This loss to Denver is unfortunately such a fitting example of the pelicans experience. It is difficult to fathom how you can consistently play 3 solid quarters of ball, just to totally forget how to defend, rebound, and take care of the basketball.

One would like to imagine that the fourth quarter would be when a team would play their best ball - running crunch time sets/actions on offense to keep things moving and generate non-iso looks, running at guys/trapping on defense to get the ball out of opponents’ best players’ hands, boxing out, not turning the ball over- all seem like simple things an NBA team should be expected to be doing.

Alas, the Pels season is truly upon us, and it seems that we are in for more of the same. Worst part is that I am fully aware of this, and I will be equally upset when things play out the exact same way next game.

Flying in to New Orleans next week to go to my first pelicans game! Being a fan from out side Louisiana I didn’t know if there were any traditions or things I should do while I’m in New Orleans. Any advice?

Bad beat, and even worse having to experience it in person. I think we have great pieces to build with, but no clear first option. We're also still struggling to close out games, which I think stems from bad coaching. Personally, I think it's time to move on from Zion and build a trade package for another first option around the league. Two horrible turnovers at the end of the game gave them the opportunity to push it to overtime. Hey, at least New Orleans sports is causing a hike in alcohol sales. Cheers.

It's currently the 4th quarter with 2:55 minutes to go.

Pelicans up 119-113 however they were up 20 points at one point

To wit, GSW 5 years ago tried to extend the timeline of their core (Curry, Klay, Green) by drafting players who would come in and fill those rotation roles and become stars on their own. They had the #2 pick, picked Wiseman, and also picked Kuminga and Moody. Well, Klay is gone, Green is washed and Curry is wasting the tail end of his career. Why? Wiseman is a colossal bust, Kuminga is on his third team after an epic bag drop on his second contract, and Moody is either hurt/irrelevant. Hey, it didn’t work, but it was a novel idea. Not sure if it couldn’t work if they actually hit on Ball and Wagner, but it’s over.

Here, what the fuck is the front office thinking? They’ve got vets in their primes who take their careers seriously. Bey and Herb appear respected in every aspect of the game. Trey is in his prime but is floundering. Zion even appears serious about shooting from deep and actually coming in in peak condition. But Fears is starting ahead of Herb. Look, I’ll shit on Fears a bunch, but I appreciate he’s only in his second year and still isn’t 21. But putting him in the starting lineup and potentially closing out games has to feel like a slap in the face to Herb and Bey considering they want to win.

I’m not sure where the directive is for having Fears in at the the end of games, but he is going into games when they are on the line and he is currently floundering. I do think both he and Queen need more than 20 minutes per game, even 25. Queen will be up to 30+ with an unfortunate injury to Missi. But you can still have Fears in the second unit and play more than half the game. Maybe they don’t want to pair him with Poole, which I perfectly understand.

In sum, this feels like a 2 timeline deal. Mosley, just like his predecessors, wants to win. However, if Fears and Queen’s development get in the way of winning, what is Mosley going to do?

I'm gonna ask you all as diehards and kind of leave the floor to you all. Because to me when we watch the Pels, one of the glaring issues is the lack of playmaking and the way this team is defended, teams know these guys will not look to make the extra pass, will not look to collapse and kick out to the perimeter. The ball is not on a string.

Zion is the one guy who can consistently generate a paint touch that leads to something productive. Fears can generate paint touches but isn't necessarily efficient when he does. Gets stripped and turns it over not reading the defense. DeJounte hasn't been a major rim pressure guy in years.

Poole can generate rim pressure and historically is a good finisher but he too is a questionable decision maker with questionable shot selection.

I don't think Point Zion is functional but I do think we need to see more actions with Zion getting the ball on the catch and in motion and letting him attack that way. Zion needs to be more active calling for the ball when off the ball to create secondary actions he can catch and rip and get to the basket, but the offense too often goes away from the one guy who can actually be counted upon for efficient offense.

What do you all think? Zion has been fine in two games but this team just isn't going to win unless he's more than fine.

https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/pelicans_yves_missi_being_evaluated_for_left_knee_injury/s1_14822_44466829

"The former first-round pick will be reevaluated on Saturday in Denver."

Honestly, this coaching decision makes me want to check out of the season. Our fan base should be in full blown rebellion over this trash.

We're getting torched in the 4th quarter while choosing to keep a 1st team all defense player on the bench. DeAndre Jordan it's playing 20 minutes a game now. We have no offensive plays. Zion is uninvolved. Rotations make no sense. What is even going on?

