December 23rd - New Orleans Pelicans @ Toronto Raptors - 0-0

[Pelicanidae]

My internet went out at the half, so I'm going to have to rewatch the second half later in order to really comment on it, but I'm glad we won! Just looking at the statline isn't everything, but I'm glad that the turnovers appeared to calm down in the second half a bit (9 in the second half vs 15 in the first) and that the FT shooting looked to have improved (3/10 in the first half, 7/10 in the second).

Also looks like Ingram had a pretty huge second half, which is great. He hit a few nice shots early but was otherwise largely a non-factor in that first half, taking only 4 shots total I think for something like 6 points, and given how much of our offense generally relies on him hitting shots that's an issue, so him warming up that second half is great to see.

Lonzo went 1/5 in the first half and apparently 3/4 in the second, so that's good, and calmed the turnovers down; apparently he threw some stupid passes though, according to Twitter? Gotta wait and see what that's about.

Zion didn't have a huge scoring game, but I thought in the first half his defense looked pretty okay. Not perfect, it was inconsistent, but there were moments on ball that were really good and a few rotations that had me nodding, so let's hope that improvement continues. Did it look good in the second half too, or was there a fall off? In any case, I'm totally happy with a statline of 15/10/3 on 7/9 shooting (78%), particularly in a game where several other people appear to have had their scoring game turned on. Raptors are a big challenge because they're an elite defensive team with a good coach and strong personnel, so I think it's understandable: this was Zion's 25th professional game.

The vets appear to have really showed up as well; Bledsoe, Adams, and Redick putting in their shifts and earning their paycheques.

Looking forward to watching the second half!

[Algiersraised]

It’s just bad people want lonzo gone to the point that he has to play a perfect game or he’s trash and don’t have a player that’s a viable replacement that we know our superstars will like playing with

[Creative]

What a superb 2 half... Great team win and We played very good defence... I'm really proud of our guys.

[Pelicanidae]

Some thoughts from the advanced stats:

Every member of our starting 5 shot 60% or better TS. We're gonna win a lot of games if that continues

Zion and Ingram both had 3 deflections, Adams and Bledsoe both had 4. Zion and Adams led the Pels in overall shot contests with 11 and 13 respectively.

Something I wanna point out:

Our Starters Net Ratings, 1st Half-

Ingram: -13
Zion: -9
Adams: 0.0
Lonzo: -30.4
Bledsoe: -6.5

Our Starters Net Ratings, 2nd Half-

Ingram: +60.8
Zion: +27.5
Adams: +62.1
Lonzo: +59.0
Bledsoe: +30.1

Now of course Net Rating is not an individual stat really and relies on who the guys were on the court with and who the opponents were playing at those times, so you can't just go ''Oh, 62.1, so Adams had the best second half'' but still, the vast difference between those 1st and 2nd half ratings tells us something.

[pelicanchamp]

This team is different... I like how they attacked Toronto everywhere.... We need to get better with FT shooting percentage. If we can cut down on turnovers just a little bit and improve FT shooting I think we can beat elite teams on a regular basis.

Does having Bledsoe help the Pels when facing tough eastern conference teams? It seems like he would know a lot more about how to beat these teams considering he was on the Bucks.


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[MichaelMcNamara]

Some thoughts from the advanced stats:

Every member of our starting 5 shot 60% or better TS. We're gonna win a lot of games if that continues

Zion and Ingram both had 3 deflections, Adams and Bledsoe both had 4. Zion and Adams led the Pels in overall shot contests with 11 and 13 respectively.

Something I wanna point out:

Our Starters Net Ratings, 1st Half-

Ingram: -13
Zion: -9
Adams: 0.0
Lonzo: -30.4
Bledsoe: -6.5

Our Starters Net Ratings, 2nd Half-

Ingram: +60.8
Zion: +27.5
Adams: +62.1
Lonzo: +59.0
Bledsoe: +30.1

Now of course Net Rating is not an individual stat really and relies on who the guys were on the court with and who the opponents were playing at those times, so you can't just go ''Oh, 62.1, so Adams had the best second half'' but still, the vast difference between those 1st and 2nd half ratings tells us something.

We got hot from three in the 2nd half and the Raptors missed WIDE open 3's. I wish I could act like there were some major defensive adjustments and some fantastic lineups SVG found to turn the game around, but go back and watch from the mid 3rd quarter on when we took the lead and it was as simple as we hit some tough shots with two guys getting red hot and then OG and Powell missing some WIDE open 3's.

