Lakers fan switching sides!! Some perspective on the new guys

Hello Pelicans Fans! I hope you don't mind me joining you?

I was a fan of Shaq back in the 90's when he was on Orlando... watching him play was like watching a real-life superhero... the things he did were not human. He came to the Lakers in 1996, and I have been a Laker fan ever since. I eventually transitioned to the Kobe-era, and have been dealing with the dark times that have succeeded him.

BUT... with the idiocy of Magic Johnson, ineptitude of Rob Pelinka, a clueless 57-year-old owner who inherited the team with a twitter profile pic with basketballs over her t!ts like some Kardashian-wannabe (those idiots actually live near me), and the fact that I have rooted against Lebron ever since "The Decision :rolleyes:"... I have been left with the existential dilemma of, "What, exactly, am I a fan of??". A word? L-A-K-E-R-S? A place? And I realized, I have never been loyal to "things" or "brands... I am loyal to, and a fan, of PEOPLE.

I have never watched college basketball, but I watched nearly every Duke game this season, and I knew I would be following another team come next season. It's not just Zion's ridiculously exciting style with his hops, agility, speed, handles, and raw power, but his mentality. There is no ego on this kid (hopefully he stays that way), he is unselfish, and plays with a combination of joy and ferocious intensity that conjures up a meeting of the minds between Steph Curry and Kobe/MJ. I hoped it would be a Western team that received the first pick so I could catch more games, so I expected Phoenix. But here we are!

With Joel Meyers, Zo, Ingram, and Hart, it feels like I never left. Here are my thoughts on your new Pelicans:


*Mentality/Personality wise, Josh Hart is my favorite. No ego, works super hard, and is probably the smartest of the bunch, even if his potential is the lowest. He played awesome in his second summer league, winning MVP. After a great start to last season, he had some knee tendonitis which affected his shot and ability to stay on the court, so hopefully he is over that by the end of the summer. His shot is pure and confident, and he has the speed and athleticism to finish at the rim when players close out on him. A huge strength of him is his... strength; he can actually hold his own in the post against 3's and 4's--crazy for a guard (listed as 6'5" but I have suspicions he is 6'4"). He also plays good team defense, but his perimeter defense still needs work, despite when you will hear some journalists say.

*BI---He has tons of potential, but it is time for him to reach it. The pros, GREAT on defense, and super long, awesome for a switch-heavy defense. Can play the 1-3, as he has good passing skills and handles. Much better at finishing around the rim than he was the previous season. The bad: doesn't always play hard (hopefully Zion's energy rubs off on him), he has been told he is "the next Durant" for way too long, and he thinks he is a way better player than he actually is, and he can turn into a Carmelo-like black-hole on defense, pounding and pounding the ball without moving it because he believes he can get his shot up over anyone, which stats will tell you is not true. Likes the mid-range too much. His 3 has historically sucked. Now, I believe his numbers since the AS break have improved, so hopefully that trend continues, and hopefully he realizes that Zion and not him is the focal point of this team. Drove me nuts last year to the point that I was unsure if Luke Walton knew how to coach him at all. I couldnt tell whether the problem was Luke, BI's bball-IQ, or his ego. Hopefully he turns into a superstar, but if he doesn't, hopefully Gentry will nip the pre-maddona iso-play syndrome in the bud very quickly with him. Hopefully the blood clot will be a non-issue and he is shooting a thousand 3's per day this summer.

*Zo--AWESOME defensively for a guard and one so young. Like, really great. Our D went off the deep end last year after he got hurt. Great court vision, and plays at a super fast speed, so awesome for transition basketball. The bad- turns useless in half-court sets and becomes super passive, pretty sure his father emotionally abused every ounce of assertiveness from him, has shown that if there is a scuffle he won't stand up for his teammates, and just walks away, misses at the rim frequently--looks like he totally loses his focus and his mind is saying "don't ******** this up or my Dad will yell at me", and then he misses. His stroke is wonky and he has not been able to translate his 3-point percentage from college to the pros, but I believe, as with BI, his stats improved since the AS break. His three ball seems to either miss every time during game, or he never misses. Hopefully we will be seeing more of the latter. It has been a huge debate forever whether his stoke should be restructured, but no one has forced him to do that yet.

All in all, with the draft and recent trades, the Pels should be super exciting--athletic and fast with great defense, and hopefully decent spacing with the shooters that have just been added (and if BI and Zo can continue improving). The challenges will come with a new team learning each other's tendancies, learning to sacrifice and play unselfishly, moving the ball effectively, and learning each others' favorite spots. Very much looking forward to next season and will be repping the Pels at some Lakers games (and maybe a Warriors game). I hope you do not mind me joining you!

