New Orleans Pelicans And Zion Williamson Allow Frustration To 'Boil Over' As Six Games Remain In The Season

New Orleans faces the gauntlet of tough Western Conference foes in their final six games of the 2023-24 season.

New Orleans just posted a 5-5 record in the past ten games after dropping another physical game to the Orlando Magic. As the playoffs approach, Willie Green's team struggles to maintain poise under pressure.  

"Our frustration, like a say, it boiled over, and we have to keep our composure," Willie Green remarked in his postgame interview.

TOUGH TIME HANDLING PHYSICALITY

For most of the season, handling physicality has been an issue for the Pelicans. The Magic's solid defensive plays and dominance in the paint noticeably troubled New Orleans.  

"They're a big team. They got in the paint and got to the free-throw line. They made some shots. We battled the guys. It came down to the last couple of minutes of the game, but we once again, it's you look at the third quarter and it's 21 points. It goes back to putting together a full 48 minutes."

Green's message throughout the season has been consistent, "We got to create some stops...then capitalize on our opportunities to get out and play in the open floor."

Apr 3, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1)

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

ZION'S NOT FEELING THE REFS, FINGER A CONCERN

Green also addressed Zion's finger injury in the final seven minutes. "He had something going on with his finger. I'm not quite sure what it is at the moment, but we'll have an update for you guys soon." To compound Williamson's misery on the evening, he was T'd for "unpolitely" giving the referees "unwelcomed" instructions on how to stop missing foul calls.

THE POSTSEASON IS IN JEOPARDY

 "It's not going to be easy to go where we want to go [the playoffs]. This is a part of the NBA journey. We put ourselves in an unbelievably good position, but we have to run through the tape. I think we got six games left. We got to put it together, and that's the deal for us."

Apr 3, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) drives to the

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Undeniably, the Pelicans' home losses to the Thunder, Celtics, Suns, and Magic place them in a precarious position with six games to play. Falling to seventh place in the Western Conference, with only one to two games between them and their upcoming opponents, will intensify the need to win or place their playoff hopes in jeopardy.

TIME TO REGROUP

Wemby and the Spurs won't take it easy on the wounded Pelicans on Friday. Afterward, New Orleans must play four consecutive road games out West before the season finale against LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers on Apr. 14.