The Lakers is struggling this season, but they are not the only team in the Western Conference that has been having a bad start this season. Aside from Kobe's team, the New Orleans Pelicans is also on a tight spot, winning only four matches of their 19 games, thus being ranked as the 14th team in the West.
This team prior to the regular season has been rumored to be a contender and it was even ranked as the possible top 8 team overall. However, after all the hype and expectations were bleached away every game, the true color of team has been gradually showing up. According to their head coach Alvin Gentry, via nba.com, he stated that;
"We are not competing from start to finish. Some kind of way as a coach, I've got to get them to do that. Or I'm going to have to play guys that do. I've got to play guys that will compete. Five guys that will compete. I've got to get them out on the floor."
It is indeed not a good sign for a promising team to be having such attitude, especially that most of the player haven't proven anything significant in the NBA yet. With such kind of mentality, injuries would not make a good excuse for it. It is the lack of enthusiasm and trust to each other that has been gradually killing the team's over-all performance. That is why you cannot blame, the Pelicans' star player Anthony Davis to be calling out to his teammates. Davis via nba.com stated that;
"We have to play together, harder and tougher," said Davis. "We are just trying to find a way to win. Whatever we have to do to win. We need to become closer as a team and believe in each other. We need to stop playing selfish basketball."
Indeed playing a selfish basketball would make a team shine for a moment, but it will never go further and achieve greater things that require team effort. If such kind of game would continue to exist with the New Orleans, then it will not be long till some decide to have a "players only meeting."