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Missi is the top centre in the league on 9-category fantasy value per game, eighth among every player. He just edges out Anthony Davis, and he's well ahead of Sabonis, Jabari Smith Jr. and Chet.

He only scored 13, which is the fun part. The value comes from everything else: 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, a steal and only one turnover in under 30 minutes, on 83% shooting. Fantasy value counts all nine categories, so a big who's efficient, rebounds, protects the rim and doesn't turn it over can beat a guy who drops 34. That's how he matches AD's value on a third of the points.

Long may the Missiah reign over us.

FAWK

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Here's my "who should get the most minutes ranking. With this roster, we need to embrace the good defensive players (Herb, DJM, Bey, Yves, Mathurin?). When JP or Fears get in the game, our offense doesn't really improve. It seems like same results offensively no matter who is in. Herb not getting PT is insane work. He was even underutilized under Willie Green or Borrego

Herb

DJM

Trey

Saddiq Bey

Zion

Mathurin

Yves

DQ

Fears

Jordan Poole

Poll by Athletic on hope. Commentary:

29. New Orleans Pelicans — 3.21/10

Last season: 4.4/10, ranked 22nd

Optimist Andy (7/10): "There's no way the injury bug can be as bad as last season, right? Both the first and second lines have very good, even if odd, pieces."

Pessimist anonymous commenter (1/10): "Maybe it's my ignorance, but the team does not seem to take itself seriously at all or want to win."

Pessimist anonymous commenter (1/10): "If you need a full breakdown of why I'm not optimistic at all, you haven't watched the New Orleans Pelicans. A new coach will produce a few more wins, but the same roster as last year (not enough size at the big positions) and the yearly 'Wow! Zion looks great at camp and in photos!' false hope ... we've seen this movie many times. It doesn't end well. Yet, I'll still watch the movie, foolishly hoping it surprises me."

The ringer on clarity for direction of franchise. N.O. in the last tier and 2nd to last behind only the foolishness occurring in Portland.

Tier 6: The Fun-House Mirror Tier

Confusing, freaky, but occasionally entertaining. 

Los Angeles Clippers (⬇️2)
Milwaukee Bucks (⬇️4)
New Orleans Pelicans (↔)
Portland Trail Blazers (⬇️1)

"Finally, we have the Pelicans, who after failing to reach 30 wins in back-to-back seasons with a talented but ill-fitting roster, did … well … absolutely nothing of note. They’re just running it back with Zion and Co. Again." 

Hey y’all!

I’ve browsed the sub and got the general impression that ticket prices will drop the day of the game; however, I haven’t found any specific info about doing that for an NBA Cup Night. Does anyone have any experience/ suggestions with buying tix the day of? I’m interested in going Nov 6 vs the Timberwolves, so I figure prices will be a little higher bc of the opponent and would like the best deal possible lol.

Any info would be greatly appreciated! Flock up✌️

I will always have love Jose Alvarado I’m so happy for him!

Time for you to come home.

I love what I saw yesterday. Yeah, we could've tightened it up a tad more and actually won, but we were toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the league. I think people are disregarding/forgetting the fact that the Pacers are really good because they were tanking last season without their best player. A worse version of that roster was 1 game away from being NBA champions 2 seasons ago. Hali is one of the best players in this league, Siakam is a top 20 guy, and Zubac/Nembhard/Oubre are all legit above-average starters. That is a much better roster on paper than ours, but we were right there with them the whole way.

After last night I'm genuinely excited to see what comes next for the first time in a while. Jamahl Mosley is a fucking G and it's been 1 game and already a massive night and day difference from limp Willie

It’s only the first game but I gotta say Missi was looking good last night. His decision making seemed much quicker and he had a better touch around the basket. He didn’t seem all klunky with the ball in his hands like he typically would. Dude even went up for a dunk over Zubac at one point lol.

It was nice to see him be more aggressive and look more confident on the court. He finished second in assists on the team with 5.

Hopefully this all continues and he’s finally hitting his stride. I’ve always had faith in him but he would get me so frustrated with his hesitant moves and brick hands at the basket. If this is true improvement and not a one off, that’s huge for this team!

Also, Mosely ran Queen at the 5 matches against Zubac for a good bit of minutes and Queen handled it well. Herb not getting minute matched on Hali in the closing minutes is…. interesting. Especially with Fears not scoring well, which I believe will always be an issue for him going against larger, athletic defenders.