April 22nd - New Orleans Pelicans vs Phoenix Suns - GAME 3 - 1-1

Jonas / LNJ = 2 for 13 (8 Total Points)
Ayton / McGee = 20 for 28 (43 Total Points)

BALL GAME!!!

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Originally Posted by Freyfamilyreuni

To be honest, I think this was a must win game for us. Even if we win Sunday they've regained homecourt advantage, with the light at the end of the tunnel in Booker returning. Which won't matter if we can't do anything about our center play.

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Booker isn't due back for 2 to 3 weeks. He's not playing in this series even if it goes to 7. That's not a concern.

Naji Marshall: 2pts in 11 minutes
Nance: 2pts on 1/8 shooting in 23 minutes

Tell me again how Zion wouldn't help this team in a close loss. Do you think he could score more than 4 points?

Of course Zion would help. The problem is, nobody here knows his actual post-injury condition. People can say they do, but unless the doctors come here and say it, I'm not buying it.

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Originally Posted by donato

Of course Zion would help. The problem is, nobody here knows his actual post-injury condition. People can say they do, but unless the doctors come here and say it, I'm not buying it.

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We have no reason to suspect there's a problem. Every report coming from everyone who would have any information tells us that Zion wants to play now. He's been doing 5-on-5 scrimmages for over a month at this point. If there was a real medical issue, that wouldn't be happening.

It's ridiculous.

Edit: also, the arguments against it haven't ben that nobody knows his condition. At least, not most of the arguments. Half the people saying not to bring him back were saying it's because he might disturb the chemistry and the lineups. Which is a garbage reason.

Jax being an idiot hurt us tonight..

It’s moments like that flagrant that lose you games. Growing pains

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

We have no reason to suspect there's a problem. Every report coming from everyone who would have any information tells us that Zion wants to play now. He's been doing 5-on-5 scrimmages for over a month at this point. If there was a real medical issue, that wouldn't be happening.

It's ridiculous.

Edit: also, the arguments against it haven't ben that nobody knows his condition. At least, not most of the arguments. Half the people saying not to bring him back were saying it's because he might disturb the chemistry and the lineups. Which is a garbage reason.

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So when people are coming off long-term injuries, when they're ready to go to 5 on 5 it means they're ready for game action? Is there no extended ramp up from starting 5 on 5?

Not interested in the other speculation.

All of a sudden, CJ and BI want to find their 3’s

Just a hugely disappointing game.

Complete failure to adjust on the coaching staff when CP3 was going nuclear. Poor execution from most of the team for a solid 5 minute stretch late in the 4th. Nobody could make a shot until the final 30 seconds when the game was over. Really awful stuff.

Big questions with some fairly obvious answers for Green going into game 4. Next game is a must win if we have any desire to really compete in the series.

These things happen. Move on.

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Originally Posted by donato

So when people are coming off long-term injuries, when they're ready to go to 5 on 5 it means they're ready for game action? Is there no extended ramp up from starting 5 on 5?

Not interested in the other speculation.

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You ask ''is there no ramp up from starting 5 on 5?''

The answer to that is in the post you're replying to. He's been doing those 5-on-5s and full scrimmages for well over a month. The ramping up process, if there was any intention to ever bring him back, should be weeks underway at this point. If not, that's negligence on the team.

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Originally Posted by WhyHornetsWhy

All of a sudden, CJ and BI want to find their 3’s

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Well yeah they had to juice their stats once the game was already out of reach, of course.

Jax very well may've lost the game for us. I know Daniels didn't agree with the ejection, but looking at it again... sure looked like a 2 to me.

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Originally Posted by neworleanshoo

Jax very well may've lost the game for us. I know Daniels didn't agree with the ejection, but looking at it again... sure looked like a 2 to me.

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It was a blatant 2, but I don't think it lost us the game. The reality is that we were tied with under 5 minutes to go - we had the opportunity.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

It was a blatant 2, but I don't think it lost us the game. The reality is that we were tied with under 5 minutes to go - we had the opportunity.

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What was that final line up. JV Lance Herb BI CJ?

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

We have no reason to suspect there's a problem. Every report coming from everyone who would have any information tells us that Zion wants to play now. He's been doing 5-on-5 scrimmages for over a month at this point. If there was a real medical issue, that wouldn't be happening.

It's ridiculous.

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A little prone to exaggeration there, dae.

He didn't start 5 on 5 (against non- NBA players) until 2 weeks ago.

Andrew Lopez: Willie Green says Zion Williamson has progressed to “controlled scrimmages” – basically 5-on-5 fullcourt work against coaches and some of the back end of the roster. Still no further update on his playing status. -via Twitter @_Andrew_Lopez / April 7, 2022

Good try though.

But not sure why Trey isn’t the move. If we’re gonna send two, I’d want Trey running at whomever with his length. But meh. Again. Move on.

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Originally Posted by Taker597

What was that final line up. JV Lance Herb BI CJ?

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Rotations in the 4th were bad. Offense was broken both in terms of player execution and in terms of actual plays called. Defensive approach on CP3 was a joke, and that's largely on the coaching. We spent several minutes where we were dependent on Jose Alvarado for offense.

Now don't get me wrong, Alvarado is cool and it was great to watch him rise to that challenge and he's been productive and good for us. That does not mean we should be reliant on him to provide our entire offense for minutes at a time. That's just ridiculous. Yet it happened.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Naji Marshall: 2pts in 11 minutes
Nance: 2pts on 1/8 shooting in 23 minutes

Tell me again how Zion wouldn't help this team in a close loss. Do you think he could score more than 4 points?

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Don't forget TM3's stat line : 0/3/0 in almost 23 minutes.

Disappointing, but we were underdogs, so it's not exactly shocking. Can't change it now. Regroup and win Sunday.

WHERE IS ZION??????? WE NEED ALL HANDS ON DECK.

This just ruined my entire tomorrow’s day

Can’t wait until we get Lavine in the offseason

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Rotations in the 4th were bad. Offense was broken both in terms of player execution and in terms of actual plays called. Defensive approach on CP3 was a joke, and that's largely on the coaching. We spent several minutes where we were dependent on Jose Alvarado for offense.

Now don't get me wrong, Alvarado is cool and it was great to watch him rise to that challenge and he's been productive and good for us. That does not mean we should be reliant on him to provide our entire offense for minutes at a time. That's just ridiculous. Yet it happened.

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It was quite pathetic to be honest. How we used Trey... Or didn't use him to create spacing is another glaring issue.