There Game was in the low and mid 70's score wise - watch that stretch. SVG is throwing his hands up in the air as we miss rotation after rotation, but the Raptors just missed. Went 0-10 in the third from 3, I believe. We went 8 of 9 or 9 of 10. That was the game. Not saying we played bad and got lucky. Just saying -- dont look at the result and assume we found something. Go watch that 3rd quarter again. We didnt 'outplay' them by 16 points. We got hot, they got crazy cold.

[Pelicanidae]

There Game was in the low and mid 70's score wise - watch that stretch. SVG is throwing his hands up in the air as we miss rotation after rotation, but the Raptors just missed. Went 0-10 in the third from 3, I believe. We went 8 of 9 or 9 of 10. That was the game. Not saying we played bad and got lucky. Just saying -- dont look at the result and assume we found something. Go watch that 3rd quarter again. We didnt 'outplay' them by 16 points. We got hot, they got crazy cold.

At no point did I assume that we'd 'solved' the Raptors or whatever. Shooting variance is a thing in every game, sometimes you hit and sometimes you lose. We've lost enough games over the last few years based on guys just being unable to find the broad side of a barn to teach any fan that much.

The problem is we had games last year where the other guys couldn't hit anything, that we blew anyway because we just had nothing. Obviously you can't take much, if anything at all, from a game where you happen to get hot at precisely the same time as the other guys go ice cold, but the Pelicans from last November would have found a way to lose this game anyway, I'm fairly sure.

That doesn't mean we're fixed, but there were some decent signs this game.

[MichaelMcNamara]

I agree, there were some decent signs. But I could also see us playing the exact same way and losing, and then the sky is falling for some. Which is the issue when you value the results more than the process. Results often can just be luck, and dont help you predict the future as much as you might think. Then, luck goes the other way and people burn message boards down because expectations were up.

Fact is that almost every guy on the Pels played with max effort and they fought through some struggles to eventually come out on top. That is always better than losing. But when we lose future games, we can see traces of why in this game. Zion still never runs. He doesnt get back on D and his rotations are awful. They are still careless with the ball, and when the ball swings, their help D and rotations are still poor. Long way to go.

But of course, you always take a win and are happy you got one.

[PolishFan]

Great game. I liked the rotations by the coach. I really liked the effort from Bledsoe and Adams. I think Zion should get more touches even though he makes mistakes. We have a really nice team I also like that the traveling is finally being called in NBA and that they were letting them play.

[Wowowowow]

I agree, there were some decent signs. But I could also see us playing the exact same way and losing, and then the sky is falling for some. Which is the issue when you value the results more than the process. Results often can just be luck, and dont help you predict the future as much as you might think. Then, luck goes the other way and people burn message boards down because expectations were up.

Fact is that almost every guy on the Pels played with max effort and they fought through some struggles to eventually come out on top. That is always better than losing. But when we lose future games, we can see traces of why in this game. Zion still never runs. He doesnt get back on D and his rotations are awful. They are still careless with the ball, and when the ball swings, their help D and rotations are still poor. Long way to go.

But of course, you always take a win and are happy you got one.

Lol I swear this is a common case of personal expectations vs reality. Also, we are going down the same imaginary lane of “effort” equals just exhausting energy when playing smart always beats unnecessary flailing just cause.

Pelicandae just pointed out that Zion was near the tops in contested shots. Let me ask you something? Would you be commenting on Luka in this same way after a game the Mavs win and holds a team under 100 points? Have you ever watched his defense and put it under a magnifying glass? Or are your expectations of perfection getting in the way of reality?

You can tell the strategy now that SVG has in place is for Zion to hammer the on ball in a screen and shrink the floor behind the play to give up the outside shots. My opinion? They should switch all the time - and the few times they did for example Eric Bledsoe mysteriously just left his man out the blue to return back.

Watch the plays and if you are so detailed in watching, please share with me time stamps where we blatantly missed rotations. On ball in triple threat on an island, Z is a beast. In 25 games, it’s going to be hard pressed to find 4 buckets made on him straight up that wasn’t a settled 3. Every player is going to get beat in some form of rotations on first step advantage kick outs. If Zion never runs over then yes I would be right there with you on this argument. But again....the contested shots thing kind of exposes you as just an eye test watcher. Or are we complaining about Pascal beating him in a full court transitions bucket? Lol it’s Siakim! And the rule is to build a wall as a team. That’s why eye test lies because if you study every player - they all will look like they gave up a shot if your expectations is they should stop every play lol

Please post time stamps in this game. Please!

