December 7th - New Orleans Pelicans vs Detroit Pistons - 15-8

Wake up it's gameday!

🕖: 7:00pm CT
📺: Bally Sports NO
📻: @995WRNO#Pelicans | @SmoothieKing pic.twitter.com/G3FuBwgz8D

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 7, 2022

Fun fact: we played the Pistons last year on december 10th, almost exactly a year ago. Our record going into that game was 7-20. We wouldn't pick up 15 wins last season until January 11th, 41 games into the year.

Today has all the stereotypical makings of a trap game: Pistons are on a b2b, we've had some time off. We're a good team, at home, they're a bad team on the road. We have more talent, they've got injuries to their young centrepieces. This is like how you would script a trap game, if you could.

That means the Pels will need to be at their top level of focus. If we win tonight, we tie the Suns for the best record in the West - making the showdowns with them over the next week incredibly consequential: after all, they might decide a tie break.

Focus up, and play with intent. Let's see what happens.

In there last 3 games detroit has defeated the heat and mavs..despite there record they shouldn't be taken lightly. I do feel though that this team is in a serious mindset and have a goal in mind. Beat them convincingly and avoid injuries!

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Wake up it's gameday!

��: 7:00pm CT
��: Bally Sports NO
��: @995WRNO#Pelicans | @SmoothieKing pic.twitter.com/G3FuBwgz8D

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 7, 2022

Fun fact: we played the Pistons last year on december 10th, almost exactly a year ago. Our record going into that game was 7-20. We wouldn't pick up 15 wins last season until January 11th, 41 games into the year.

Today has all the stereotypical makings of a trap game: Pistons are on a b2b, we've had some time off. We're a good team, at home, they're a bad team on the road. We have more talent, they've got injuries to their young centrepieces. This is like how you would script a trap game, if you could.

That means the Pels will need to be at their top level of focus. If we win tonight, we tie the Suns for the best record in the West - making the showdowns with them over the next week incredibly consequential: after all, they might decide a tie break.

Focus up, and play with intent. Let's see what happens.

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nothing much for me to say on top of this.... play the game, regardless of who you are playing, and beat the teams you are supposedly better than....

No surprises on the injury front. BI, Herb, and Cade are all out.

ok Naji! put his man in the spin cycle lol

Maybe CJ just sucks now

Am I the only one who hates CJ as the 1?

He dribbles and does all this, and there' s nothing happening

This team is struggling

Shirt, Trey hurt

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Originally Posted by WhyHornetsWhy

Maybe CJ just sucks now

Am I the only one who hates CJ as the 1?

He dribbles and does all this, and there' s nothing happening

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i also feel that he dribbles too much. I'd be ok with it if he was on the 2nd unit and didnt have a lot of other options on offense. But with the starters he needs to prioritize ball movement and spot up shooting.

is it me or does Larry always miss a bone headed shot every single freaking game?

This team has to be #1 in turnovers...Either that, or I am watching too much Pelicans game

MOVE THE FRICK'N BALL!!!!!!

nevermind.

Th era of Naji slander is over. With Herb and Trey out he is handling business. Toughness of an enforcer, plays defense, unselfish smart passes, and breaking down the defense off the dribble.

nevermind.

aaaand Naji just sunk a three and then got a steal within about 15 second span

6th turnover.

7th turnover

good assist from CJ off the pick n roll with JV. We got 2 bigs on the floor right now JV and Nance

CJ doing way too much. Running into teammates, walking...all in one possession...

might be time for a timeout. Wide open blown coverage and then Jose with a hectic possession

Willie trying so hard to make CJ fit and he just ain't it, fam

that was weird defense from TM3. its like he tried to lure the guy by giving him an open line to the basket and then explode for a block but just clobbered him instead

TM3 lost focus or something. Just came in the game and picked up 3 silly fouls in 1 minute.

Man, i actually feel empathy for the guys who have to guard Zion. what are they supposed to do

I think it was Mac who called it, but someone said earlier this season that Zion is going to get hacked with no calls for about 10-15 games and struggle. Then the refs are going to start calling his fouls and he is going to dominate. Props for that call. Seems to be exactly what's happening. Love it!

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Originally Posted by AD-AT

I think it was Mac who called it, but someone said earlier this season that Zion is going to get hacked with no calls for about 10-15 games and struggle. Then the refs are going to start calling his fouls and he is going to dominate. Props for that call. Seems to be exactly what's happening. Love it!

