Fair Or Not, Pelicans’ Meltdown Doesn’t Bode Well For Coach Willie Green

October 30, 2024

You don’t blow a 20-point lead and lose to a Warriors team without their star player (and two other key players) and come out feeling good about the state of things. And in today’s NBA, all eyes are generally on the coach when things go wrong.

So watch out, Pelicans coach Willie Green.

It’s not usually a coach’s fault when you have the type of meltdown the Pelicans experienced against the Warriors — who weren’t only without the injured Stephen Curry, but Andrew Wiggins and De’Anthony Melton as well. New Orleans not only once led by 20, but ended up losing by 18 (124-106).

So they basically were run out of the building by a majorly shorthanded Warriors team — and they did it with everyone in the lineup except injured guard Dejounte Murray. That means, yes, Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and the rest were all out there.

Now, again, this isn’t Green’s fault alone. Or maybe even at all. Falling to pieces in this fashion takes an entire organization.

In reality, it’s not a huge deal and the Pelicans could use it as a wakeup call. But so often in the NBA, perspective and reality take a back seat to hints, allegations, finger-pointing and rumors.

And while Green highly likely isn’t on the hot seat today (nor should he be), let’s not forget that David Griffin is New Orleans’ head of basketball operations. This is the same man who once fired Cavaliers coach David Blatt at midseason, despite a 30-11 record, and replaced him with Tyronn Lue. The Cavs won their lone title that year.

As an interesting aside, that firing took place after a horrible loss to the Warriors.

Green and the Pelicans deserve more time, but let there be no doubt, they will need to turn it around here soon. Otherwise, change will highly likely be the name of the game.