[MichaelMcNamara]

I am not going to time stamp. But if you are open to watching objectively, like I said, it was while the game was in low to high 70s. That stretch. OG got 3 open threes. All off Zion getting lost and or giving low effort.

But its fine. We can't criticize the golden goose. I see it differently. The only way we win a title is if he someday becomes Lebron or KD level of impact. Thats the standard to hold him to. And with effort he shows he will never get close to that. Wanna play the timestamp game? Find me a timestamp where Zion actually runs or sprints. And for every one you find, I will find you 100 where he walks or waddles up court and 10 where he pouts and doesn't get back on D

[Wowowowow]

I am not going to time stamp. But if you are open to watching objectively, like I said, it was while the game was in low to high 70s. That stretch. OG got 3 open threes. All off Zion getting lost and or giving low effort.

But its fine. We can't criticize the golden goose. I see it differently. The only way we win a title is if he someday becomes Lebron or KD level of impact. Thats the standard to hold him to. And with effort he shows he will never get close to that. Wanna play the timestamp game? Find me a timestamp where Zion actually runs or sprints. And for every one you find, I will find you 100 where he walks or waddles up court and 10 where he pouts and doesn't get back on D

Nobodies saying Zion can?t be criticized, but it?s obvious some of you are wishing on a past star here - when Zion is a totally different player than Lebron or KD. They are legitimate PERIMETER players.

Lebron and KD made decisions in their career to leave franchises to team up to win titles. What is the history being taught here in basketball?

If you can complain but can?t give accurate timestamps (what legitimate basketball watchers once you really take filming serious) and only have a ?mirage? of ?it?s somewhere around this score? then Im not even going to waste time because you?re fake serious about basketball.

[HartOfaPelican]

Woah woah woah. These last few comments have been WAAAYYYY too sensible people. Come on... let?s get back to our emotional and unrealistic selves.

I?ve always been a Zo fan. It?s good to see that we?re able to look past the TO tonight and see tonight?s game for what it was, which is a step in the right direction for Zo and the entire team.

The good:
- Zion moving to his right at the rim.
- Zo?s shooting and D
- Ingram doing Ingram
- Adam?s being the beast down low we needed.
- JJ showing everyone how it?s done.
- Hart playing with energy as usual.
- A coach that ACTUALLY takes TO when we need it. Also, makes good rotations.

The Bad:
- Too many TO but I?d imagine Gundy will address that.
- Make a dang FT! That will lose us games in the future.


All in all. Great first game! Looking forward to the game on Christmas.

[Pelicanidae]

My opinion? They should switch all the time - and the few times they did for example Eric Bledsoe mysteriously just left his man out the blue to return back.

I'm ignoring most of this post because I don't want to get involved in the argument, but I do just want to comment on this.

This was something that really irritated me in the first half (I've now watched the second half, and it didn't show up as much after halftime). There were a number of plays where multiple guys switched and then Bledsoe just ended up... not doing it? Like, just kind of abandoning a guy, which left someone else (often Zion) running from the corner or the baseline where his man was to try and cover the wide open shot. Of course, to casual watchers, that just looks like Zion having to sprint to contest a shot and they read that as Zion being late, when in reality it's Zion trying to cover for Bledsoe completely missing his man.

That's not to say there were no plays where Zion played poor defense, of course those are there in the tape too, but just a handful of those irked me because they weren't really his fault.

[Wecandothis]

Good win. Ingram looks even better and could break into the top 10 players in the league. Adams is making an impact. What a difference a good coach makes.

[JJackisangry]

If we want to take it to the next level, BI needs to become a guy that can consistently make low percentage looks when called upon. That 3 in the defenders face to end the quarter was spectacular and precisely the type of clutchness we need to see from him. That is how you break great defense. That is how you demoralize your opponent.

[pelicanchamp]

Did anyone consider the possibility that being 6?6? 285lbs could put a lot of pressure on his body and increase risk for injury or long term chronic injuries?

