D’Angelo Russell 3-pointer encapsulates Pelicans’ entire season

By Joshua Mixon

New Orleans may have escaped Barclays Center with a win on Feb. 10, but a late 3-pointer by Brooklyn guard D’Angelo Russell nearly helped bring the Nets back.

The play is a perfect metaphor for the Pelicans’ season.

With just under 10:00 remaining, Russell grabbed an outlet pass and headed up the court on a fast break. The Pelicans had little time to match up defensively, which resulted in Russell being left all alone at the 3-point line. The former first round pick simply dribbled around a screen from Dante Cunningham, pulled up and nailed the shot.

The 3-pointer came with the Pelicans already leading 102–89. Normally, 102 points is more than enough with less than one quarter to go. Not for New Orleans.

Brooklyn came back to tie the game in overtime at 124. The Pelicans ultimately went on to win the game, but surrendered 128 points, which unless a team’s offense explodes for 138, does not result in a win.

The team has scored at will in 2018 — center Anthony Davis finished with 44 points and three other Pelicans finished with more than 20 — but continues to struggle on the defensive side of the ball. So much so that the offense simply cannot keep up.

The Pelicans won the game, but won it with offense. Russell’s 3-pointer exemplifies everything wrong with the Pelicans’ defense in 2018, which may ultimately cost them a playoff berth.