Slow start for Pelicans in Summer League debut

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— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) July 10, 2022

First impressions are always important, isolated, infinitely memorable.

They are also inconclusive.

Do not allow yourself to get caught up in the disappointment or euphoria of bad results of good results.

In recent years, the New Orleans Pelicans have enjoyed good results in Las Vegas.

Seldom did they carry over into real games in the regular season.

The first impression of what we saw Saturday in an 85-68 loss to Portland was less than impressive, to say the least. However, don’t hit the panic button.

Try something else on your remote.

When you shoot 27 percent from the field, you are going to lose.

When you shoot 13 percent from three-point range, you have little or no chance.

New Orleans was the gang that could not shoot straight in this one.

We did not see the energy of Jose Alvarado.

What we did see was perhaps what we knew already, to a degree.

Dyson Daniels is a good athlete but his shot needs work. More importantly is the severity of the ankle injury he suffered.

Karlo Matkovic took just two shot and had four points but added five rebounds and two blocks, using his length.

E.J. Liddell played hard but was just 1 of 6 from the field. He will certainly be a maximum effort guy.

Naji Marshall was a porous 2 of 12 from the field but gave his team six assists and five rebounds.

Trey Murphy III led the way with 23 points and was a perfect 8 of 8 from the free throw line with eight rebounds and four steals. Of course, Murphy was just 1 of 8 from three-point range.

The only “outsider” to perform admirably was Jared Harper, who scored 18 points in 29 minutes and added five rebounds. Harper was just 1 of 6 from three-point range.

Next up is a matchup with Atlanta Monday night.

The first impression was in the dud range, icky, but in the grand scheme, it is just a blip on the radar screen.

There are certainly no iconic conclusion to be reached or to impart from game one. Let’s now watch to see what progress is achieved from game one to game two. I can only imagine it will be a better look.