The New Orleans Pelicans endured another significant setback on Wednesday, falling to the Brooklyn Nets by a margin of 34 points. The final score of 145 to 111 marked a particularly painful loss for New Orleans, especially considering the Nets had only a record of two wins and eight losses prior to the contest.
This defeat came just two days after the Pelicans suffered a 51-point loss to the Golden State Warriors. The back-to-back blowouts have left the team with a record of four wins and eight losses, mirroring their start to the season. After an initial four-game losing streak, New Orleans had previously managed to climb back to even numbers with a four-game winning run, but they have now lost four consecutive games again.
A growing concern for the Pelicans is the widening gap between their performance and that of their opponents. During the team's first losing streak of the season, the combined margin of defeat across four games was 23 points. In contrast, the last two losses have totaled a combined 85-point deficit, highlighting a trend of increasingly uncompetitive play.
Zion Williamson, a seventh-year star for the franchise, was blunt in his assessment of the team's recent efforts. Speaking to ESPN, he used the word unacceptable to describe the performance. He noted that he did not have many other words to offer, simply stating that the result was unacceptable.
Williamson specifically pointed to the team's defensive struggles, noting that the Pelicans have allowed at least 138 points in three straight games. He argued that if the players are dissatisfied with how they are losing, they must begin with self-reflection. He urged his teammates to look in the mirror and determine if they are doing what is necessary for the collective team rather than focusing on individual statistics.
The guard emphasized that the question is not about individual performance but about contribution to the group. He stated that the team needs to ask themselves if they did what they needed to do for the team, and then move forward from that assessment. This call for internal honesty comes at a time when a team's star is questioning the overall effort level just 12 games into the season.
Typically, the beginning of a season offers the easiest opportunity to secure player buy-in because long-term goals are still clearly defined. However, the Pelicans are already displaying signs that they may spend another season near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. The recent four-game winning streak, which included games against struggling teams like the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz, now feels distant.
If the team intends to reverse its fortunes, accountability from the players will be essential. However, the season could slip away quickly given the combination of poor recent results and key injuries to players such as Trey Murphy III and Yves Missi.
