Game 25 Thread - December 8th - Pelicans @ Spurs- 5 -19

[P_B_&_G]

Sunday plans

🏀: at Spurs
📺: GCSEN/Pelicans+
📻: @WWLAMFM
⏰: 6 PM CT#Pelicans | @SmoothieKing pic.twitter.com/MqOqBo8vQY

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 8, 2024

I didn't expect a win last night but that start was abysmal. It was nice to see some fight though by getting it to 9 towards the end. Looks like Murray is starting to find his groove. We're going to need it since Imgram is officially listed as out indefinitely. Other than BI being swapped for Trey the starters should be the same. Hopefully they don't hold anyone out for load management because this is a winnable game otherwise.

I will say people are ragging on Willie for the lack of offense but last game was a perfect example. There were a ton of open shots missed after running offense. The Thunder didn't start missing shots until the second half. For some reason our guys miss too many open shots and lately free throws. If we can't knock down open shots and free throws at a high rate we aren't going to win many games. I don't think those 2 things are on the coach at this level. Other than accountability.

[msusousaphone]

Blaming the coach when like seven of our top nine players were injured wasn't just ignorance...it was willful ignorance.

Anyway, with the news of the BI injury being a high grade ankle sprain.....that's what....4 to 6 weeks normal team time and 8 to 10 Pels time....the season is over. There's mo point missing the two all-star players. Start the tank.

And with this being the, going off the top of my head, 5th season with this core derailed by injuries? It's time to blow the team up. The sad thing is we won't be able to get much for BI and Zion due to the durability issues. We'll get the most for Herb and TMIII. That will gut other posters to hear but we aren't competing with them as the franchise players and I doubt they stay for a total rebuild.

Green will have never gotten a fair shake. The team looked great when healthy....but there just isn't a big enough sample size to judge his prowess. But sometimes you just need a total change so I think it's time for a giant coaching staff and player purge.

[JJackisangry]

Blaming the coach when like seven of our top nine players were injured wasn't just ignorance...it was willful ignorance.

Anyway, with the news of the BI injury being a high grade ankle sprain.....that's what....4 to 6 weeks normal team time and 8 to 10 Pels time....the season is over. There's mo point missing the two all-star players. Start the tank.

And with this being the, going off the top of my head, 5th season with this core derailed by injuries? It's time to blow the team up. The sad thing is we won't be able to get much for BI and Zion due to the durability issues. We'll get the most for Herb and TMIII. That will gut other posters to hear but we aren't competing with them as the franchise players and I doubt they stay for a total rebuild.

Green will have never gotten a fair shake. The team looked great when healthy....but there just isn't a big enough sample size to judge his prowess. But sometimes you just need a total change so I think it's time for a giant coaching staff and player purge.

There is a massive difference between acknowledging the coach isn't good enough and blaming the coach for struggling with half the roster missing. I will just say it. He isn't good enough at this point in time. He is behind where he needs to be. It isn't his fault at all as he was given a very difficult job before he was ready. I am not bothered by Willie. I like him and hope he either gets it together here or somewhere else. But he isn't good enough. He likely won't be. Many coaches aren't and that is life. Either way the season is effectively over and it is time to take the club in a new direction. I would still fire Willie, but you could make the argument that we will have to reset and give him more time. I have seen enough and I think he needs to experience failure and learn from his mistakes. I don't think he will improve if he isn't held accountable. Whether it is fair or not, he hasn't gotten it done and didn't look like getting it done even when we were healthy.

[stevemadden504]

I'm not seeing anything from Trey. He should be stepping up at this point of his career.

[djrnno]

Lack of fundamentals is ALWAYS on the HC and the staff. And this team is fundamentally DUMB. And to NEVER come back from trailing in te 4th qtr is a big reason to fire WG

[Nichols]

I'm not seeing anything from Trey. He should be stepping up at this point of his career.

He's got the potential to be a really good role player. I wouldn't be upset with him not being a go to guy. That's just not what he's projected to be. And it wouldn't be fair to expect that from him.

[JJackisangry]

Lack of fundamentals is ALWAYS on the HC and the staff. And this team is fundamentally DUMB. And to NEVER come back from trailing in te 4th qtr is a big reason to fire WG

I'm less bothered by the 4th quarter statistic than us just never being able to put games away. Last year we struggled mightily in holding onto our leads. All you have to do is stop this team for 1 quarter and the game is yours. Willie will not make the adjustments in time to halt the bleeding. As you said, the fundamentals are a massive issue and partially to blame for our lack of consistency. We were getting by on talent alone. Now that the spotlight is on the head coach, it shows how far behind he is the rest of the pack. Gentry and Stan were better considering the talent at their disposal and that isn't an endorsement of either. I highly doubt we will move forward with Willie. He would have to have a massive turnaround.

And to add to the point about never putting games away, I think that is one of the reasons we struggle with health. We have to work too hard to win. We shouldn't have to blow our backs out every night to get a W. The lack of direction of this this team makes it that much harder on the players.

[Fedupfan]

I'm less bothered by the 4th quarter statistic than us just never being able to put games away. Last year we struggled mightily in holding onto our leads. All you have to do is stop this team for 1 quarter and the game is yours. Willie will not make the adjustments in time to halt the bleeding. As you said, the fundamentals are a massive issue and partially to blame for our lack of consistency. We were getting by on talent alone. Now that the spotlight is on the head coach, it shows how far behind he is the rest of the pack. Gentry and Stan were better considering the talent at their disposal and that isn't an endorsement of either. I highly doubt we will move forward with Willie. He would have to have a massive turnaround.

And to add to the point about never putting games away, I think that is one of the reasons we struggle with health. We have to work too hard to win. We shouldn't have to blow our backs out every night to get a W. The lack of direction of this this team makes it that much harder on the players.

This is about the best way to put it. Hit the nail on the head. The injuries are due to the play style and lack of fluidity. Everything is sporadic. When they do decide to show up, they get injured. The one thing about basketball is that people have to know where they need to be…. Pels players never do and end up scrambling right into an injury.