January 6th - New Orleans Pelicans VS Oklahoma City Thunder - 4-3

AD's right. That didn't need to be a three.

Oh well. Good to see NAW have the confidence to shoot the game winner anyway

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Originally Posted by Eman5805

Can't get mad at that. NAW had a great look.

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great look if you are down by 3...

The home woes are back fam

oof. should be 6-2. now we've got a brutal road stretch and the wheels could come off.

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Originally Posted by Taker597

Was it that bad? I missed it.

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Zo screwed up a ton tonight. Bricks everywhere, and then dumb fouls at bad times.

This team will cause me to pull my hair out with these losses!! Unfreakingbelievable

We need to go to Zion in that situation, let him drive, get fouled, score, or hit BI for a shot

I like Lonzo, but he needs to go. He single-handily lost this game IMO. I’m tired of the turnovers at horrible times, hoisting to many 3s, and picking up terrible fouls. He has all the talent in the world, but drives me insane. No way should he be taking 9 threes unless we down 20

Lonzo stans..."Lonzo was wide open". "They never pass it to him"

He is quite possibly the worst starting "point guard" I've ever seen

:hihi:

Can't blame SVG tonight it's the low IQ players of today. To many jump shots when you suck at jump shooting. Pelicans need to trade every guard they have for competent ones.

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Originally Posted by ramsters60

great look if you are down by 3...

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He was open. I don't begrudge him shooting it there instead of moving in closer. Ho-hum. On to the next one.

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Originally Posted by ragincaucasian

Zo screwed up a ton tonight. Bricks everywhere, and then dumb fouls at bad times.

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dont forget the 4 TO

Player Names	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	fg%	3pt%	FT%	to	pf	mins
Brandon Ingram	24	11	4	0	0	9/15 (60%)	0/2 (0%)	6/6 (100%)	2	0	35
Zion Williamson	29	6	1	3	0	12/17 (70.5%)	0/0	5/6 (83%)	2	3	32
Steven Adams	10	11	10	1	0	4/5 (80%)	0/0	2/5 (40%)	2	2	34
Eric Bledsoe	13	3	3	2	0	5/9 (55.5%)	2/4 (50%)	1/2 (50%)	2	1	25
Lonzo Ball	15	4	4	0	0	6/18 (33.3%)	2/9 (22.2%)	1/1 (100%)	4	5	36

Lonzo leading the team in shot attempts while simultaneously being the least efficient guy on the team from the floor and then botching the finish is just every bad caricature of Lonzo out there. Somehow got most minutes played too.

Just awful stuff. Really bad.

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Originally Posted by DaPelFromHell

This team will cause me to pull my hair out with these losses!! Unfreakingbelievable

We need to go to Zion in that situation, let him drive, get fouled, score, or hit BI for a shot

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I like Zion in the last 3 minutes of a game.. I'm not sure he's right for the last possession because of his FT%.. But I expect him to improve in that area.

😂 Told y?all those Lakers players won?t be here within 2 years...minus ingram

so Kira cant get any of Lonzo's 36 min ok cool SVG

We still stink.

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Originally Posted by Nichols

I like Zion in the last 3 minutes of a game.. I'm not sure he's right for the last possession because of his FT%.. But I expect him to improve in that area.

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He's been pretty decent recently.

Zion's last 4 games from the line:

83%
75%
70%
67%

Trending upwards, and all well above his season average. Get him to being a 70% FT shooter and we're flying.

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Originally Posted by neworleanshoo

oof. should be 6-2. now we've got a brutal road stretch and the wheels could come off.

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One could say the wheels were never on to begin with.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Player Names	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	fg%	3pt%	FT%	to	pf	mins
Brandon Ingram	24	11	4	0	0	9/15 (60%)	0/2 (0%)	6/6 (100%)	2	0	35
Zion Williamson	29	6	1	3	0	12/17 (70.5%)	0/0	5/6 (83%)	2	3	32
Steven Adams	10	11	10	1	0	4/5 (80%)	0/0	2/5 (40%)	2	2	34
Eric Bledsoe	13	3	3	2	0	5/9 (55.5%)	2/4 (50%)	1/2 (50%)	2	1	25
Lonzo Ball	15	4	4	0	0	6/18 (33.3%)	2/9 (22.2%)	1/1 (100%)	4	5	36

Lonzo leading the team in shot attempts while simultaneously being the least efficient guy on the team from the floor and then botching the finish is just every bad caricature of Lonzo out there. Somehow got most minutes played too.

Just awful stuff. Really bad.

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I think I will never praise Lonzo again, because he has followed it up with some terrible game losing quarters.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Player Names	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	fg%	3pt%	FT%	to	pf	mins
Brandon Ingram	24	11	4	0	0	9/15 (60%)	0/2 (0%)	6/6 (100%)	2	0	35
Zion Williamson	29	6	1	3	0	12/17 (70.5%)	0/0	5/6 (83%)	2	3	32
Steven Adams	10	11	10	1	0	4/5 (80%)	0/0	2/5 (40%)	2	2	34
Eric Bledsoe	13	3	3	2	0	5/9 (55.5%)	2/4 (50%)	1/2 (50%)	2	1	25
Lonzo Ball	15	4	4	0	0	6/18 (33.3%)	2/9 (22.2%)	1/1 (100%)	4	5	36

Lonzo leading the team in shot attempts while simultaneously being the least efficient guy on the team from the floor and then botching the finish is just every bad caricature of Lonzo out there. Somehow got most minutes played too.

