The new Orleans Pelicans are grappling with a familiar early-season challenge: translating effort into wins. After dropping their frist two contests, the team is looking to find that crucial element of “execution” to avoid a winless start as they prepare to face the Boston Celtics.

The sting of recent losses is palpable. A promising start against Memphis on Wednesday night dissolved in the third quarter, where the Grizzlies outscored the Pelicans 41-22 en route to a 128-122 victory. just days prior, a missed free throw by star Zion Williamson with 12 seconds left in the fourth quarter against San Antonio proved to be the difference in another close defeat.

“I think we’re figuring it out,” Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III said.”It takes time, but I feel like we’re playing with a lot more intensity than before…but we still have to define the games.”

This sentiment underscores the team’s current predicament. While the effort is there, the ability to close out games and maintain focus for a full 48 minutes remains a work in progress. This is a narrative that has played out in various forms for teams striving for consistent success in the NBA, much like how a promising young quarterback needs to develop the poise to lead game-winning drives consistently.

Adding to the challenge is a depleted frontcourt. Kevon Looney’s knee injury has kept him sidelined, with a re-evaluation pending this week. Karlo Matkovic is also out with an elbow issue. The ankle sprain suffered by center Yves Missi against Memphis forced him to miss the Spurs game, leaving rookie Derik Queen as the sole healthy center until the recent signing of veteran DeAndre Jordan.

Queen, the team’s top draft pick, showed flashes of potential against San Antonio, contributing 15 points, six rebounds, and two blocks in 35 minutes. The addition of the 37-year-old Jordan, a seasoned veteran, could provide much-needed depth and experience, potentially making his debut against Boston.

The Pelicans where forced into a small starting lineup against the Spurs out of necessity, with Murphy and Saddiq Bey, both 6-foot-8, being the tallest players on the floor. coach Willie Green acknowledged the team’s history with smaller lineups but stressed the need for improvement.

“We’ve had times where we’ve played with a small team (the last few seasons),” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “It’s something we’ll continue to consider. We have players who can do it. We have to get better at rebounding.”

The rebounding disparity against San Antonio was stark, with the Spurs outrebounding New Orleans by 14 and dominating the offensive glass with 20 boards. This is an area where the Celtics,despite their own recent rebounding struggles,might not be able to exploit the Pelicans to the same degree as the Spurs.

Boston, which has been outrebounded 108-75 in its last two games, is aware of the Pelicans’ size limitations.However, the Celtics’ own issues on the boards suggest they may not be able to capitalize as effectively as San Antonio did. This presents an interesting tactical battle,where New Orleans might aim to mitigate the size disadvantage through positioning and hustle,a strategy often seen in matchups where one team has a clear size advantage.

For the Pelicans,the upcoming game against Boston is more than just another regular-season matchup. It’s an possibility to prove they can indeed “define the games” and move beyond just playing with effort to demonstrating consistent execution, a critical step for any team aspiring to contend.

Potential Areas for Further Examination:

• How will the addition of deandre Jordan impact the Pelicans’ rebounding and interior defense against a strong Celtics frontcourt?
• Can the Pelicans’ guards effectively contain Boston’s dynamic backcourt, and will they be able to generate enough offense to keep pace?
• What adjustments will Coach Green make to address the rebounding deficiencies, particularly against a team like Boston that excels in this area?