New Orleans Pelicans: Top 10 Plays of the 2013-14 Season

I was in the middle of a YouTube binge watching session when I felt compelled to keyword search “New Orleans Pelicans.” One of the first videos to pop up was their top 10 plays from last season, produced by the great nba.com. I must admit that the plays are pretty bland for the most part, but still worthy of a written post because I admit that I am running low topics to write about.

You guys can listen to me analyze Eric Gordon only so many times.

Without further ado, I present the top 10 plays of the New Orleans 2013-14 season! Prepare to be underwhelmed.

10. Davis Stuffs Melo

More from New Orleans Pelicans

In the middle of a one-point game late in the fourth quarter, coach

Monty Williams

felt that having

Anthony Davis

guard the scoring menace that is

Carmelo Anthony

would give the Pelicans the best chance to win. Davis responded by playing solid on-ball defense on Anthony at the high post before baiting him to attempt a lay up. Using his freakish length, Davis swatted away Melo’s lay up with ease and preserved the lead for New Orleans.

9. Evans Slams on Mozgov

Poor Timofey Mozgov, seems like he is always the victim of a vicious slam (memories of Blake Griffin come to mind). In this instance, Evans uses a screen from Alexi Ajinca and drives left aggressively down the lane. Mozgov is a step late from being in proper help defense position and is rewarded with the facial. Evans isn’t known as a high-riser, but this is still a solid dunk nonetheless. Especially considering he is right-handed.

8. Davis’ Putback “Windmill”

After a missed mid-range shot from former Pelican Jason Smith, Anthony Davis shoots down the lane untouched and slams home his rebound. The Miami Heat announcer then goes on to proclaim the dunk a “right-handed windmill dunk” which I would say is a little aggressive. There was no path of motion that resembled a windmill. Maybe Davis’ long arms created an illusion and for that I will ultimately give the announcer a pass.

7. Ajinca Posterizes Hibbert

Roy Hibbert had a tough season last year, and getting dunked on by Alexis Ajinca didn’t exactly help matters. Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis played a two-man game at the top of the key, forcing Hibbert to have to guard Ajinca and potentially help on a Davis roll to the basket. Since Hibbert is not the fleetest of foot, he was a step slow and dealt with the consequences. Ajinca did his best JaVale Mcgee impression and used his length to go over the top of the 7’2″ Hibbert. This play should be a few spots higher.

6. Aminu Strides His Way to a Flush

I am going to miss Al-Farouq Aminu and his lengthy disruptiveness. This play may be the ultimate example of this where he is running alongside Jrue Holiday on the break and takes two massive strides from the 3-point line to get to the rim. I had to re-watch the sequence three times to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.

5. Davis Reverses Course

Unsurprisingly, Anthony Davis is involved in a lot of these highlights. He makes executing this reverse alley oop look like child’s play. The dude is so long and is effortless with his athleticism. I wouldn’t be surprised if he could replicate the game winning basket from Space Jam where MJ outstretches the Monstars on his way to victory. Book Davis down for the lead in Space Jam 2 if LeBron declines.

4. Jeff Withey … Explodes?

See I think this play and Ajinca’s dunk on Hibbert should switch spots. Withey appears to barely jump over a phonebook in this highlight. Which would still be higher than me of course. I think the fine folks at nba.com gave this one extra bonus points because it is Jeff Withey and nobody expects these kinds of plays from him. Also, the sound of the slam really leaves a great impression on you. Nothing like a loud thump!

3. Davis Posterizes a Serbian

Maybe this was just a prelude to the championship game of FIBA World Cup, but Davis appeared to be taking out built up anger on this poor Serbian player from the Milwaukee Bucks. Sadly, the player is no longer on the Bucks’ roster. Let us all take a brief moment of silence.

(waiting)

Ready?

2. Anthony Morrow‘s Clutch Bucket

Anthony Morrow is another player that will be dearly missed by me this season. He is an underrated offensive contributor and a good teammate. He will be a great piece for the Thunder considering the amount of open 3s that he will have playing with Durant and Westbrook.

Anyways, here Morrow makes a nice dribble drive move on the shorter Ty Lawson before burying the tough jump shot over the top of him. Coach Williams must have made a great play call because there was a ton of room for Morrow to operate.

1. Triple OT Montage

What a game this was. I recall watching the entire game live because I had put a wager on the under (as in point total) because I am an absolute moron. Of course the game would go into triple overtime and obliterate my hopes of profiting some cash.

Instead, I was roped into watching one of the best games of the season between two of the least likely teams to be apart of such a game. The Pelicans had yet to find their stride and the Derek Rose-less Chicago Bulls were a pain to watch play on the offensive side of the floor. The game was a memorable one due to its ups and downs before climaxing with Jrue Holiday‘s game-winning lay up right in the chest of Taj Gibson.

Sure I had lost money, but at least I was entertained.

That concludes the countdown! Hopefully my commentary didn’t leave you as underwhelmed as the highlights did.

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Top 10 Plays From The 2013-14 Pelicans

By Owen Sanborn | Sep 18, 2014