Just awful stuff. Really bad.

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That's on coaching. Why do we try to make him something's he's not? Trade the guy for a competent jump shooter.

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Originally Posted by PelicanNation

so Kira cant get any of Lonzo's 36 min ok cool SVG

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Would it kill you to be even a little bit patient?

I would like to know what Van Gundy had planned for that final possession...12 seconds and they never even seemed to look inside....

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

He's been pretty decent recently.

Zion's last 4 games from the line:

83%
75%
70%
67%

Trending upwards, and all well above his season average. Get him to being a 70% FT shooter and we're flying.

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Most definitely.. I feel like it's only a matter of time before he settles at a solid percentage. I wouldn't rule out this year.

I also don't think he should be pressured to take J's when he's not comfortable doing it.. He'll get there.

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Originally Posted by Taker597

I think I will never praise Lonzo again, because he has followed it up with some terrible gane losing quarters.

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The Lonzo parade this season is actually quite funny because 50% of the time he's quite solid and then the other 50% of the time he's abominably bad. There seems to be very little in between.

Then, after each good game you get the Lonzo defenders crawling out of the woodwork to demand all of his doubters eat crow, and after every bad game you get to see the resounding silence as they crawl right back into the woodwork :hihi:

I thought SVG said he'd like Lonzo in an off ball role.

Why the hell is he still letting Lonzo control the ball so much?

I wonder if NAW wasn't by habit trying to make sure he was getting the three and just let the catch and shoot go he would've hit it.

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Originally Posted by sterlr

That's on coaching. Why do we try to make him something's he's not? Trade the guy for a competent jump shooter.

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He's played similarly in terms of shot selection under like 3 different coaches across 2 different teams at this point. He's never seen a three point shot he doesn't like, regardless of anything. It's worrying.

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Originally Posted by ramsters60

I would like to know what Van Gundy had planned for that final possession...

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Should be Zion inside out with BI and Adams...no need for any other player to be involved. They didn't even look to involve Zion just to even use him as a decoy...LOW IQ team.

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Originally Posted by donato

I wonder if NAW wasn't by habit trying to make sure he was getting the three and just let the catch and shoot go he would've hit it.

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I think these guys shoot so many threes in practice, the three point line is kind of like a security blanket for them. It’s the shot they are probably most used to.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

The Lonzo parade this season is actually quite funny because 50% of the time he's quite solid and then the other 50% of the time he's abominably bad. There seems to be very little in between.

Then, after each good game you get the Lonzo defenders crawling out of the woodwork to demand all of his doubters eat crow, and after every bad game you get to see the resounding silence as they crawl right back into the woodwork :hihi:

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Only to be replaced by the "I told you so" crowd popping up overnight like flora after desert rain.

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Originally Posted by sterlr

That's on coaching. Why do we try to make him something's he's not? Trade the guy for a competent jump shooter.

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He's a guy that does some things well some of the time

His jump shot technique will never really cut it. Had to totally rebuild his shot, it still looks awkward and he still leaves shots short a lot of the time

Can't finish at the rim unless it's gaping open

Melo will be 5 times the player Lonzo is

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Originally Posted by luckyman

I thought SVG said he'd like Lonzo in an off ball role.

Why the hell is he still letting Lonzo control the ball so much?

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Pay attention to what coaches do not what they say. All other stuff is smoke/fluff.

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Originally Posted by Eman5805

He was open. I don't begrudge him shooting it there instead of moving in closer. Ho-hum. On to the next one.

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yep...no doubt he was open...oh, well...

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Originally Posted by Freyfamilyreuni

I think these guys shoot so many threes in practice, the three point line is kind of like a security blanket for them. It’s the shot they are probably most used to.

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We aren't actually taking that many threes this season, believe it or not. Coming into tonight, we were 22nd in the league in 3 point attempts per game, and tonight we shot 22 threes, which is actually really not a lot at all in today's game. OKC shot 46, for comparison.

Edit: if anything, we sometimes don't take enough threes imo.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

He's played similarly in terms of shot selection under like 3 different coaches across 2 different teams at this point. He's never seen a three point shot he doesn't like, regardless of anything. It's worrying.

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I thought he was doing a better job in increasing his drives to the basket and decreasing his dribble dribble step back three. At least until this game. I think Lonzo’s dad did a number on this kid. He seems unable to progress his game despite an obvious ability to do so.

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Originally Posted by sterlr

Should be Zion inside out with BI and Adams...no need for any other player to be involved. They didn't even look to involve Zion just to even use him as a decoy...LOW IQ team.

