Dejounte Murray may not have spent much time in New Orleans, but he recognizes the need for change.
As the matchup against the Raptors commenced on Wednesday night, the atmosphere at the Smoothie King Center was energetic and optimistic. However, as the Raptors—who had lost their last ten games on the road—built a commanding 34-point lead in the second half, the crowd’s discontent became evident. Murray fully grasped the fans’ frustration.
“If you’re not embarrassed and really mad about this, that’s a problem,” Murray expressed. “It’s not just about the loss, [but] how we lost in front of our fans. Like, even the fans booing – I mean, what would you do if you were a fan paying your money? You want to see a competitive basketball game, especially from your home team. So, they have every right to express their feelings. They deserve a better game.”
This loss marked the Pelicans’ sixth in a row. However, it’s important to note that the team has faced significant challenges due to injuries to key players such as Murray, Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, Jose Alvarado, and Jordan Hawkins.
“When you’ve got guys coming in and out, it’s really challenging,” Murray acknowledged. “But competing shouldn’t be that hard.”
“You can’t allow yourself to get bullied. You can’t get pushed around. Tonight was just unacceptable. We need to compete. We must play harder, regardless of who is on the court.”
Murray made his return to the lineup on Wednesday after missing 17 games due to a fractured left hand, while McCollum played in his second game back after a month-long absence due to an adductor strain.
