February 2nd - New Orleans Pelicans @ San Antonio Spurs - 27-21

Get up! It's Gameday!

🏀: vs Spurs
🕖: 7:00 pm CT
📺: @BallySportsNO
📻: @995WRNO#Pelicans | @SmoothieKing pic.twitter.com/0QkeMuxwWu

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) February 2, 2024

Pelicans managed a win last game despite missing two starters on the road. Tonight they take on the San Antonio Spurs with those same starters still questionable, and Larry Nance alongside them.

The Spurs are awful we all know that. 10-38 record, bottom 6 in both Offense and Defensive Rating, the second worst 3PT% team in the league, the second worst FTA team in the league, bottom 10 in rebounding, and they're only middle of the pack from inside the arc (16th in volume, 18th in %age).

That said, they have looked slightly better recently, winning 3 of their 10 victories in their last 7 games and that includes scraping a win over Minnesota, who still currently sit as the first seed in the West.

Of course, they also lost to Washington and the Hornets in that stretch and their other two wins came over Washington and Portland, so it's not that impressive, but still - sometimes momentum carries and teams start to get a feel for winning. Missing multiple heavy minutes guys, the Pelicans cannot afford to take this one easy.

In fact, the Pelicans can't afford to take anything easy. We're in a fairly precarious position right now: slipping down to the 7th seed due to recent losses, we're currently in danger of looking at yet another play-in berth. Frankly, I think we all agree that's not good enough at this position. We're entering a slightly easier stretch of the season, at least when it comes to opponents, so even though we're on the road a lot right now this is the time where it's imperative to pick up some wins. You simply cannot lose to the Spurs at this point in the season if you're really serious on building with this team.

Let's see if they can do it.

If they want to know whether or not they can take it easy tonight, all they have to do is look at the result of last night Lakers-Celtics game. You can't take ANY NBA team for granted.

Even the Pels shouldn't be able to lose this one.

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Originally Posted by RobertM320

If they want to know whether or not they can take it easy tonight, all they have to do is look at the result of last night Lakers-Celtics game. You can't take ANY NBA team for granted.

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yeah, the lakers d squad took care of business against boston....

im going out and enjoy the parades tonight on this game..

Zion is playing.

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Originally Posted by Mrakar

Even the Pels shouldn't be able to lose this one.

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Optimism reigns!

Zion got down the floor quick and buried himself in the paint, thats the hustling and working off ball that i want to see! when he catches the ball that deep there is nothing stopping him

Somebody tell CJ he can pass the ball sometimes.

This team sure could use a coach or something.

Pels should find ways to get TM3 some more dunks. He can soar, and his 3 ball has not been falling. Let him get some dunks and maybe the 3 will follow

No energy? Put ********ing Jose Alvarado in! Is coaching suposed to be that hard?

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Originally Posted by Mrakar

No energy? Put ********ing Jose Alvarado in! Is coaching suposed to be that hard?

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To this guy it’s extremely hard. He struggles very badly to even look somewhat like he knows what he’s doing.

Idc what anyone says. This lineup right here is awful.

Trey looks bad . Seems like he is thinking way too much.

Great half by Willie!

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Originally Posted by superstar7th

Trey looks bad . Seems like he is thinking way too much.

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Really questioning how much $$ we're going to be committing to him soon, and whether it's worth it. If a good opportunity comes at the deadline, nobody is "untouchable" to me. Everyone has a price.

What about some defense, on vassell, maybe. Tm3 can go elsewhere.

I think this exactly kind of game where you should burry Jose on the bench. No energy, no defense, 3pt shot not falling, why would you need guy like him?

The willie special!

This dude can’t get his damn team motivated for ********.

When a team is playing lackadaisically, and sloppy making lazy passes. It is TOTALLY and 100% on the HC. It's his job to motivate and make then get out of it. WG is just a poor coach with absolutely NO motivational skills. We will NEVER get over the hump with him as HC. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN . I'll lay $$$$$$$$$$ on it

Good response there. I still can’t understand how they can never come out of halftime with any energy.

