Pelicans Zion UPDATE: Still not practicing, but Gentry believes he's on schedule for full recovery (1 Viewer)

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On Monday, Gentry reiterated that stance, according to Will Guillory of The Athletic.

I think he is fine. I don’t think it’s anything that can be rushed. I think it’s a timing thing. Six weeks is what we said but, obviously, he is making progress. When the time comes for him to start on-court [activities] and things like that, he will. It’s not anything that is going to be rushed. It’s just a matter of taking the time to make sure he’s fine.

 
Agreed, if the Pels are practically, mathematically eliminated by the time he is fully ready to return, just sit him until next season.

I know that won't be popular with season ticket holders and fans, but I don't see much benefit in playing him.
 
The saddest part of all of this is that interest in the Pelicans crashed harder than the stock market in 1929! I truly can't remember the local fans being as high for basketball than it was during the preseason run this year. And now suddenly few people even care to know when the Pels are even playing in a game. The fact is that Davis bailed out of the city because he lost trust that anything positive would happen in his career by sticking around in New Orleans. My guess is that most other 'game-changing' quality players will feel the same.

I'm not trying to point the finger of blame to anyone in particular, but I am saying that New Orleans may have lost it's chance to ever be a legitimate NBA city with this setback. Flame me all you want, but the NBA gifted the Pelicans two geese that laid golden eggs and neither were able to make a difference in the Crescent City. Yes, I realize that the jury is still out on the second 'gift', but the excitement level has dropped to nearly zero. People have seen enough this season to know that it is going to take a whole lot more than a surgically repaired Zion Williamson to put this team on a winning track. The rug has been pulled out from under the basketball fans here too often to expect that the excitement level will return once the curtain comes down on this NFL season.

True, the real basketball lovers will still want to see the big time teams & players come to visit the Smoothie King Center during the basketball season, but these folks will not be enough to run a flourishing NBA operation here. I'm glad that I had enough love for the game of football to attach myself to it and wait out the 40+ years to have a championship franchise with the Saints. But I doubt their are enough basketball aficionados here to keep the same dream alive.

The Pelicans have had their chance at the plate and struck out miserably each and every time. I've seen enough 4th quarter collapses for three lifetimes. For me, it's time for the pain to just go away. RIP New Orleans Pelicans.
:whiteflag1:
 
I think it might be best to sit him for the year to be honest
Why? I understand waiting until he is 100% healthy, but why sit him for the year if he is? He can get some good minutes, get in better game shape, get accustomed to the speed of the NBA, get used to playing with new guys and their tendencies, bring some enthusiasm back to the arena and team, etc... If there is a single question regarding his knee, then he shouldn't play. Other than that, get him out there.
 
Why? I understand waiting until he is 100% healthy, but why sit him for the year if he is? He can get some good minutes, get in better game shape, get accustomed to the speed of the NBA, get used to playing with new guys and their tendencies, bring some enthusiasm back to the arena and team, etc... If there is a single question regarding his knee, then he shouldn't play. Other than that, get him out there.
That may have been a quick statement on my part but it's frustrating as fan, and i'm sure of all the people who purchased season tickets. Heck I was blowing up the sales rep line that night of the lottery to get a package in.
To me, Zion appears to be fragile. He plays 9 minutes in summer league, and sits out to be cautious. Then he plays 3 games and is out for 3 months. If he's going to be our future, i'd rather him get complete healing and then come back next year ready to rock and roll.
 
I'm trying very hard not to be cynical about everything Pels-related but I am very concerned that Zion might be Greg Oden not Kevin Durant
 
I'd suggest just tanking the season and shoot for another high lottery pick to accompany Zion next season. But, at the rate this team is going, there's no real reason to tank in order to get in line for that pick.
 
Play him when he is ready, there is no reason to rush him back. BI, Lonzo and Hart are able to develop as players whereas they were stunted in LA by injuries and the shadow of Lebron. Hayes can develop as a young big who has only been 6'11" for only a couple years so he's still learning the big man's game and he'll continue to fill out and get stronger. Zion will join the team when he is ready and his teammates will have developed more as players. The future is extremely bright, no reason to freak out after 20 games.
 
I'd suggest just tanking the season and shoot for another high lottery pick to accompany Zion next season. But, at the rate this team is going, there's no real reason to tank in order to get in line for that pick.
Very true. Just let Lonzo shoot that’ll guarantee losses!!! Pelicans got raked over with him on trade. Lakers got rid of a bad player.
 
The saddest part of all of this is that interest in the Pelicans crashed harder than the stock market in 1929! I truly can't remember the local fans being as high for basketball than it was during the preseason run this year. And now suddenly few people even care to know when the Pels are even playing in a game.
It's sad. I see A LOT less Pelicans gear out here in the CBD than I used to just a few short months ago. I've also noticed that foot traffic down here doesn't pick up much for a Pelicans game.

About a year ago, before AD made it clear he was leaving New Orleans, our employer bought a suite for one regular season game as a treat for the employees. Food and drink were good, the seats were great. But man, the atmosphere in the Smoothie King Center was so flat. It was a game the Pelicans controlled throughout and won, too. Just no excitement in the building. Can't imagine things are better now.
 
It's sad. I see A LOT less Pelicans gear out here in the CBD than I used to just a few short months ago. I've also noticed that foot traffic down here doesn't pick up much for a Pelicans game.

About a year ago, before AD made it clear he was leaving New Orleans, our employer bought a suite for one regular season game as a treat for the employees. Food and drink were good, the seats were great. But man, the atmosphere in the Smoothie King Center was so flat. It was a game the Pelicans controlled throughout and won, too. Just no excitement in the building. Can't imagine things are better now.
I'm sure that local fans WANT to support the product. However it's hard for people to hang on to the dream when we end up at the bottom even with all the great picks we have gotten throughout the years. The Lakers fought for two great players and now they are on top of the basketball world after being the laughing stock just two seasons ago.

Fans need to see something positive to believe in the future of this franchise. I wouldn't be totally surprised to learn that Zion's knees will be an issue for the rest of his professional career. That's kind of what happens here. Even Davis seemed to be hurt as much as he was healthy and in the lineup. I'm just having a hard time believing that pro basketball will ever be successful here because we'll never have the right combination of players, coaches, and GM to make that happen. It just ain't working here.
 
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On another board, a lot of long-time NBA fans from more traditional basketball markets ... they talk as if it's totally obvious that Zion will be rested the entire season. They think it's stupid for him to return anytime this season, and often say he has to lose 20 pounds or he will never play more than a few games in a row without re-injury.

If the Pelicans knew internally that Zion was shut down for the season ... would they have any reason to keep quiet about it?
 

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