GAME DAY (ish) - New Orleans Pelicans vs Orlando Magic - Preseason - 0-0

It's finally a Pelicans Gameday 👀

🏀: vs Magic
🕖: 7:00pm CT
📺: @BallySportsNO #Pelicans | @SmoothieKing pic.twitter.com/G9GVcf65DM

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) October 10, 2023

The season is back - well, preseason. So the games aren't 'real' and they don't represent anything in particular. And we still have a bunch of injuries but we're the Pelicans so that's normal.

Expect the main guys to play but not for heavy minutes, as per this:

Monday's #Pelicans practice report (Starters will play Tuesday vs. Magic in home preseason opener, will log under 20 minutes each; Willie Green expects to use a dozen-plus players in @SmoothieKingCtr): https://t.co/ylrKzjRnq4 pic.twitter.com/pHo9hlSXnw

— Jim Eichenhofer (@Jim_Eichenhofer) October 9, 2023

So 15 minutes, maybe 20 at a push, is about what you should expect. Still, it will be good to see Ingram, Zion, and CJ all on court at the same time again. Rare sight.

Let's see how it goes - it's preseason so results are far less important than process, and of course we are missing figures like Trey, but I still want to see some signs of life.

3pt shooting have been real hot in these preseason games... i just want to see if we have the hot hand in 3pt shooting in our first 2 games..

�� pic.twitter.com/sCLmRnSv24

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) October 10, 2023

Less than an hour away - lock in! ��

��: vs Magic
��: 7 pm CT
��: @BallySportsNO
��: @995WRNO pic.twitter.com/CoIhNX1IFE

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) October 10, 2023

Like that pass attempt from BI, didn't work out but looking for those shots is going to be big this year

Zion goes for a drive into space and get wacked in the face - the more things change, the more they stay the same

That play was nice, Zion with the rebound in a crowd, then rockets a pass cross-court to Herb from beyond the half court line, and Herb drives to draw the and 1

Zion get a lot of these layups just rolling out of the rim, bad luck so far.

BI's stroke looked good on that 3. Loved the lack of hesitation.

Kira's first play of the game and he can't get the ball past the half court line without being stripped.

Then a BI turnover after a completely missed rotation.

Pels just losing it here.

Kira banks a three, he definitely called bank

BI misses the turnaround jumper and Kira tips it in

I know that 3pt shot didn't go, but I love BI taking it. Dyson puts it in on the offensive board after, also good.

Zion's in at the 5

I thought that play was dead about three different times but it ends up with a Zion and-1 dunk. Can't complain about the results.

Zion back to the line after Anthony Black fouls him on the alley. He's 3/3 from the line so far

Great pass from Zion, Magic fouls to prevent the Naji dunk

ZION

Threw the long range pass to Dyson who wasn't expecting it, ball fumbles, but Zion gets it back himself and puts up the FT line floater in traffic to hit the buzzer beater.

Borrego's influence is already showing. This offense is more spread out and the ball movement is looking vastly improved from last year.

Ho Hum!! One quarter in and JV is well over half way to another double - double. What's new?

Lots of good stuff in that first quarter to take away. Love Kira's activity so far, love BI's decision making, off-ball CJ is about right, JV's looked nice, and Zion's warming up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ragincaucasian

Borrego's influence is already showing. This offense is more spread out and the ball movement is looking vastly improved from last year.

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The 3pt volume has me optimistic. One of our big issues last year was that we barely shot. Everyone's cited Borrego's focus on shooting more and thus far it's happened.

That was too easy. Zion skip pass from the post to Hawkins in the corner who nails a three - no defender within 6 feet.

Zion draws the foul on a fadeaway jumper, back to the line.

Zion with a little push shot/weird jump hook over Jonathan Isaac lmao