The New Orleans Pelicans managed to upset the Utah Jazz on Monday, 129-124. After the game, Donovan Mitchell claimed that Utah had a well-thought-out game plan against the Pelicans but just failed to execute.
Per Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune, Mitchell pointed out that the plan was to contain the Pelicans from scoring in the paint. But Mitchell observed that the Jazz just didn't do what they were supposed to do.
“Lack of urgency. We (Jazz) went over it twice. We know what they do. They’re No. 1 at getting in the paint. We were late to certain things. … We gotta own the paint, and we didn’t do that in any way, shape or form.”
“We knew exactly what we had to do and just didn’t do it. We weren’t as aggressive… We let up a little bit. This is a tough one — we knew what they were going to do.”
The Pelicans scored a total of 74 points in the paint. They shot 56.5 percent from the field and 63.6 percent from downtown. For the Stan Van Gundy-coached squad, it didn't matter that two-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert was the last line of defense for the Jazz. The Pelicans simply got their way. Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram had 26 points apiece while Lonzo Ball had 23 points.
Mitchell's thoughts were echoed by Jazz head coach Quin Snyder.
Quin Snyder, on the Pelicans' 3Q: "We didn’t protect the paint. If you don’t protect the paint, no amount of resolve is going to make up for it. … Coming out of halftime, we’ve been able to get stops and get out and run. Tonight, we didn’t get any stops."
— Eric Walden (@tribjazz) March 2, 2021
This is definitely a big win for the up-and-coming Pelicans squad who have now won three of their last five games. The Jazz remain kings of the NBA with a 27-8 record. But their weak defense against the Pelicans should be a cause for alarm.
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