Pelicans Must Show The Ability To Be Tough In Clutch Moments

Are the New Orleans Pelicans physically tough enough to withstand the NBA grind and pounding, and are they mentally strong during clutch time?

Are the New Orleans Pelicans physically tough enough to withstand the NBA grind and pounding, and are they mentally strong during clutch time? The clutch stats say, no.  After losing to a team with only two road wins, it's time for several of New Orleans' young stars to toughen up.

"They're a tougher team than we are right now," Willie Green on the Rockets compared to the Pelicans. Green continued, "Until we learn that, it's going to be tough for us to win these games."

After two disappointing fourth-quarter collapses to the Houston Rockets this season, are being "CLUTCH" and "TOUGH" the intangible factors missing from the 2023-24 New Orleans Pelicans?

Dec 23, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green reacts to a play against the Houston Rockets during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

PELICANS IN CLUTCH TIME

These games? Tight and close games. New Orleans is ranked 25th in the NBA Clutch statistics, and their OFFRTG was 80.0, and the Rockets were at 130.0. The OFFRTG tracks a team's or players':

• Shot types
• Ability to draw fouls
• Reducing turnovers
• Grabbing offensive rebounds

Zion Williamson Reacts to Rockets' Physicality, Clutch Play As Pelicans Fall

PIE analyzes a player's overall statistical contribution in a game. On Saturday night, the Pelicans' PIE was a dreadful 5.0% - typically, you want to be over 15.0%. The Rockets' PIE was 95.0%.

"We looked at our clutch time execution, and we're 30th in taking care of the basketball," Green said. "And that has to be better. And tonight was much of the same. Until we learn that, it's going to be tough for us to win these games."

The Pelicans were led by Zion Williamson, who scored 28 points, and Valanciunas, who had 2 steals, 5 assists, and 11 rebounds. In a game review, the New Orleans outrebounded Houston 55 to 53 and scored 58 to 46 points in the paint. However, the Rockets had an advantage with 11 fast break points compared to the Pelicans' 0 and scored three more second-chance points at 17. 

Dec 23, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) after a play against the Houston Rockets during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports / Dec 23, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) after a play against the Houston Rockets during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

PELICANS NEED MORE IMPACT FROM STARTERS

New Orleans' +/- impact differential was putrid for the starters on the floor. Williamson (-5.0), Ingram (-5.0), McCollum (-3.0), Valanciunas (0.0), and Herb Jones didn't post, according to the NBA advanced stats.

"They definitely play more physical than us tonight," Zion Williamson noted about the Rockets. "They do it in a very collective way where I think when we are physical, we try to do it individually." Individually doesn't bode well for a team sport.

ARE THE PELICANS SOFT?

New Orleans — as a team — must find a way to prevent the clutch time turnovers, passing on open shots, missed free throws, being out-hustled on rebounds, and willing to take the bangs and crashes inside. Until then, they don't want the other NBA teams to label them as "SOFT."  Winning championships are harsh and unkind to players, but, it's worth the extra hustle, sweat, muscle, and grit to hoist the NBA Finals Trophy.

Coach Green said it best, "We'll continue to get better. And, at the same time, we have to be honest about where we are."

Are the New Orleans Pelicans "SOFT?"

We shall see.