On April 30, Beijing time, in the fierce matchup of G4 in the first round of the NBA playoffs, the New Orleans Pelicans faced the challenge of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the first in the West, and finally swept with a total score of 0-4 and missed the next round.
This result is undoubtedly a heavy blow for the Pelicans, especially in the absence of Zion Williamson, the core of the team, and the Pelicans' road to the playoffs is particularly difficult. After all, in terms of lineup and strength, the Pelicans have every chance to go far in the playoffs; who is afraid of the same rising youth army? Unfortunately, after the Pelicans were eliminated, they were a little "in sympathy" with the Grizzlies who missed the playoffs.
A strong performance from the Thunder
The Thunder showed great strength and depth in this series, with their junior triumvirate – Alexander, Jalen Williams and Holmgren – combining for 62 points in G4. Among them, Alexander scored a double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds, Jalen Williams also had an excellent performance of 24 points and 8 rebounds, and Holmgren contributed 14 points and 9 rebounds.
Such an all-round play allowed the Thunder team to always maintain a leading position in the game, and finally took away the victory of the series, becoming a new force to be reckoned with among the Western powers.
The Pelicans' struggles
The Pelicans also did their best in this game, but in the end they couldn't withstand the Thunder's offense. After the lack of Zion, a core player, the overall strength of the team has been greatly affected. Ingram's performance in G4 was particularly disappointing, scoring just eight points on 2-of-14 shooting, a statistic that is clearly subpar for a team leader. In addition, the Pelicans' dumb fire in the final quarter was also an important reason for the team's final loss. Without Zion to stabilize the offensive and defensive fundamentals, the Pelicans will eventually be eliminated, which shows how important superstars are to the playoffs.
data analysis
Statistically, the Thunder scored more points, made free throws, and made more three-point shots than the Pelicans in G4. In particular, the Thunder led the Pelicans 12-8 in three-point range, which partly reflects the difference in the strength of the two teams in terms of outside shooting strength, or the huge sense of pressure on the Thunder's perimeter defense that limits the Pelicans' three-point shooting to less than 10. In fact, this is also closely related to Zion's absence, without the huge containment power of the inside, the Pelicans' shooters naturally can't get easy three-point opportunities.
The future outlook for the Pelicans
Although this season's playoff journey is over, the Pelicans still have reason to be optimistic. Zion's return will greatly enhance the team's strength, and the team's young core superstar Ingram will also need to learn and grow through this experience. The Pelicans will need to improve their consistency and execution in key moments in future games, which will determine whether the team can make a comeback next season. Perhaps, the Pelicans' playoff journey follows the adage that "the future is bright but the road is tortuous", after all, the team's good roster structure is there.
The Pelicans' playoff journey this season may be over, but their future is still promising, and that's something we're fans looking forward to.
Fans, do you think the Pelicans will be able to make a comeback next season, and will Zion's return take the team further? Leave your predictions and opinions in the comments section, and let's discuss the Pelicans' tomorrow.