Jose - Cj - Dyson - Ingram on the floor together actually worked well. interesting

Lance being out has the Pelicans playing small minutes with Zion as the big... and its kind of working.

Zion looked like he was about to swing on the ref who missed a super obvious foul

Naji and Trey are giving us nothing. Hawkins please

My godness. 4 attempts for the Spurs to score and they did not score.

Great offense from CJ to get us a critical bucket with no time on the shot clock, tying the game with a little over a minute left

Dyson got fouled and refs refuse to call it! :(

looked like great defense from wemby to stop Zion's drive. he's a long man

ZION GOT REVENGE ON WEMBY!!! he put it high off the glass and got it in against 3 guys to give the Pels 1 point lead with 3 seconds left. WOW

WHEW! Finally got a close one. Escape with the win.

That's the Zion we hope to see more often. Aggressive. Motivated.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mrakar

Even the Pels shouldn't be able to lose this one.

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easy one, not even close.... :eek:

Who would have though Jose can give us something in game like this? Oh wait, everyone except our coach... fire the guy already cmn...

I thought they were gonna lob it to Wemby when he rolled for the last play. Great win for us!

Man, I’ll take it.

Man that was a fun game! The Pelicans had to work really hard for that win, probably because we shot 27 percent from 3. But they fought back and made some plays the final 2 minutes when it mattered. The Spurs were playing pretty well. Game ball for Zion with 33 points 8 rebounds

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Originally Posted by boot318

I thought they were gonna lob it to Wemby when he rolled for the last play. Great win for us!

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they definitely should have! At least get the chance for a foul call. What they did on the last play was very favorable for us

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Originally Posted by donato

That's the Zion we hope to see more often. Aggressive. Motivated.

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I think not getting his foul call got him really mad! Plus being the biggest guy on the floor for his team probably gave him a bit of different mindsest

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Originally Posted by hornetsrebirth

they definitely should have! At least get the chance for a foul call. What they did on the last play was very favorable for us

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Which is why the Spurs are 10-39 on the season.

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Originally Posted by RobertM320

Which is why the Spurs are 10-39 on the season.

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Looked like 39-10 for the majority of the game against Willies zombie squad.

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Originally Posted by Fedupfan

Looked like 39-10 for the majority of the game against Willies zombie squad.

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Spurs have done that a lot this season. Almost seems like they're low key tanking again, because there's been a number of games where they've looked very good and conveniently just fall short at the end.

Oh wait, are we talking about the Spurs or the Pels? lol

That was a huge play by bi to block that putback away that started the zion game winning layup cause there were 2 spurs players on that play for that putback. I was glad of the win and the way zion responded but was really disappointed in how team played throughout the game. Can't play like that against good teams cause that would've been a blowout again especially when our 3' are not falling in.

This is how you win NBA games at the end of regulations !! Great Win & game from BI and Z.

Need to do better with rebounding and blocking guys out.

Make em say uggggghhhhhh

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by PaKwAn

That was a huge play by bi to block that putback away that started the zion game winning layup cause there were 2 spurs players on that play for that putback.

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your comment is what posters are not mentioning....ingram hustle block is what saved the game and set in motion for zion to be able to win the game for us.....without ingram block, it was another loss for us....

i have not seen zion run the floor that fast this season like he did going for the game winner lol....

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Originally Posted by 6warddude

your comment is what posters are not mentioning....ingram hustle block is what saved the game and set in motion for zion to be able to win the game for us.....without ingram block, it was another loss for us....

i have not seen zion run the floor that fast this season like he did going for the game winner lol....

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What’s funny is the play was a double goaltending.

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Originally Posted by Fedupfan

What’s funny is the play was a double goaltending.

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i thought so myself it was goaltending lol.....