A couple questions for you guys: is there a shooting coach on the coaching staff? (Lakers have not had one, though we deperately needed one) The negative about the pelicans franchise that I have heard is that the medical staff doesn't know what they are doing, which has led to more injuries than almost any team? Is this still an issue?

Pelicans just picked up the best in the business, Aaron Nelson, from Phoenix. Our training staff is second to none now. We are also investing millions into facility upgrades atm. Welcome btw.

article talking about nelson leaving phoenix: https://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...ns/3624483002/

this is a ESPN 30 for 30 they did on Nelson when in phoenix > https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...nba-basketball

Also, not sure about a shooting coach but here is the staff if that helps: https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/te.../staff-members

Thanks for the contribution. If you are a Lakers fan, I wish you the worst. :D

As far as the iso ball, it shouldn't happen here. Pels have been top 3 in assists (even by more precise metrics) the last few seasons and its because there is minimized iso ball. It may creep up early in the season, but Gentry will coach it out of him before its over. Now in the playoffs? Thats a different animal and some isos are accepted...to a degree.

As far as Lonzo, he could not find a better coach for his style. Gentry likes to push it and create space for his guards to penetrate. Again top 5 in pace the past few years and I believe top 5 in points in the paint. That wasn't just the AD effect since he loves to shoot medium 2s. Gentry and Chris Finch design great offensive sets. If Lonzo fails in this system, then he is a bust. Same for Ingram. They have no excuses now.

And as for Anthony Davis, be prepared for when the team gets on a streak and gaining momentum, he'll bang his pinky finger in the 1st quarter, then be out 5 games. Gentry has done great coaching jobs where the team won big games without him (overlooked by the media), but his injuries are the most annoying, innopportune variety. So this is why I think the Lakers better do something to land that 3rd star. They're gonna need it.

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Originally Posted by luckyman

Thanks for the contribution. If you are a Lakers fan, I wish you the worst. :D

As far as the iso ball, it shouldn't happen here. Pels have been top 3 in assists (even by more precise metrics) the last few seasons and its because there is minimized iso ball. It may creep up early in the season, but Gentry will coach it out of him before its over. Now in the playoffs? Thats a different animal and some isos are accepted...to a degree.

As far as Lonzo, he could not find a better coach for his style. Gentry likes to push it and create space for his guards to penetrate. Again top 5 in pace the past few years and I believe top 5 in points in the paint. That wasn't just the AD effect since he loves to shoot medium 2s. Gentry and Chris Finch design great offensive sets. If Lonzo fails in this system, then he is a bust. Same for Ingram. They have no excuses now.

And as for Anthony Davis, be prepared for when the team gets on a streak and gaining momentum, he'll bang his pinky finger in the 1st quarter, then be out 5 games. Gentry has done great coaching jobs where the team won big games without him (overlooked by the media), but his injuries are the most annoying, innopportune variety. So this is why I think the Lakers better do something to land that 3rd star. They're gonna need it.

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2018-2019:
#1 in points in the paint per game> https://www.teamrankings.com/nba/sta...paint-per-game
#3 in team assists per game > https://www.foxsports.com/nba/team-s...1&opp=0&page=1
#2 in pace > http://www.espn.com/nba/hollinger/te...ort/paceFactor

...and now with our new players...wow cant wait.

Yes there is a very good shooting coach here--Fred Vinson. Matter of fact, he is a holdover from the previous coaching regime. There was an article written about how he improved Tyreke Evans shot a few years ago. Helped turn Eric Gordon into a 3 point specialist.

https://www.nola.com/sports/pelicans...033ddc2c9.html

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Originally Posted by SoCal4Pels

Hello Pelicans Fans! I hope you don't mind me joining you?

I was a fan of Shaq back in the 90's when he was on Orlando... watching him play was like watching a real-life superhero... the things he did were not human. He came to the Lakers in 1996, and I have been a Laker fan ever since. I eventually transitioned to the Kobe-era, and have been dealing with the dark times that have succeeded him.

BUT... with the idiocy of Magic Johnson, ineptitude of Rob Pelinka, a clueless 57-year-old owner who inherited the team with a twitter profile pic with basketballs over her t!ts like some Kardashian-wannabe (those idiots actually live near me), and the fact that I have rooted against Lebron ever since "The Decision :rolleyes:"... I have been left with the existential dilemma of, "What, exactly, am I a fan of??". A word? L-A-K-E-R-S? A place? And I realized, I have never been loyal to "things" or "brands... I am loyal to, and a fan, of PEOPLE.

