November 20th - New Orleans Pelicans vs Sacramento Kings - 6-7

Pelicans out-rebounding the Kings by 10 at halftime: 28 - 18.

As long as we keep the turnovers downs and rebound, we should be able to prevent Sacramento from cheesing us. If they go zone, try to get into the shot clock early and penetrate- cause the defense to collapse and hit the open man. We can’t wait on the clock. That is what kills us.

Shout out to the board's new hate player, Cody Zeller, who did his job and did it well.

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Originally Posted by JJackisangry

As long as we keep the turnovers downs and rebound, we should be able to prevent Sacramento from cheesing us. If they go zone, try to get into the shot clock early and penetrate- cause the defense to collapse and hit the open man. We can’t wait on the clock. That is what kills us.

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Staying aggressive is paramount, also.

If you're not going to shoot 3s, the only way to win the math-game is by getting shots at the rim and FTs. Those are still the gold standard, over 3s, and getting into the bonus earlier only makes it easier on you in the long run.

Helps that we've had so much success doing it so far, hope we don't go away from that strategy. Do it until they stop you.

Missed the first half, but looks like we are doing good. Was busy getting robbed by Ticketmaster. My wife and 10 year old are in the Bay Area and are going to the Warriors/Rockets game last minute. $225 for 2 tickets and parking is 60 bucks. WTF.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Staying aggressive is paramount, also.

If you're not going to shoot 3s, the only way to win the math-game is by getting shots at the rim and FTs. Those are still the gold standard, over 3s, and getting into the bonus earlier only makes it easier on you in the long run.

Helps that we've had so much success doing it so far, hope we don't go away from that strategy. Do it until they stop you.

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Yep. We just need to get into it early. Penetration will free up the shooters. We can’t forget that. We are bad on a low shot clock so we need to avoid it.

Keep making Sabonis work. JV on track for triple/double

Dyson needs to pull the trigger on that

Nice play by Zion. We need to get the ball in to Zion earlier. Now is when I’d like to see BI be available for a three

Zion with back to back steals? Big Z putting on work on defense

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Originally Posted by hornetsrebirth

Zion with back to back steals? Big Z putting on work on defense

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He's had a pretty good defensive game all around imo.

And not a half bad offensive one either

Ingram bombing 3s in the 3rd, here we go. That's what we want to see

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Ingram bombing 3s in the 3rd, here we go. That's what we want to see

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He caught that in rhythm, in the flow. Could tell it was going in

What’d I tell you

wow I cant watch the game. is someone locking down on fox?

Let Zion blow by Mcgee

Herb F’n Jones

The last few teams we played have had traditional bigs so it may very well be a match up thing, but JV getting extended minutes has been working out quite well.

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Originally Posted by hornetsrebirth

The last few teams we played have had traditional bigs so it may very well be a match up thing, but JV getting extended minutes has been working out quite well.

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But everyone wants to trade him? Probably, including Willie.

That's BI with a new season high for 3s in a game, I think

We are doing a good job of getting inside offball and onball. Hawk with a good pass inside then a kick to Ingram. We should be creating more plays for BI/Zion as opposed to expecting them to create everything. Less wear and tear and less chance for the other teams to abuse and trap them.

Hawkins only one having a bad game

Aside from the fact that everything is falling, guys are just working hard. Zion out everything he had into contesting that 3

I’ll give Zeller props. He works REALLY HARD

Hey Willie never put Earl Robinson in lieu of Zeller again

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Originally Posted by JJackisangry

I’ll give Zeller props. He works REALLY HARD

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Good passer too, plays the system to a T

Herb and Dyson together in the starting lineup is a real thing.

You can’t teach motor. I wasn’t convinced by Zeller early, but the guy works so damned hard. We keep getting bodies back and he becomes even more valuable as he just has to do the dirty work.

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Originally Posted by Freyfamilyreuni

Hey Willie never put Earl Robinson in lieu of Zeller again

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THIS

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Originally Posted by As I See It

But everyone wants to trade him? Probably, including Willie.

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And that is what makes WG NOT HC material

There you go Hawk

Zeller with the drive and Hawk with the finish. Two of the hardest workers in the side it’s poetic

Cody looks like a legit backup

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Originally Posted by djrnno

And that is what makes WG NOT HC material

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And the sole reason most people want to trade JV is that WG won't play him. Nothing to do with JV himself.

