New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green talks to forward Brandon Ingram. John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

The sky is falling on the New Orleans Pelicans

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 2/28/23

The New Orleans Pelicans' freefall continued on Monday in an ugly loss to the Orlando Magic. New Orleans once looked like a threat to get the top seed in the Western Conference. Now, the Pelicans are in danger of failing to qualify for the play-in tournament.

The roller coaster of a 82 game season

Back in early December New Orleans was a confident group after beating Phoenix twice.

Now it feels the weight of the world is on their shoulders.

12-24 in the last 36 games
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 28, 2023

New Orleans (30-32, 10th in Western Conference) barely has a hold on the final play-in spot after the team lost 101-93 to the Magic.

It's only the fifth time this season the Pelicans have been held under 100 points in a game and it's the team's lowest point total since a 93-90 loss to Cleveland on Jan. 31, 2022.

"We have to play harder... We have to make shots," head coach Willie Green said after the game.

If only it were that simple.

The team is without Zion Williamson, who injured his hamstring on Jan. 2 and has missed the last 25 games. The Pelicans are 7-18 during that span.

Still, one of the team's best qualities is its depth, something that has not been on display nearly enough during Williamson's absence. Of course, it's harder for a team's depth to shine when role players have to shoulder a bigger load, but Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas give the team a strong trio to work with while Williamson recovers.

The next seven games are the most pivotal ones of the season for New Orleans, all against Western Conference foes.

Pelicans' next 7 games:
@ Portland
@ GSW
@ Sacramento
vs Dallas
vs OKC
vs Portland
vs LA Lakers

Massive stretch of games for a team holding on to its play-in hopes by a thread. They better figure it out quickly.
— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) February 28, 2023

The way the Pelicans have played of late, it's conceivable they'll be out of play-in contention by the time this stretch of games conclude.

What once looked like a storybook season is turning into a disaster. With 20 games left, New Orleans is running out of chances to fix its season, if it isn't over already.

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