After an odd stretch in the New Orleans Pelicans game against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday, you wouldn't be (completely) ridiculed for briefly wondering if Stan Van Gundy's group — especially Nickeil Alexander-Walker — had been victimized by the Space Jam aliens.
With just over nine minutes to go in the second quarter and New Orleans leading 35-33, the Pelicans seem to have misplaced their talent.
Pelicans point guard Eric Bledsoe came off a screen and bounced a pass to Zion Williamson, who momentarily forgot how to catch. Alexander-Walker quickly stole the ball back from Norman Powell, only to alley-oop pass to Jaxson Hayes. The ball clanged off the backboard and got back around to Alexander-Walker, who promptly shot a wide-open air-ball.
Check out the Shaqtin' a Fool-worthy sequence:
https://twitter.com/TheHoopCentral/status/1345540656542883840
The Pelicans remained ice-cold throughout the first half at the Smoothie King Center, shooting 36.7% from the field.
At time of writing, the game remains tight in the 3rd quarter. Brandon Ingram leads the way with 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting, while Williamson has added 12 points and six rebounds.
Fortunately for New Orleans, the Raptors have hit just seven of their 27 attempts from deep.
The Pelicans entered Saturday's game at 3-2, shooting an underwhelming .452/.311/.655 so far into Van Gundy's first season in charge.
Alas, it seems as though only Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Larry Johnson, Muggsy Bogues, and Shawn Bradley can truly recount what it feels like to be on the wrong end of a swagger-jacking at the hands of extra-terrestrial cartoons.
Space Jam: A New Legacy, starring LeBron James, is set to be released on July 16, 2021.
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