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Pretty sure that guy constantly said Zion cant dominate on offense on account of only having 1 move

Pretty funny that in a game where CJ has continued his lack of scoring pop, where TM3 has had a number of dodgy possessions, and where Jose - a guy who scored 38 for us last game - has yet to make a shot, we're up 13 at half time.

I know it's the Pistons, I know we're at home, and I know quality play has come elsewhere for the most part (JV looked good, Nance has been good in his minutes) but the fact that we can have so much ''meh'' and still be up double digits on a bad team is just light years away from Pels teams of the past.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Pretty funny that in a game where CJ has continued his lack of scoring pop, where TM3 has had a number of dodgy possessions, and where Jose - a guy who scored 38 for us last game - has yet to make a shot, we're up 13 at half time.

I know it's the Pistons, I know we're at home, and I know quality play has come elsewhere for the most part (JV looked good, Nance has been good in his minutes) but the fact that we can have so much ''meh'' and still be up double digits on a bad team is just light years away from Pels teams of the past.

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Not to mention BI being out... we are just too deep! It can come from anywhere

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Originally Posted by hornetsrebirth

Man, i actually feel empathy for the guys who have to guard Zion. what are they supposed to do

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Tackle him to the ground, apparently.

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Originally Posted by Chris

Tackle him to the ground, apparently.

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There's a 50% chance the refs won't call it, and if you don't do it there's an 80% chance he'll score, so they're playing the odds.

Is Brandon Ingram dead or something?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Pretty funny that in a game where CJ has continued his lack of scoring pop, where TM3 has had a number of dodgy possessions, and where Jose - a guy who scored 38 for us last game - has yet to make a shot, we're up 13 at half time.

I know it's the Pistons, I know we're at home, and I know quality play has come elsewhere for the most part (JV looked good, Nance has been good in his minutes) but the fact that we can have so much ''meh'' and still be up double digits on a bad team is just light years away from Pels teams of the past.

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Why, you wonder?

It's called defense. Offense comes and goes; defense can be a constant (and should be),

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Originally Posted by HornetGuru

Is Brandon Ingram dead or something?

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it sounds like he has a rather minor injury but they are being cautious with it. We havent stopped winning while he's been out so no need to rush it

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Originally Posted by hornetsrebirth

it sounds like he has a rather minor injury but they are being cautious with it. We havent stopped winning while he's been out so no need to rush it

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He's had foot issues before, particular with his toe, so if it's recurring it's probably a good idea to rest it up whenever it starts to rear it's head.

At some point, I might have to accept CJ might never be a 20 ppg player ever again

whew Dyson sure does be missing his finishes at the rim

Zion does not have handles tonight man.

8th turnover

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Originally Posted by WhyHornetsWhy

At some point, I might have to accept CJ might never be a 20 ppg player ever again

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at some point you might have to relax and give the dude a little runway to get back in a groove. You're like fixated on him

Trey be shooting pretty far back from the 3 point line when its not always necessary

Is there a reason why Trey never takes normal 3's and averages more 3's from WAY behind the arc?

I'm just curious if there's a report somewhere about this

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Originally Posted by WhyHornetsWhy

Zion does not have handles tonight man.

8th turnover

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Zion does not have handles? You're tripping.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WhyHornetsWhy

Is there a reason why Trey never takes normal 3's and averages more 3's from WAY behind the arc?

I'm just curious if there's a report somewhere about this

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The further out you can shoot, the better. Trey actually shoots better from a few feet behind the line than he does right on the border (not sure why, I don't think it means anything significant it's just statistical trivia) so if he's comfortable doing it, why not? Means his defender has to be further away from the paint to guard him.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hornetsrebirth

Zion does not have handles? You're tripping.

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I said tonight.

3 turnovers by him from dribbling the ball

wtf. Zion jumped up to get the rebound, but the ball hung on the rim too long, so he just stayed in the air waiting to clean it up with a dunk.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hornetsrebirth

wtf. Zion jumped up to get the rebound, but the ball hung on the rim too long, so he just stayed in the air waiting to clean it up with a dunk.

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Gravity optional.

9th turnover

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Originally Posted by WhyHornetsWhy

9th turnover

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I'm not sure what you're talking about because no individual player has 9 turnovers and the team has more than 9.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WhyHornetsWhy

9th turnover

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NBA teams average between 13-14 turnovers per game you know that right.

Zion's basically hit his season averages (24/8/3) in 23 minutes of play.