April 22nd - New Orleans Pelicans @ Orlando Magic - 25-33

[Pelicanidae]

Good morning and happy #PelicansGameday from Orlando ☀️

🏀 at Magic
🕕 6 p.m. CT
📺 @BallySportsNO
📻 100.3 FM @ESPNRadioNOLA @SmoothieKing | #WontBowDown pic.twitter.com/7zmC6TQIz6

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) April 22, 2021

On the road again, this time against Orlando.

Orlando haven't been a good team all year, and since losing Vucevic and Gordon they've become even worse. With a record of 18-40, the Magic have gone 1-10 over their last 11 games, and 4-19 since the All-Star break overall. In addition to Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac, both of whom are out for the season, last game they were also missing Michael Carter Williams, James Ennis, Otto Porter, and Terrance Ross: if any of these people are going to return tonight, we have not yet been informed.

On our end, Hart and NAW remain out and James Johnson is doubtful.

We have now lost 4 straight: let's see whether we continue that trend against an injury wracked bad team, or if the slide continues.

[ragincaucasian]

We are now locked into the top 10 pick. DO NOT SCREW THIS UP AND WIN!

http://www.tankathon.com/

We can easily get up ahead of Sacramento for the 7th pick if we drop 2 more.

[Taker597]

We are now locked into the top 10 pick. DO NOT SCREW THIS UP AND WIN!

http://www.tankathon.com/

We can easily get up ahead of Sacramento for the 7th pick if we drop 2 more.

I think it's pretty likely we win. Which isn't awful since we've closed the distance to the 7th pick.

Can't lose them all.

[PELICANSFAN]

We are now locked into the top 10 pick. DO NOT SCREW THIS UP AND WIN!

http://www.tankathon.com/

We can easily get up ahead of Sacramento for the 7th pick if we drop 2 more.

1.5 games out of 7th!

[JJackisangry]

NAW going down may have been a blessing in disguise honestly. He looked the only competent starting back court player we had. Not sure that THIS team making the playoffs will get any worthwhile experience if we can just be zoned to death and teams can hack Zion all night without any fear of a call.

[As I See It]

NAW going down may have been a blessing in disguise honestly. He looked the only competent starting back court player we had.

...and even that is arguable

[Pelicanidae]

NAW going down may have been a blessing in disguise honestly. He looked the only competent starting back court player we had. Not sure that THIS team making the playoffs will get any worthwhile experience if we can just be zoned to death and teams can hack Zion all night without any fear of a call.

NAW's growth this year has been super encouraging. He's not suddenly a superstar or anything but he's improved in so many categories very quickly.

2pt% has gone from 39.1% last year to 48.7% this year. 3pt% has stayed the same (about 35%) but on more than 2 extra attempts per game. FT% has gone from 67% to 75%. STL% and BLK% up, TOV% down, and BPM improved from -4.6 to -1.7 (still not great but far far better).

It's a shame that he got injured honestly because that's the season overall: in just his time as a starter his numbers were even better. In 10 games as a starter this year NAW averaged:

19pts, 5rbds, 3asts per game on 59.2%TS (including 45% from 3), with 2.7 steals per game and an overall +1.9 BPM. He was playing really well in that role. Small sample size alert, of course - the odds are that some of that would have regressed hard after some time, but he just looked so much better as a fit in that position.

[ColoradoCajun]

NAW's growth this year has been super encouraging. He's not suddenly a superstar or anything but he's improved in so many categories very quickly.

2pt% has gone from 39.1% last year to 48.7% this year. 3pt% has stayed the same (about 35%) but on more than 2 extra attempts per game. FT% has gone from 67% to 75%. STL% and BLK% up, TOV% down, and BPM improved from -4.6 to -1.7 (still not great but far far better).

It's a shame that he got injured honestly because that's the season overall: in just his time as a starter his numbers were even better. In 10 games as a starter this year NAW averaged:

19pts, 5rbds, 3asts per game on 59.2%TS (including 45% from 3), with 2.7 steals per game and an overall +1.9 BPM. He was playing really well in that role. Small sample size alert, of course - the odds are that some of that would have regressed hard after some time, but he just looked so much better as a fit in that position.

If NAW can keep up those numbers, he will be close enough to JA that I'd be glad the Pelicans didn't make that big trade up for the 1-2 spots.

[As I See It]

NAW's growth this year has been super encouraging. He's not suddenly a superstar or anything but he's improved in so many categories very quickly.

2pt% has gone from 39.1% last year to 48.7% this year. 3pt% has stayed the same (about 35%) but on more than 2 extra attempts per game. FT% has gone from 67% to 75%. STL% and BLK% up, TOV% down, and BPM improved from -4.6 to -1.7 (still not great but far far better).

It's a shame that he got injured honestly because that's the season overall: in just his time as a starter his numbers were even better. In 10 games as a starter this year NAW averaged:

19pts, 5rbds, 3asts per game on 59.2%TS (including 45% from 3), with 2.7 steals per game and an overall +1.9 BPM. He was playing really well in that role. Small sample size alert, of course - the odds are that some of that would have regressed hard after some time, but he just looked so much better as a fit in that position.

...there are two sides to every basketball court.

[luckyman]

NAW going down was definitely a huge nail in the coffin. It's even more perplexing that he got several healthy DNPs early in the season.

Hopefully Bledsoe's minutes remain in the 15 - 18 range...unless they want to lose.

[Pelicanidae]

If NAW can keep up those numbers, he will be close enough to JA that I'd be glad the Pelicans didn't make that big trade up for the 1-2 spots.

I mean, there's almost no chance he keeps those numbers up. 2.7 steals a game is absurd, and 45% from 3 is ridiculous as well.

But there's a real potential for him to have a consistently good steal rate (he's long and has good hands and constantly plays the passing lanes on D) and if he can keep that up along with developing his general defense (which is solid and hustle filled but occasionally mistake prone) and keeping up at 37 or 38% from 3, that's a very useful player.

[KoMikaera]

who is better naw or lonzo?

[As I See It]

who is better naw or lonzo?

NAW is a better 17th overall pick than Lonzo is, a # 2 overall pick. But, that's not what you asked.

At this point, the better ball player is Lonzo. and frankly, it isn't close.

[Pelicanidae]

Nice early start from Zion and Ingram, kind of a rough call for that screen honestly but I guess it's not the worst foul call against us we've ever had.

[Pelicanidae]

Great pocket pass from Naji and really strong decisive cut from Kira. Love to see it.

[Pelicanidae]

Zion drive scrambles defense, hands off to Naji who drops it off to Jax for the layup.

Nice ball movement.

[Pelicanidae]

Zion bucket in the post

[Pelicanidae]

That was a really solid defensive possession from everyone, you just have to put your hands up when someone nails the off-balance floater falling out of bounds from 12 feet lmao

[Pelicanidae]

Zion gets to the line again, he's 4/4 from there tonight

[Pelicanidae]

It's extremely weird seeing Gary Harris in a Magic uni

[Pelicanidae]

Zion to Kira to Jax in transition is a beautiful thing

[Taker597]

Zion and Ingram have been fire offensive for a few games

[Pelicanidae]

Big Adams fan: Adams on Bamba is not optimal, to say the least

Just to clarify - it's also not nightmarish. But it's just clear there's an unresolved tension with that pairing

[Pelicanidae]

Bledsoe a quick 4/4 from 3 lmao

[ragincaucasian]

So Bledsoe decides to show up now that we are all but out from the playoffs. Wonderful.