Jeeez Zion

We are up 37 against a team that's 4th in the West coming into tonight.

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Originally Posted by hornetsrebirth

Jeeez Zion

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Zion makes his own fastbreak with the steal and huge finish pic.twitter.com/Vm0g0rODAf

— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) November 21, 2023

Beautiful

This game has been really fun.

Every Pels starter was a +28 or better tonight.

They all had at least 3 assists.

None of them had more than 1 TO.

Just saw 3M3 on the bench. Looks like he's chomping at the bit. This system was is tailor-made for him.

Having Herb and Dyson together lets you get away with Zion, Jonas, and BI against perimeter oriented offenses. Then on offense Zion and JV should be able to pummel those type of teams. And BI should feast on open looks without having to force it.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

We are up 37 against a team that's 4th in the West coming into tonight.

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I think it’s safe to say we have underperformed missing bodies or not. But I will take our record as we have played the champions twice as well as Minny twice already. Also Atlanta who is almost always a nightmare for us. It should get better with the bodies coming back and we have weathered the storm.

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Originally Posted by JJackisangry

I think it’s safe to say we have underperformed missing bodies or not. But I will take our record as we have played the champions twice as well as Minny twice already. Also Atlanta who is almost always a nightmare for us. It should get better with the bodies coming back and we have weathered the storm.

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There have been plenty of legitimate reasons to be frustrated with this team so far this season.

But we've also lost the 3rd most games due to injury in the league, and had the 2nd hardest strength of schedule iirc, so given all of that, 7-7 after 14 games isn't bad.

Especially when you're 3-1 in your last 4 games, which were all against 4 of the top 5 seeds in the conference and your only loss was to the 1 seed by 1 point.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

And the sole reason most people want to trade JV is that WG won't play him. Nothing to do with JV himself.

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JV has always been at worst the 4th best best player on this team. WG is just too blind and stubborn to see it , AND treats him like the red-headed stepchild

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Originally Posted by djrnno

JV has always been at worst the 4th best best player on this team. WG is just too blind and stubborn to see it , AND treats him like the red-headed stepchild

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IDK if that's gonna be true when/if everyone is healthy, but I get what you're saying

Is the better than Zion, BI, CJ, Herb, and Trey if Trey comes back like himself from the end of last season? Not sure. But it's a testament to the depth of the team, rather than a condemnation of JV, who is awesome. No shame to be 6th best on a team with:

- Zion (MVP ceiling when he's at his best)
- BI (all-star)
- CJ (all-star)
- Herb (DPOY calibre defender)
- Trey (potential allstar)

Sacramento Kings' point totals in their last 4 games:

129
129
125
132

Sacramento Kings points tonight:

93

— Mason Ginsberg (@MasonGinsberg) November 21, 2023

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

IDK if that's gonna be true when/if everyone is healthy, but I get what you're saying

Is the better than Zion, BI, CJ, Herb, and Trey if Trey comes back like himself from the end of last season? Not sure. But it's a testament to the depth of the team, rather than a condemnation of JV, who is awesome. No shame to be 6th best on a team with:

- Zion (MVP ceiling when he's at his best)
- BI (all-star)
- CJ (all-star)
- Herb (DPOY calibre defender)
- Trey (potential allstar)

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I get ya , but JV RARELY has a BAD game but all of those guys have had multiple bad games

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

There have been plenty of legitimate reasons to be frustrated with this team so far this season.

But we've also lost the 3rd most games due to injury in the league, and had the 2nd hardest strength of schedule iirc, so given all of that, 7-7 after 14 games isn't bad.

Especially when you're 3-1 in your last 4 games, which were all against 4 of the top 5 seeds in the conference and your only loss was to the 1 seed by 1 point.

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To support my point:

Vs. #5: +21
Vs. #2: +5
Vs. #1: -1
Vs. #4: +36

That's a nasty, nasty stretch of the schedule. +61 through four games. 3 wins. Only loss on a SEGABABA w/ Zion resting.

Do with it what you will. pic.twitter.com/gMrtkh0f1W

— David Fisher (@Fish_TBW) November 21, 2023

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Originally Posted by djrnno

I get ya , but JV RARELY has a BAD game but all of those guys have had multiple bad games

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He's super consistent. Legitimate professional; he plays NBA all season, then goes and plays international ball every off-season and has done basically his entire career. Dude is never rusty or out of form.

38 assists on 50 made shots tonight.