Pelicans Hit the Panic Button With Chaotic New Starting Lineup

The New Orleans Pelicans are officially hitting the randomizer button on their starting five. According to Underdog NBA, New Orleans is rolling out a Thursday lineup of Jeremiah Fears, Jones, Karlo Matkovic, Trey Murphy III, and Zion Williamson.

That is not a typo. That is a real, regular-season NBA starting unit. When you see names like Fears and Matkovic getting the nod alongside Zion, you know things have gotten weird in the Big Easy.

"Underdog NBA: 'Lineup alert: Pelicans will start Fears, Jones, Matkovic, Murphy III, Williamson on Thursday.'"

This is exactly what happens when a team drops three straight games and decides to choose chaos. The Pelicans are reeling after a brutal stretch, dropping a 120-119 heartbreaker to the Utah Jazz before getting swept in a home-and-home against the Denver Nuggets.

The recent 104-91 rock-fight loss to Denver was clearly the breaking point. New Orleans is bleeding points, the offense is stalling, and the coaching staff is now treating the rotation like a fantasy basketball waiver wire on a Sunday night.

Throwing this group on the floor is the basketball equivalent of unplugging your router and praying the Wi-Fi comes back online. For anyone staring at the betting board, this rotation is an absolute minefield. Outside of Zion inevitably having to carry the offensive load, the usage rates for this group are a total mystery.

We will find out quickly if this desperation move pays off when the Sacramento Kings come to town. If this lineup gets run off the floor, expect another massive rotation shuffle before the Atlanta Hawks show up on Halloween.