Loss to Raptors part of the process for rebuilt Pelicans

Alvin Gentry had the New Orleans Pelicans remain on the bench as the Toronto Raptors received their championship rings.

He wanted his team to see what the ultimate goal is.

“I thought it was great to see the ceremony,” he told TNT’s Kristen Ledlow. “That’s what we aspire to be.”

Aspiration is one thing. Accomplishment is another. No one expects the Pelicans to win a championship this year, but David Griffin and company didn’t go to Toronto simply to visit the Larry O’Brien trophy and chat it up with Drake.

The Pelicans gave the Raptors everything they could have wanted, but they ultimately fell short in overtime in a 130-122 defeat to open their season.

It was a game on the road, against a winning team that New Orleans should have been able to steal. Instead, the Pels return home unable to get their first victory through customs after blowing a six point lead with 4:29 remaining.

Then, after retaking the lead at 117-115 on a Redick jumper with under a minute on the clock, the Pelicans failed to close it out.

Josh Hart made a critical turnover with :32 to play, and followed up with a shooting foul on Kyle Lowry. The All-Star would make both to tie the score.

The Pelicans had an opportunity to win the game in regulation. Coming out of a timeout after the free throws, Jrue Holiday tried to initiate a pick and roll with Melli, but it was played perfectly by the Raptors.

Holiday, who looked out of sync all night, dribbled into the right corner. With no outlet available, he ended up taking a three pointer that never had a chance of going in.

Toronto had its own chance to win on the Raptors last possession of the fourth quarter, but Norman Powell settled for a 35-foot three point attempt that clanged off the back of the rim and sent the game into overtime.

Gentry made the questionable decision of sending Lonzo Ball and Derrick Favors back into the game to start the overtime period, when neither had played a single minute in the fourth quarter.

Their rust showed, as they combined for one shot attempt and one rebound, both by Ball. The Pelicans shot 2-of-9 in overtime, while Toronto got clutch shots from Marc Gasol, Kyle Lowry, and Fred VanVleet.

The Raptors outscored New Orleans 13-5 over those final five minutes.

It was a heartbreaking finish after the Pelicans held the lead, 61-56, at the half. It was a lesson for the young Pels. Champions find a way to win, even when they aren’t on their “A” game. They execute and they go to their best players and let them make plays.

Even without Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, Pascal Siakam, VanVleet and Lowry played lights out.

Siakam, the league’s most improved player a year ago, is even better this season. He had game highs in points (34) and rebounds (18) to go along with 5 assists before he fouled out.

Lowry misfired on 11 of his 15 field goal attempts, but did hit a big shot late, and he managed to get to the foul line 13 times on his way to 22 points, six assists, and five rebounds.

VanVleet, who was such a factor in the finals, played much bigger than his six-foot frame would suggest. He repeatedly attacked the basket, finishing with either hand and through contact. He matched Siakam’s 34 points, setting a new career-high, and dished out seven assists to go along with five boards and two steals.

They came up big when they needed to, fighting back after multiple runs by the Pelicans. But the Pelicans aided their efforts with some poor performances, most notably by the typically reliable Jrue Holiday.

Holiday never found an offensive rhythm. He was indecisive with the basketball, leading to a team-high five turnovers. Holiday had to work hard for his 13 points, going 6-for-15 from the floor and missing his only two free throw attempts; and those were technical fouls.

Favors looked slow, possibly still dealing with the effects of a hamstring that bothered him at the start of camp. He committed 5 fouls in 20 minutes and was part of a defensive effort that allowed 56 points in the paint.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker had his moments, but none of them came as a shooter in a 1-for-7 effort.

Then there was the curious case of Lonzo Ball. While Ball missed some open layups, he did make two of his three attempts from distance and both of his free throws. He had five assists and five rebounds while committing only one turnover in 24 minutes. But he never saw the court while VanVleet and Lowry were punishing the Pels.

When he was on the court, the Pelicans’ offense hummed. They scored 64 of their points while shooting better than 51 percent (62.5 on 3PA) with Ball at the point. With him on the bench, New Orleans shot 19-of-55 (34.5%), while making just nine of 29 three point attempts.

The Pelicans were also more effective around the rim. With Ball, New Orleans made 11 of 20 shots within the restricted area. Without him, the Pelicans were 8 of 20.

Playing fast was not an option with Ball on the sidelines either. The Pelicans’ pace dropped from 111.14 to 96.28 with Lonzo on the sidelines

It was just surprising considering Holiday’s struggles and the offense’s problems in general during the second half finding consistency.

But there was plenty to be encouraged about as well.

Brandon Ingram led five Pelicans in double figures with 22 points. Josh Hart came off the bench to score 15 points and grab 10 rebounds, with JJ Redick (16 points) and Nicolo Melli (14) having solid debuts as well. The quartet shot a combined 13 for 21 from beyond the arc (61.9%) in the losing effort.

The Pelicans bench outscored Toronto’s 57-23; a rare occurrence a season ago.

New Orleans shot 42 percent from long range as a team, and made 17 of its 20 free throws. The Pelicans also blocked nine shots,

It’s hard to have consistency when 12 players are getting playing time. But right now, Gentry has to play these guys, to try to find some combinations that can both score and defend. That won’t happen overnight.

These are growing pains.

The Toronto Raptors are a team. At their core, even with their changes, they know who and what they are. Roles are defined.

Before the Pelicans can aspire to be like the Raptors by claiming an NBA title, they must first aspire to be what the Raptors were before they were champions. A team.

The process continues this Friday at home against the Dallas Mavericks, a division rival and a team that has also undergone a lot of changes in the past few months.

They will be long with Kristaps Porzingis, Dwight Powell, Maxi Kleber, and Boban Marjanovic all at 6-11 or taller. New Orleans will have its hands full trying to keep the Mavs off the glass.

The Mavericks also have last season’s rookie of the year Luka Doncic, who played fantastic basketball in the preseason; and shooters like Tim Hardaway Jr., Seth Curry, and Courtney Lee, who can all get hot.

The Pelicans will need to cut down on the turnovers, have Jrue Holiday play like Jrue Holiday, and run shooters off the three-point line to give themselves more than just a chance to win the game.

There is no need for panic. The Pelicans did a lot of good things. They went toe to toe with the champs for 11 rounds. They didn’t back down.

It wasn’t a moral victory though. It was part of the process.