It has been a rough few weeks for the New Orleans Pelicans in terms of injuries. Already down Alexis Ajinca and Omer Asik, it was reported this week that Norris Cole is going to be out “indefinitely” with a high ankle sprain.
For a team that seems to be riddled with injuries year after year, this does not appear to be the best omen for the new season. Jrue Holiday is already on a minutes restriction, and Eric Gordon, Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson aren’t exactly the epitomes of perfect health. Things could be murky fast.
Never fear Pelicans fans, Nate Robinson is here! New Orleans has brought in Nate Robinson to alleviate some of the pain from Cole’s injury, as well as juice up some of the locker room hi-jinks I assume. Robinson is personally one of my favorite dudes in the NBA (watch his YouTube series if you haven’t already) and will undoubtedly bring some juice off the bench at the very least.
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At this point in his career, he isn’t a player you want running a pick and roll over and over again. He can be prone to turnovers and can struggle to squeeze passes through tight windows when needed. Some of his all-world athleticism has disintegrated with age, robbing us all of his kamikaze-like rim attacks on the behemoths of the NBA. Despite all of this, Robinson can still shoot the rock if given enough space to heave and will bring enough energy to a locker room to make his presence worth while.
Skeptics may point to his dismal showing last season during a short stint with the Clippers — and that is a fair claim — but I am going to guess that coming into a new situation in the middle of the season isn’t the most ideal situation. Especially when your biggest competition for playing time is the coach’s son. Robinson and the Clippers never seemed like a match made in heaven.
Robinson figures to be a short-term band-aid for the Pelicans rather than a long-term answer for the second or third guard spot off the bench. I wouldn’t be writing this right now had Cole never tweaked his ankle. Don’t expect him to be on the roster for the long haul unless he experiences some kind of Rasual Butler-like rebirth and shoots 40 something percent from beyond the arc.
Also, I love the guy because of his antics and free spirit, but I can see why he would wear out his welcome in some places after a certain amount of time. It can’t always be a fulfilling experience being teammates with someone who compares best to Donkey from Shrek.
Brief side note before I go: Did anyone else see that AD three-point bomb to start off the preseason game against the Bulls?
He had a pick set for him (by Kendrick Perkins!) to open up a three-point look, neglected to take it at first, had another screen set for him and uncorked the three when his man went under the pick.
Good God.
Look out, folks.
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