I have never watched college basketball, but I watched nearly every Duke game this season, and I knew I would be following another team come next season. It's not just Zion's ridiculously exciting style with his hops, agility, speed, handles, and raw power, but his mentality. There is no ego on this kid (hopefully he stays that way), he is unselfish, and plays with a combination of joy and ferocious intensity that conjures up a meeting of the minds between Steph Curry and Kobe/MJ. I hoped it would be a Western team that received the first pick so I could catch more games, so I expected Phoenix. But here we are!

With Joel Meyers, Zo, Ingram, and Hart, it feels like I never left. Here are my thoughts on your new Pelicans:


*Mentality/Personality wise, Josh Hart is my favorite. No ego, works super hard, and is probably the smartest of the bunch, even if his potential is the lowest. He played awesome in his second summer league, winning MVP. After a great start to last season, he had some knee tendonitis which affected his shot and ability to stay on the court, so hopefully he is over that by the end of the summer. His shot is pure and confident, and he has the speed and athleticism to finish at the rim when players close out on him. A huge strength of him is his... strength; he can actually hold his own in the post against 3's and 4's--crazy for a guard (listed as 6'5" but I have suspicions he is 6'4"). He also plays good team defense, but his perimeter defense still needs work, despite when you will hear some journalists say.

*BI---He has tons of potential, but it is time for him to reach it. The pros, GREAT on defense, and super long, awesome for a switch-heavy defense. Can play the 1-3, as he has good passing skills and handles. Much better at finishing around the rim than he was the previous season. The bad: doesn't always play hard (hopefully Zion's energy rubs off on him), he has been told he is "the next Durant" for way too long, and he thinks he is a way better player than he actually is, and he can turn into a Carmelo-like black-hole on defense, pounding and pounding the ball without moving it because he believes he can get his shot up over anyone, which stats will tell you is not true. Likes the mid-range too much. His 3 has historically sucked. Now, I believe his numbers since the AS break have improved, so hopefully that trend continues, and hopefully he realizes that Zion and not him is the focal point of this team. Drove me nuts last year to the point that I was unsure if Luke Walton knew how to coach him at all. I couldnt tell whether the problem was Luke, BI's bball-IQ, or his ego. Hopefully he turns into a superstar, but if he doesn't, hopefully Gentry will nip the pre-maddona iso-play syndrome in the bud very quickly with him. Hopefully the blood clot will be a non-issue and he is shooting a thousand 3's per day this summer.

*Zo--AWESOME defensively for a guard and one so young. Like, really great. Our D went off the deep end last year after he got hurt. Great court vision, and plays at a super fast speed, so awesome for transition basketball. The bad- turns useless in half-court sets and becomes super passive, pretty sure his father emotionally abused every ounce of assertiveness from him, has shown that if there is a scuffle he won't stand up for his teammates, and just walks away, misses at the rim frequently--looks like he totally loses his focus and his mind is saying "don't ******** this up or my Dad will yell at me", and then he misses. His stroke is wonky and he has not been able to translate his 3-point percentage from college to the pros, but I believe, as with BI, his stats improved since the AS break. His three ball seems to either miss every time during game, or he never misses. Hopefully we will be seeing more of the latter. It has been a huge debate forever whether his stoke should be restructured, but no one has forced him to do that yet.

All in all, with the draft and recent trades, the Pels should be super exciting--athletic and fast with great defense, and hopefully decent spacing with the shooters that have just been added (and if BI and Zo can continue improving). The challenges will come with a new team learning each other's tendancies, learning to sacrifice and play unselfishly, moving the ball effectively, and learning each others' favorite spots. Very much looking forward to next season and will be repping the Pels at some Lakers games (and maybe a Warriors game). I hope you do not mind me joining you!

A couple questions for you guys: is there a shooting coach on the coaching staff? (Lakers have not had one, though we deperately needed one) The negative about the pelicans franchise that I have heard is that the medical staff doesn't know what they are doing, which has led to more injuries than almost any team? Is this still an issue?

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Welcome buddy! I’m a fellow ex Lakers fan that has made the move as well. For pretty much all of the same reasons you have.

Already setting aside money to fly to NO for the Lakers Vs Pelicans games. Also, going to grab tickets for the Games when NO visit.

I fell in love with the young lakers. I’ve always hated Lebron! So, a Pelicans fan I am. It’s great!

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Originally Posted by HartOfaPelican

Welcome buddy! I’m a fellow ex Lakers fan that has made the move as well. For pretty much all of the same reasons you have.

Already setting aside money to fly to NO for the Lakers Vs Pelicans games. Also, going to grab tickets for the Games when NO visit.

I fell in love with the young lakers. I’ve always hated Lebron! So, a Pelicans fan I am. It’s great!

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Glad to see some California Love! I swear I was the only Pelicans fan in staples the past seasons, always getting heckled by fans! Welcome aboard! Hope to see more Pels fans in Vegas! Can’t wait!!!

