December 31st - New Orleans Pelicans vs Los Angeles Lakers - 18-14

New Year's Eve Hoops🙌

🏀 vs Lakers
🕕 6 pm CT
📺 @BallySportsNO
📻 @995WRNO #Pelicans | @SmoothieKing pic.twitter.com/lBrCFGWIfF

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 31, 2023

Here is a chance for us to win a game against the Lakers, who gave us a thorough beating in the in season tournament; I hope the team takes it.

Since the tournament, the Lakers are 3-7 including a loss to the Spurs. They've been struggling. We need to take advantage of that. Moreover, we have a situational advantage: coming off 2 days rest, the Lakers played last night and it was a tough game in which both Lebron and AD logged 39 minutes - and their travel situation is such that they're getting into New Orleans only about 12 hours before the game tonight.

So, they're struggling lately. It's the second game of a back to back for them, we're rested. Their best players played heavy minutes last game, ours haven't played in days. We're at home, they're on the road. And we have a reason - based on the last time we played them - to want a revenge game. This game is a real opportunity for our guys to prove something to themselves and others by showing up big. Further, last game we showed some promising signs of playing the right way in tough spots rather than resorting to lazy isolations, and I'm hoping that this is a sign of a new trend.

Let's see if they can do it.

Note: Trey Murphy is questionable for this game with left knee soreness. Injury Report otherwise remains the same.

Good to have Nance back for this game because we need all the help we can get against AD. The Lebron vs Zion matchup interests me, i think he usually does well with it and last game was more of an anomaly with Bron raising his level of intensity and Z not showing the slightest bit of urgency. Big game for Willie, see if he can learn from past mistakes and put guys in better positions this game (not use the 4/5 pick and roll)

D’Angelo Russell (bruised tailbone) and Cam Reddish (sore groin) are both out tonight vs. the Pelicans, per the Lakers.

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 31, 2023

So Trey got injured on that play where Marcus Smart dove into his legs, which the refs rewarded by giving him a foul call. Awesome way to incentivize player safety.

Turnover on the 4/5 screen. Willie did not learn. He has Jonas setting screens for Zion allowing AD to switch on him.

Pels playing faster, getting the ball up the court quickly to start the game

Zion making some lazy passes

Dyson before Jose' I like this move (nothing against Jose')

CJ absolutely torching them from 3!! Put respect on his name

Kinda missing the game cause it's new year's stuff here right now, happy new year to all, might check in again in a bit!

Box score looks good!

Jose got us an extra possession with full court pressure. Pels played with good energy in the first quarter

197 is gassed!!

The ball is moving on offense!

Jose's play on LeBron should be a Top 10 Play of the day!!

How they going to leave Jonas guarding Lebron in iso on the perimeter

their going to keep doing it huh

Alvaradooooo!!!!

Holy **** Jose just came down the floor and ripped the ball from lebron (again) and Herb somehow hit back to back corner 3s? its rolling for the pels right now

Jose is just a menace on defense. Herb is 3/3 from 3

BI is quietly one of our best iso defenders. He has quick enough feet to stay in front of guys and then rely on that crazy wingspan to stifle shots.

You know that BI didn't foul Reaves on that last shot. Reaves lost his balance. Willie should have challenged that.

Why are they settling for 3's man

What an incompetent play

Somebody call DCFS. Jose's committing elder abuse against LBJ

Jose is a beast

Be prepared. These last 4 minutes, we're going to have to beat LeBron, the Lakers, and the refs.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RobertM320

Be prepared. These last 4 minutes, we're going to have to beat LeBron, the Lakers, and the refs.

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YA THINK??

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Originally Posted by djrnno

YA THINK??

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I don't THINK. I KNOW.

I feel like this team doesn't have enough plays in the playbook or something sometimes...Like, is it just me or does it seem like they don't know what they are doing sometimes and just passing the ball randomly?

via GIPHY

....and LaTurd couldn't hang around to shake hands. What a F...!!!!

We may be one Laker injury away from a Lottery Pick.

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Originally Posted by As I See It

....and LaTurd couldn't hang around to shake hands. What a F...!!!!

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He always seems to do that. I would have thought that leaving courtside just because you're pissed you're about to lose would be against league policy.

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Originally Posted by RobertM320

He always seems to do that. I would have thought that leaving courtside just because you're pissed you're about to lose would be against league policy.

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If he won he would be sticking around saying happy new year to everyone.

Happy New Year everyone. Even the eternal pessimists who disappear after every impressive win.

Got back from the game. Bi enjoyed this one. I enjoyed it as well. Jose was really fun to watch.

Lebron went to the locker room before the game was over. I wonder what the inner hatred is about.

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Originally Posted by AussieHornet

If he won he would be sticking around saying happy new year to everyone.

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And giving hugs.

Just rewatched most of the game - attention kinda divided so I can't pretend to have given it 100% focus - but it seems pretty good. A few ugly turnovers from Zion, especially early, and BI started the scoring slow, but Zion picked up the handle after the first quarter and BI started scoring in the second half, so they mostly made up for it. Great defensive game from BI - he's done that a few games in a row now, where his scoring has started slow but he's compensated by increased defensive work, which is great to see.

Strong start from CJ then he went cold for the 2nd and 3rd quarters mostly.

JV solid. Nance continues to look better than he has since February at least. Jose was on full ''irritating pest'' mode, in the best way possible.

Great win to close the year out, solid performances from everyone, happy new year to the board.

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Originally Posted by WhyHornetsWhy

What an incompetent play

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How's that 10 game losing streak going?

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Just rewatched most of the game - attention kinda divided so I can't pretend to have given it 100% focus - but it seems pretty good. A few ugly turnovers from Zion, especially early, and BI started the scoring slow, but Zion picked up the handle after the first quarter and BI started scoring in the second half, so they mostly made up for it. Great defensive game from BI - he's done that a few games in a row now, where his scoring has started slow but he's compensated by increased defensive work, which is great to see.

Strong start from CJ then he went cold for the 2nd and 3rd quarters mostly.

JV solid. Nance continues to look better than he has since February at least. Jose was on full ''irritating pest'' mode, in the best way possible.

Great win to close the year out, solid performances from everyone, happy new year to the board.

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Happy New Year. dae!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WhyHornetsWhy

I feel like this team doesn't have enough plays in the playbook or something sometimes...Like, is it just me or does it seem like they don't know what they are doing sometimes and just passing the ball randomly?

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The offensive playbook leaves a lot to be desired. The really good news is Nance is playing more like his old self so we are allowed to go small ball and cause teams problems. What stood out to me though is shooting- we were 12-22 early and that really allowed us to establish ourselves. We need to be consistent from beyond the arc and be willing to take more shots. That starts with getting guys like BI more comfortable spotting up and stepping into 3’s. Hopefully Jose and Herb keep improving there and we find a way to utilize Trey with everyone healthy. It’s been really inconsistent.

Not much to add. Hawkins had a few looks from deep he passed on that I think he should’ve let fly.

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Originally Posted by neworleanshoo

Happy New Year everyone. Even the eternal pessimists who disappear after every impressive win.

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It's New Years Eve. I had things to do.

Don't look now, but the Pels have just moved into sixth place in the West compliments of the Jazz.