The New Orleans Pelicans are many things. Young, talented, blessed with depth, and an organically grown locker room chemistry that has paid off during the most challenging stretches of past seasons. This year's squad can put frustration at the top of the list after a brutal home 117-108 home loss to the Orlando Magic. Their breaking point might have been broadcast to the world with 7.1 seconds remaining in the most recent defeat.
The defeat and the dismissive nature of the referees led to a boiling-over of emotions by many Pelicans toward the end of the game. Herb Jones, Dyson Daniels, and Trey Murphy III were all ejected with just seconds remaining. Losing four of their past five games, all at home, is demoralizing.
Fouls on Williamson getting ignored, especially when as dangerous as the chop tackle from Garry Harris, is starting to become a trend the team has to address head-on.
Willie pissed they didnt initially take a look at Gary Harris diving at Zions legs pic.twitter.com/lOee5ELhE3
— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) April 4, 2024
Green wasn't worried about getting tossed when the tackle happened though.
“I was walking out to check on Zion,” Green explained. “(Walking out on the court) had more to do with him than the officials but I did get on them. They had to look at that (play). They went and looked at it. They called what they called but again, look, this is where we are. I don't want our team to have complaints, don't want to be a complaining team, but we definitely want the calls.”
Playing in the NBA for over a decade, Green does understand how three late ejections happen in a game like the Magic loss.
“I definitely understand the frustration. We're all frustrated,” Green allowed. “It's a difference between getting technicals in between the lines because I'm battling. I'm battling their players and then getting thrown out at the end of the game when it's already over. We've got to finish the game the right way. We can talk about being frustrated after that…Our margin for error is a little smaller without Brandon and Jose. We have to understand that and that's it. Go back after it.”
Still, Green has considered getting himself thrown out “many times” but has “no doubt (the Pelicans) can rally.”
“I'm not sure how the league views it but just from inside our camp, I get it,” Green continued, “Guys were frustrated with the calls and the way the game went. You're going to get some technicals.”
Trey Murphy III owned up to everything after practice, even admitting it was a missed foul on him that led to some choice words.
“Yeah. I said a few things I guess the referees didn't like and I got ejected,” Murphy III replied. “I know that we are fighting right now. We are trying to win games. We're trying to string together some games so we can stay out of the (NBA Play-In Tournament). In a game like (versus the Magic), down six, you take a three and think you got fouled…I was frustrated. I think it finally just came out.”
Pelicans licking salty wounds thanks to Paolo Banchero
The Pelicans versus Magic provides an easy comparison of how officials call games according to reputations. Williamson was the first pick of the 2019 NBA Draft, Banchero's name was called first in 2022. They are both stocky, paint-pounding forwards who spent a year at Duke. Yet the officials called fouls far differently.
Paolo Banchero shot five free throws in the first quarter despite most of his attempts coming outside of the restricted area. Williamson shot four free throws all game. The Magic's All-Star finished 10-13 from the charity stripe. The referees have to understand there is now an over 60-game sample size of Williamson getting the silent treatment. The Pelicans were bound to vent eventually.
Green, already down one All-Star, now has to worry about how nagging injuries can affect the play of another.
“We hope it doesn't affect (Williamson's) shooting and touch around the basket but we'll know more tomorrow…I think our small group, they've been really good for us. We've got to finish possessions and rebound the ball a bit better,” Green insisted. “It's been an area of growth for us but the more we've played that group, the more confidence we've grown. The game is going to be physical at this point in the year. We have to understand that.”
When asking about the triple ejections to end the game, Banchero poured a little extra salt in the wound before leaving New Orleans, via the Associated Press.
“I've never seen that before,” Banchero said. “I'm not going to say we were the reason that happened, but I think just our play definitely frustrates you a little bit.”
Banchero is perhaps trying to take too much of the credit. The Pelicans have played the Magic twice in two weeks. New Orleans has been dealing with a lack of foul calls going back to 2019. The front office has sent clips and cuss words to the league's headquarters before. They've got to be asking what else will it take, if not an illegal football tackle, to get a proper whistle.
Green was not making excuses afterward though, just mapping a way forward, once the steam had dissipated a bit.
“Tough loss last night but for me, at the end of the day, it's just ‘be steady.' Adversity is going to happen at some point,” Green stated. “You're going to run into some moments where we are not playing our best playing against tough opponents. Just come in the next day and continue to work. Wake up the next day, and continue to fight. Watch film and continue to focus on what are we doing well. Let's make sure we try to capitalize on that.”
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