Following a horrid 1-10 start, it seemed like things couldn’t get worse for the New Orleans Pelicans, who are still missing franchise centerpiece, Zion Williamson, to injury. After a 108-100 loss versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, which included five technical fouls ruled against the Pelicans in the second quarter alone, they’ve now lost eight in a row and look to have hit rock bottom.
Despite this, Pels’ head coach Willie Green has tried to stay positive, not worried about the team’s losing ways and instead taking out his frustrations on his squad’s discipline.
“It’s not the losing streak. It’s not one quarter. It’s our approach to this game,” Green said, per ESPN’s Andrew Lopez. “There were moments in the game where we just didn’t have guys who didn’t compete hard enough for me. Hard enough for our team. That’s a non-negotiable for me. That’s the deal. That’s who we are. As the leader of this team, I can’t have that. I can’t have guys on the floor if they aren’t going to give 110%.”
In three minutes in the second quarter, Jonas Valanciunas, Devonte Graham, and Jaxson Hayes all picked up technical fouls for arguing or gesturing with the officials. A bust-up with Thunder guard Luguentz Dort caused Josh Hart to pick up a technical, and his post-foul arguing earned him a second and a quick exit to the showers.
“Our guys thought they got fouled, and we didn’t get the call,” Green said. “But we aren’t going to get those calls. We haven’t earned them. So what are we complaining about? Until we earn it, we’re not gonna get that. That’s the deal. I talked to our guys about it. We have to keep our composure. Our margin for error is too small to do what we did tonight.
“We need Josh. We need Jonas. Jaxson Hayes can’t get technicals. We need everyone to compete and play at a high level to win the game.”
Already missing Williamson and Brandon Ingram to a thigh contusion, the Pelicans were down to 10 healthy bodies to play most of the second half of last night’s game.
Green also mentioned his plan was to call guys up — not out — in the following day’s practice.
“Call them up. Tomorrow in practice, you just call them up. Not out but up,” Green said. “Up is ‘We’re better than this.’ We’re better than to come home and get down 21 on our own floor. Our approach has to be better. My approach has to be better. I gotta get the team prepared to play. I did a poor job tonight.”
