Given the marathon-like, 82-game schedule, many NBA teams like to break the season into more digestible 10-game segments. New Orleans’ first 10 outings in 2019-20 were perhaps best described as “frustrating,” given the team’s injury list, as well as a series of tight games that ended in narrow defeats. However, Thursday’s 132-127 victory vs. the LA Clippers provided several signs that the next set of 10 games could be much better for the Pelicans.
Here’s a look at some of what’s starting to trend in the right direction for New Orleans (3-8) and sparked the Pelicans to an entertaining win over a team many analysts predicted to be the favorite to capture the Western Conference title:
Jrue Holiday
Holiday’s struggles in the first 10 games had been well-documented and discussed, criticism that had been noted by teammates, prompting Pelicans reserve guard Frank Jackson and close friend of Holiday to say after Holiday’s 36-point dominance Thursday that “a lot of guys were knocking him.