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Tonight the best plays were when Horford was sagging so far off of Adams for fear of Zion, we got nothing but looks for Ingram. Once they adjusted, I would've liked to see Zion positioned at the top of the key or more passes closer to the 3pt line and force the double team to move a greater distance. Let him see it and be able to make a reaction rather than trying to have Zion post up.

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Originally Posted by Freyfamilyreuni

I think these guys shoot so many threes in practice, the three point line is kind of like a security blanket for them. It’s the shot they are probably most used to.

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These guys have never seen old school basketball therefore you can't do what you don't know.

Wish we had Lamelo instead :(

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Originally Posted by Freyfamilyreuni

I thought he was doing a better job in increasing his drives to the basket and decreasing his dribble dribble step back three. At least until this game. I think Lonzo’s dad did a number on this kid. He seems unable to progress his game despite an obvious ability to do so.

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His inability to play a good complete 36 minute?

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Originally Posted by donato

I wonder if NAW wasn't by habit trying to make sure he was getting the three and just let the catch and shoot go he would've hit it.

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It was definitely a habit thing

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

We aren't actually taking that many threes this season, believe it or not. Coming into tonight, we were 22nd in the league in 3 point attempts per game, and tonight we shot 22 threes, which is actually really not a lot at all in today's game. OKC shot 46, for comparison.

Edit: if anything, we sometimes don't take enough threes imo.

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Our offensive game plan sure isn’t the three ball, which taking into account how we’ve been shooting them is probably a good thing. But I’m pretty sure that even our guards probably take more threes in practice than twos. And for young guys like NAW, the fact that there is a line on the court where he is used to his feet being behind when he shoots, is probably comforting for him in a stress situation like that.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

We aren't actually taking that many threes this season, believe it or not. Coming into tonight, we were 22nd in the league in 3 point attempts per game, and tonight we shot 22 threes, which is actually really not a lot at all in today's game. OKC shot 46, for comparison.

Edit: if anything, we sometimes don't take enough threes imo.

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Untill we stop packing the paint so hard and learn to run players off the line... Teams have figured out the defense and attacking the paint has to be a high percentage look and all they really have to do is a ton of motion for an open three or just walk up to line with the defender giving up a big open look.

I’m ready to see Kira!! If Payton Pritchard is getting minutes and playing pretty darn good for a rookie, Kira should be out there

I'm pretty certain if its Bledsoe/NAW closing out the game instead of Lonzo/NAW, they pull this one out.

Even when Bled has played bad he's been clutch. He definitely wouldn't have charged the lane like a headless chicken two plays in a row at the worst time.

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Originally Posted by Taker597

Untill we stop packing the paint so hard and learn to run players off the line... Teams have figured out the defense and attacking the paint has to be a high percentage look and all they really have to do is a ton of motion for an open three or just walk up to line with the defender giving up a big open look.

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One thing that Gentry did (and he did it too much, which is another issue) is that he knew that one way to compensate for poor shooting is volume.

Obviously that has it's own variety of annoying problems, that we all spend years being irritated by, but it's true.

This team needs to find a middle ground. We aren't a good enough shooting team to be this conservative with shots, as weird as that may sound. If your team has no snipers on it (and with JJ being like this, we pretty much don't right now) then the only way you can force them to respect you from behind the arc is by making it clear that you can and will take those shots, and putting the onus on them to pick their poison. Right now, we aren't doing that: shots are coming up on the perimeter and we're almost pathologically afraid of them.

Gentry's demand for a minimum of 40 threes a game is wrong. Our current rate of only about 20 is too few.

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Originally Posted by luckyman

I'm pretty certain if its Bledsoe/NAW closing out the game instead of Lonzo/NAW, they pull this one out.

Even when Bled has played bad he's been clutch. He definitely wouldn't have charged the lane like a headless chicken two plays in a row at the worst time.

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Yeah I agree here. Underrated weird thing about tonight: why did Bledsoe play well under 30 minutes when every other starter got comfortably more? What's the justification tonight for 36 minutes of Lonzo Ball and only 25 of Bledsoe?

Stan is rightfully pissed... so much fault to go around right now...

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Originally Posted by Freyfamilyreuni

Our offensive game plan sure isn’t the three ball, which taking into account how we’ve been shooting them is probably a good thing. But I’m pretty sure that even our guards probably take more threes in practice than twos. And for young guys like NAW, the fact that there is a line on the court where he is used to his feet being behind when he shoots, is probably comforting for him in a stress situation like that.

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I see why NAW gets glued to the bench. There isn't a shoot he would turn down.

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Originally Posted by luckyman

I'm pretty certain if its Bledsoe/NAW closing out the game instead of Lonzo/NAW, they pull this one out.

Even when Bled has played bad he's been clutch. He definitely wouldn't have charged the lane like a headless chicken two plays in a row at the worst time.

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Bledsoe was having a pretty decent game. SVG tends to ride runs and keep a hot group in the game. I guess that run to get us back in swayed SVG to keep Bled out...

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Originally Posted by Taker597

I see why NAW gets glued to the bench. There isn't a shoot he would turn down.

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Players think too much of themselves. I've seen players close up and some of them overestimate their abilities.