25th February - New Orleans Pelicans @ Los Angeles Lakers - 25-32

[msusousaphone]

A good half against a great team.....and considering how bad we started, it's really been a great half after that.

[Eman5805]

Yeah. Can't remember who, maybe Andrew Lopez, but someone posted a while ago on Twitter that Zion was specifically working on his FT form with a shooting coach, and noted that we should therefore be understanding if his FT stroke comes and goes from time to time.

Which has been what's happened. Shot badly first 3 games, then shot like 75% for 8 games, has now shot badly again for a little while. Sucks but it happens when you're changing the shot.

There's not a whole lot you can do during the season in terms of player development. I cannot wait to see what things Zion improves on this offseason.

[JunkHead]

Yep. The issue is, who do you put on him otherwise? Ingram's the right height but weighs about 60lbs too little. Favors is tall enough, but is too slow on the perimeter. Hart is strong but he's even smaller than Jrue is. Zion's the right height, weight, and speed, but hasn't got anything like the experience yet.

You're right.

Yup. That's my whole reply. That's all I got.

[kinglio21093]

58-64 at the half?

I'll take it.

I don't expect this to be a win at all. As long as it's competitive, I'm happy.

I wanna beat them. They're the worst.

[Pelicanidae]

Halftime Stats

Zion: 17 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal. 6/10 shooting (60%), 5/8 from FT line (62.5%).
Ingram: 18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists. 7/12 shooting (58.3%). 0/3 from 3.
Jrue: 7 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals. 3/8 shooting (37.5%). 1/2 from 3.
Favors: 2 points, 1 steal, 1 block. 1/1 shooting.
Lonzo: 2 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists. 1/4 shooting (25%). 0/2 from 3.


Bench

Redick: 0 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists. 0 shots taken.
Hart: 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist. 1/1 shooting.
Melli: 9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist. 4/5 shooting; 1/2 from 3.

Want to see more Zion + Melli minutes in the second half.

[As I See It]

On a side note: At the half Portland is down by 8 to the Celtics.

[Biasvasospasm]

You're right.

Yup. That's my whole reply. That's all I got.

And Zion is playing AD 1-on-1 well. Making him work for it, anyway.

I'd put Melli on him if Favors isn't in the game? About the right size, guards the perimeter better than Favors, not dumb.

[As I See It]

Start Melli in the third!!! Melli has to be on the court with Zion.

[Pelicanidae]

Always want to point out that Zion, despite having general team defense issues tonight, has played largely solid defense on Anthony Davis when they've matched up.

[Biasvasospasm]

Always want to point out that Zion, despite having general team defense issues tonight, has played largely solid defense on Anthony Davis when they've matched up.

Zion's one-on-one defense is fine. He is immovable, which helps guarding post players. His main issue so far is that he almost never helps off his man even if he clearly has help responsibility.

[Pelicanidae]

Zion's one-on-one defense is fine. He is immovable, which helps guarding post players. His main issue so far is that he almost never helps off his man even if he clearly has help responsibility.

I think that's a response from the coaches, honestly. In pre-season, his issue was largely that he helped too much; often too early, and over-committed which left him off his man and unable to recover. I wouldn't be surprised if the coaches response to that was to tell him to stay home far more strictly, until the game slows down for him on that end.

[superstar7th]

Gentry should never use a small ball lineup at all.

[PaKwAn]

We simply do not have anybody that could guard the lebron/gallinari type sf... KD build type we can afford to let ingram guard but the bigger ones we just have no answer.

[kidjock24]

How many ticky tack fouls away from the ball are they gonna call?

[kinglio21093]

A lot of the fouls that these refs have been calling on the Pels have been off the ball and they seem mad ticky tack.

[Taker597]

I will say... If I ever develop a time machine. Ja Morant will be our PG.

[Eman5805]

Good thing AD still would rather pull up than drive through traffic with someone smaller on him.

[kinglio21093]

Alrighty.

[JunkHead]

Lebron making 3's = game over. Might as well end it now if that ******** is happening.

[kidjock24]

Bron can't miss

[13 - 3]

We still not there yet

[Pelicanidae]

Sigh

[msusousaphone]

It's very important that we start hot once this halftime is over.

[Biasvasospasm]

A bunch of bad shots and bad defense with predictable results.

[msusousaphone]

I will say... If I ever develop a time machine. Ja Morant will be our PG.

Would this time machine also include an old school NES Game Genie?