Thoughts on these Pelicans (1 Viewer)

[El Caliente]

The team truly lost a golden opportunity to seize the hearts of the city, and build a winning team. They dropped from the top in the West, with plans to pick swap the Lakers, to being out of the play in, and the Lakers hoping that we pick swap with them (or we just burn the swap). This team really blew it, and I’m not sure if Griff and Willie should be here next year.

We are building around Zion who has played 114 games since 2019, and BI (who is showing he isn’t the guy from the playoff run last year). One of them need to be moved, because planning on them being staples on a deep playoff running team is foolhardiness.

The team has a lot of contracts coming up in the next two years, and I am not sure if we will keep the right guys.

 

[Chris]

 

[El Caliente]

It’s sad, and is why you need to find a way to build the franchise without Zion playing such a pivotal role. If you are centering the team around a guy who can’t get on the court, you are centering your future around bing in the lottery every year.

 

[bclemms]

Every time I watch the Pels play it feels like an entire roster of 6th men. Guys that individually can bring a spark for a short period but none that should really be built around. There is no question about the depth and talent. We probably have the missing piece for about 8 different teams but together in NOLA, they just make a really bad puzzle.

All the depth in the world does no good when the franchise is built around the one guy that can neither play or be replaced. It’s really such a sad place to be.

 

[donato]

Pels will be fine. Work out some roster adjustments this offseason. You have to realize, they only go as far as Zion. If he's not healthy, it's not happening. If Zion and Ingram were healthy the whole year we'd be talking about locking up the first seed.

 

[bclemms]

Pels will be fine. Work out some roster adjustments this offseason. You have to realize, they only go as far as Zion. If he's not healthy, it's not happening. If Zion and Ingram were healthy the whole year we'd be talking about locking up the first seed.

I'm not arguing what it would look like if Zion was healthy. If Zion was healthy last season or the year before.... The fact that the franchise relies on the health of a guy that can't stay healthy is quite unfortunate. It sucks but it's very real.

 

[NewOrleansFan]

Pels will be fine. Work out some roster adjustments this offseason. You have to realize, they only go as far as Zion. If he's not healthy, it's not happening. If Zion and Ingram were healthy the whole year we'd be talking about locking up the first seed.

One adjustment I would like to see is moving CJ to the bench. Have to get him to agree to do that though. If that doesn’t happen, go ahead and trade him.

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

One adjustment I would like to see is moving CJ to the bench. Have to get him to agree to do that though. If that doesn’t happen, go ahead and trade him.

Why? He has played the role that he was brought in to play and he has
Done so consistently.

 

[NewOrleansFan]

Why? He has played the role that he was brought in to play and he has
Done so consistently.

Seems to me whenever both CJ and BI were on the court together lately, the ball stopped moving. CJ coming off the bench would give them another scorer.

 

[El Caliente]

Is there a stat on the Pels blown leads vs winning teams? This is a mess.

 

[efil4stnias]

Is there a stat on the Pels blown leads vs winning teams? This is a mess.

There is also a stat for teams 2nd of a back to back.

 

[El Caliente]

There is also a stat for teams 2nd of a back to back.

I’d love to see them both.

 

[slaym]

Just blew a 20 point lead to the Warriors and drop another game. Just a complete collapse and Zion trying to give the Pelicans a pep talk. The dude hasn't played since early January. He needs to stay in his seat and eat his popcorn.

 

[cygnus_ltb]

Pels didn't have the physicality, speed or athleticism to handle the Warriors when they stepped up the intensity in the 2nd half. Their hand off action at the top of the key kept getting pushed out to nearly the mid court line, throwing off the Pels timing on their sets and caused turnovers. And no one could handle Looney in that spurt in the 3rd quarter when Curry kept getting 2nd and 3rd looks at wide open 3's.

 

[efil4stnias]

Pels didn't have the physicality, speed or athleticism to handle the Warriors when they stepped up the intensity in the 2nd half. Their hand off action at the top of the key kept getting pushed out to nearly the mid court line, throwing off the Pels timing on their sets and caused turnovers. And no one could handle Looney in that spurt in the 3rd quarter when Curry kept getting 2nd and 3rd looks at wide open 3's.

totally agree- almost mentioned this last night after thinking about- that moment when things got real chippy w/ Green- especially after the Jones incident. We were TOO passive. Attempting to pretend it wasnt bothersome, when it was. And someone should have lashed out.

CJ did in the 3rd when he trucked Vincenzo on that screen- that was CJ lashing out. Just came 20 min late.

Teams will get physical and while id like to think we can "rise above", sometimes its equally important to respond in-kind.

We need Z back in a bad way. Dark Zion pls.