Remember, Zion was specifically working with medical staff when he rehabbed last season. They focused on teaching him to walk and run differently to decrease risk for injury.

I think Zion has A LOT of work to do BUT, so far he?s been incredible.


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[smcgull]

I agree. Even when it works it makes me cringe.

And Hart needs to stop these 1 on 4 fast breaks.

Just silly habits the previous regime allowed that needs to be exorcised.

One on four fast breaks. 😃

[Pelicanidae]

Did anyone consider the possibility that being 6?6? 285lbs could put a lot of pressure on his body and increase risk for injury or long term chronic injuries?

Remember, Zion was specifically working with medical staff when he rehabbed last season. They focused on teaching him to walk and run differently to decrease risk for injury.

I think Zion has A LOT of work to do BUT, so far he?s been incredible.


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It has been considered at excruciating length.

[DaPelFromHell]

I hate not getting to watch these games since Hulu doesn’t have FSN anymore. Can’t wait to see them live tomorrow for the first time. The top 7 guys in the rotation are legit. Hopefully Hayes, Melli, NAW, and maybe Kira down the road pick their games up cause we will be a force if so. Those 4 don’t have much NBA experience, so they should get better. I wish we would of signed a better veteran big than Hernangomez who isn’t much of a vet lol. Like I’ve said before we are better IMO with Bledsoe & Adams over Jrue & Favors in that starting lineup by far. Zion got into foul trouble, but still have a decent game. BI was a monster in the 2nd half. JJ raining 3s! Finally some team defense!!

We have to cut down on the turnovers & make free throws. We not beating the upper echelon of the west without fixing those issues..

[6warddude]

lonzo and bledsoe back court defense was looking like the potential back court defense i was hoping for under gentry with jrue and lonzo....... bledsoe had some brain farts on defensive switching that is easy to fix...if those 2 put the effort on being menacing on defense with adams backing them up,,the starting unit can be real good defensively....

[Eman5805]

God, I hope my fears are just that.

[ragincaucasian]

Not bad at all for a first game. SVG hasn’t even had time to experiment lineup wise yet, and we still pulled out a win. We need to correct our perimeter defense and free throws, but the effort is definitely there that was not there last year. Ingram being 1 rebound away from a triple double shows that. Zion’s turnovers were annoying, as was Zo’s full court pass that took Zion out of bounds. Like cmon dude, we are making a comeback here....don’t mess with the momentum with stupid decisions.

[luckyman]

I havent had a chance to re-look at the game, but a lot of those early 3s the Raptors were making were from designed plays. Many of those 3s were behind double-stacked screens.

If you want to design plays to shoot from 27 ft, then eventually you hope those shots stop falling. And they did.

[new city champ]

Think it's fine to dig into the numbers to see where the Pels underperformed even in a victory. Maybe especially after a victory. But I think you have to be fair about it and not cherry pick data to make your point.

For example, the Pels were red hot in the third quarter and shot out of their minds while the Raps were ice cold. Happens fairly often in stretches of NBA games. But for the game the Pels were 19-42 from the arc, 45.2%. Very good. Raps 14-46, 30.4%. Not great but not flat out terrible. So the Pels enjoyed a 15-point advantage from behind the arc in a 14-point win. So let's even it out a little and say the Pels only go 16-42, or 38% from the arc. Respectable. And the Raps go a similar 17-46, or 37%. Now they Raps win by 4, 108-104. But if you want to play that game I'd argue the Pels going 50% from the FT line is a statistical anomaly as well (at least let's hope so). Let's say instead Pels go 15-20, 75%. Then they still squeak out a win.

Sorry for the cliche, but it is very much a make or miss league. If you take and miss a lot of three pointers, on most nights you lose. You can say "well, they got more open threes than we did" and you might be right because Toronto is a better defensive team than we are at this point for sure. It also may be that the Pels, like the Bucks, are going to pick their poison defensively and give up looks from the 3-point line in favor of keeping people away from the rim, which has worked out for Milwaukee defensively pretty well for the most part.

We are a long way from being among the top defensive teams, but for a start I liked the activity last night, getting in the passing lanes, better blocking out on the boards. Of course we aren't going to shoot 45% from the arc most nights, but with Zion sucking folks into the paint, we may turn out to be an upper-tier shooting team if Brandon, JJ, Bledsoe and Lonzo can raise their averages a tick or two on open shots.