Welcome and thanks for your input

Welcome to the board, always glad to have new people on board. The Pelicans are going to be the most fun team in the league this season coming up, regardless of actual wins, and the more people along for the ride, the better.

Thanks for the insight on the new Pels! Obviously most of us on the board had seen at least a few dozen of their games, and since the trade there have been probably many hours of highlight watching to refresh memory, but there's a difference between that and someone who was actually seriously invested in their development for years and years.

Most of what you say locks into what I've been saying for a while. There is potential, there are certain skills these guys have, but it's time for them to actually start reaching that potential. Some people have argued that getting out of the LA atmosphere and coming to a smaller franchise with less weighty expectations from year one will help them break out, and hopefully that's true.

Looking forward to a lot of fast-break Lonzo this year. Desperately hoping Ingram can improve his three point shooting. Hopefully Hart puts it all together this year too. I think it's important not to have crazy expectations of them (I'm not expecting Ingram to shoot 40% from deep on 6 shots a game or anything) but it's not unreasonable to want some clear, actual progress.

Welcome to all SoCal refugees from the Magic Kingdom!

I think the main ingredient is that the Pels will play with a clear identity. Gentry demands pace and more pace. Last year the Pels were 3rd in the league in scoring, 2nd in pace of play and 3rd in possessions per game. Add Ball, Ingram and Zion into that mix and watch out--the Pels will be blazing up and down the floor. Folks love to harp on the lack of shooting in this line up (though welcome JJ!), but really, who cares? The Pels scored last year without great outside shooting and should score even more with this line up of greyhounds, not to mention what should be a top 5 defensive rating. It's a winning combo and fun to watch.

Great post. Thanks for the insight.

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Originally Posted by luckyman

And as for Anthony Davis, be prepared for when the team gets on a streak and gaining momentum, he'll bang his pinky finger in the 1st quarter, then be out 5 games. Gentry has done great coaching jobs where the team won big games without him (overlooked by the media), but his injuries are the most annoying, innopportune variety. So this is why I think the Lakers better do something to land that 3rd star. They're gonna need it.

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It really wouldn't surprise me if, like with Gordon, this stops happening. Especially after that Payton interview, I feel like some of those injuries would have been played through if he had more heart.

Not going to trash AD. His only real sin was not waiting to make his trade request public until the season was over. And as things turned out, it might have been the best thing that ever happened to the Pels organization. The shake up that followed has transformed the organization from stem to stern and all for the better. So far it's been a Harvard Case Study in how to execute a sports franchise turnaround.

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Originally Posted by new city champ

Not going to trash AD. His only real sin was not waiting to make his trade request public until the season was over..

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And naming three specific teams he wanted to go to.
And lying to the media saying he wanted to be a Pel after having already told his teammates he was going to request a trade.
And forcing us to play him, potentially risking his trade value in case of injury.
And going on TV and saying he'd literally rather play ANYWHERE but New Orleans.
And the ''That's All Folks!'' shirt, followed by the lie saying he didn't actually pick it himself.
And walking out of games without even informing the coach that he was leaving.

All falls under the same general heading for me—trying to get out during the season. Had a much bigger problem with the league forcing us to play him than with him wanting to play. I would have flat refused and taken the fines, but in retrospect that probably would have been the wrong call. Gayle was more diplomatic...

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Originally Posted by j_bones

Glad to see some California Love! I swear I was the only Pelicans fan in staples the past seasons, always getting heckled by fans! Welcome aboard! Hope to see more Pels fans in Vegas! Can’t wait!!!

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Well, I’ll be sure to give you the celebratory air fist pump when where both standing up and getting heckled over the 15 point lead we have during the game haha!

I watched the lakers game yesterday and it was like all my love to them was gone. I loved watching Hart last season in the summer league. I’m so glad he was part of the move.

I see your in SD. I’m about to hop in my truck and drive down for work today.

Thanks for the welcome, fellas! And for the links; great news about the shooting coach and medical situation. Good to see there are some other California fans/Laker converts here! What's up guys!

I am ready for summer league! My body is ready for Zion "Kemp-with-Handles"/"Randle-with-hops"/"Barkley-with-Defense" Williamson. Go Pels!

Welcome aboard, fellas! Crazy to see how horrible the Lakers have been run. I thought the brothers were the problem, but Jeanie seems way in over her head. It's insanity that they could somehow land Kawhi despite all of that.. if they don't I am not sure I see just AD and LeBron being able to overcome all of the surrounding issues to win a title there even with the upheaval in the top half of the league. If Kawhi doesn't go to LAL we'll see a far more fun NBA league year than we have in a half dozen years or more, imo.

Looks like Fred Vinson is coaching this year's SL team.

If Fred Vinson can make Lonzo even slightly below average. as a shooter...