While you don’t ever want to take too much away from a Summer League game in mid-July, there are some problems for the New Orleans Pelicans. Trailing nearly throughout, the Pelicans fell to the Los Angeles Lakers 94-81. They are 0-2 in Las Vegas with three games yet to play.
New Orleans got 13 points from Jeremiah Fears, leading three players in double figures.
Los Angeles was led by Cole Swider, who finished the game with a game-high 21 points. Arthur Kaluma added 12 more, as the Lakers had six players with 8 or more points.
New Orleans got out of the gate quickly, taking a 9-0 lead after Lester Quinones knocked down a three-pointer following a feed from Derik Queen. But the Lakers would storm back, closing the quarter on a 22-10 run. Los Angeles made eight of its final 13 shots in the opening period.
The Pelicans were able to regroup in the second quarter behind the shooting of Antonio Reeves. Reeves, who was recently waived by New Orleans, scored 7 points during that frame. Building off of his strong close to last season, Reeves has been one of the team’s steadiest performers after two games. If the Pelicans can’t find a spot for him on the roster, some team is likely to take a chance on him as a second-unit scoring option.
Once again, however, it wasn’t how things started, it was how they finished. The Lakers finished a sloppy second quarter by scoring 11 of the last 16 points to go up 40-36 at the half.
The second half didn’t improve the quality of play. New Orleans never found an offensive rhythm or a defensive identity. The Pelicans ended the night with only 6 assists while turning the ball over 17 times. On the other end of the court, the Lakers posted 27 assists on 38 made baskets.
After having impressive moments in their opener, rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen failed to build on those performances. Fears is now shooting 9-33 (2-11 3PA) and has just two assists in two games. His decision-making and shooting efficiency, both concerns when he was drafted, must improve.
Queen (12 points, 13 rebounds) continues to show how skilled he is, but his effort could be characterized as questionable at best. Several times, he was the last player back down the court. Defensively, he was ineffective.
In his second summer, Yves Missi (7 points, 11 rebounds) hasn’t shown much growth in his game. Missi overachieved as a rookie, earning the starting spot and a place on the All-Rookie team. The expectations are higher this season, but Missi still struggles to score around the basket. His offensive game is currently stuck in place.
So far, New Orleans’ two best players are unlikely to play on opening night: Quinones and Reeves. Reeves has shot 50% from the floor, averaging 15 ppg. Quinones has been the team’s best threat from long distance, converting 8 of his 14 three-point attempts.
The Pelicans have consistently fielded a solid summer league squad under Willie Green, but they have lost eight consecutive games in Las Vegas.
They will look to snap that streak on Tuesday when they face the Portland Trail Blazers.