Beat Nuggets

The disappointing third quarters are clouding some of the good storylines with the team this year.  The emergence of rookie Jordan Hawkins, the jewel the Pelicans found in two-way player Matt Ryan, and CJ McCollum's solid start to the year before injury should all be bigger talking points.  Instead, Coach Willie Green is asked constantly about the team's porous third-quarter play.  Coach Green doesn't think it's time to hit the panic button yet.

"We'll figure it out.  I'm not concerned at all. Sometimes teams go through this.  They're trying to figure out each other.  We're doing it in the first half, so we know we have the capability.  We just need to sustain it for 48 minutes."

Unlike the NFL, you don't need to wait a week to see if corrective action has taken place.  New Orleans travels to Minnesota on Wednesday to take on a Wolves team who is the only team this year to beat the reigning champion Denver Nuggets.  For New Orleans to have success now and in the future, they must correct on their third-quarter issues.