April 19th - New Orleans Pelicans @ Phoenix Suns - Playoff Game 2 - 0-1

[Pelicanidae]

Back at it 💪

Game 2:
🏀: at Suns
🕘: 9 pm CT
📺: @BallySportsNO / @NBAonTNT
📻: @ESPNRadioNOLA#OneNOLA | @SmoothieKing pic.twitter.com/EiF7jWmxA7

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) April 19, 2022

We go again. Hopefully some lessons have been learned from game one, some adjustments are made, and we don't come out in such glacial fashion again. Fingers crossed.

[MichaelMcNamara]

Scott Foster and Tony Brothers tonight........Pels might actually win one!!

[DarkHornet]

Scott Foster and Tony Brothers tonight........Pels might actually win one!!

We might win one, or we might have one of our players suspended for the postseason based on a Tony Brothers call

[Spec3333]

For those unaware of CP3's history with Scott Foster:

https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nba-f...l-scott-foster

And of course the Suns lost to the Bucks in game 6 of the NBA Finals last year to give the Bucks the championship. Both Foster and Tony Brothers reffed that game

[Freyfamilyreuni]

Any particular reason that we don't start Larry Nance Jr over Jaxson Hayes? The biggest problem with out starting unit is that outside of Herb they're really not that good defensively, and don't have a reliable rim protector. Larry Nance would seemingly fix that and probably be a more consistent offensive threat than Jaxson as well. I know that this might leave our bench more vulnerable, but if you're smart on your rotations and don't get in foul trouble you should be able to get around that.

And I think that Jaxson would be better served coming into the game later and perhaps deal with Phoenix's bench bigs as opposed to their starters.

[AD-AT]

Lol maybe we can put Herb on CP3 all night and he won't get as many rookie fouls with Foster calling the game.

Could you start Trey at 4 instead of Nance or Jax? Or would he just get bullied?

[neworleanshoo]

9pm CT. Geez.

[Pelicanidae]

Any particular reason that we don't start Larry Nance Jr over Jaxson Hayes? The biggest problem with out starting unit is that outside of Herb they're really not that good defensively, and don't have a reliable rim protector. Larry Nance would seemingly fix that and probably be a more consistent offensive threat than Jaxson as well. I know that this might leave our bench more vulnerable, but if you're smart on your rotations and don't get in foul trouble you should be able to get around that.

And I think that Jaxson would be better served coming into the game later and perhaps deal with Phoenix's bench bigs as opposed to their starters.

This is not a Jax series, that seems fairly obvious, and bench concerns shouldn't be as major an issue at this point since playoff rotations should be shrinking anyway. I think moving Trey into the starting lineup for additional shooting is a bigger priority than Nance, especially since lineups including Trey have been fantastic for us for a good little while now - including defensively, funnily enough - but I do think prioritising Nance minutes over Jax minutes makes a lot of sense and I'd honestly be fine with just not playing Jax in this series at all. Outside of super foul situations, I suppose.

[Pelicanidae]

Lol maybe we can put Herb on CP3 all night and he won't get as many rookie fouls with Foster calling the game.

Could you start Trey at 4 instead of Nance or Jax? Or would he just get bullied?

I'd start Trey tbh. I get the concern about him getting bullied but Jax just gets murdered by CP3 in the pick and roll anyway so it's not like the defensive consequences would be worse. At least Trey has slightly more consistent footwork and presents an offensive threat that Jax doesn't right now.

[Taker597]

Especially, if all jax is gonna do is camp out in the corner 3....

[luckyman]

Either start Trey or move Jax around and use him correctly.

When PHX is selling out on BI and CJ, Jaxson should be a constant lob threat. I can't remember the last time they even tried.

The 2 bottom pics look like wasted opportunities.

How the Suns defended Jax to start G1 pic.twitter.com/Z4Mis5cIrD

— Christian Clark (@cclark_13) April 18, 2022

[luckyman]

Not having a 1st half (or any half) of 5 - 19 on open shots would also help.

[Pelicanidae]

Not having a 1st half (or any half) of 5 - 19 on open shots would also help.

We had 3 bench points in the first half last game. That'll put anyone in a hole, generally, so yeah if we can avoid starting like that we'll have a slightly better chance for sure.

Also, none of our big 3 had particularly good nights. Ingram started the game efficiently but shot 2/6 in the second half, CJ went 5/8 in the 4th quarter but shot 4/13 through the first three quarters, and JV went 4/14 through three quarters too.

If they can just return somewhat to their norms rather than going hot and cold all night as a trio, we'll be alright.

[13 - 3]

Monty says Ayton is fine. Will play

[DroopyDawg]

Monty says Ayton is fine. Will play

I forgot he got hurt. let Reggie tell it Herb attempted murder on Ayton.

[SonOfNOLA]

Got a feeling we’re winning this game

[Taker597]

Pelicans reddit really on that bs.

[Taker597]

I honestly hope that new arena deal goes through.. SKC is rough man when I visited Wednesday.If they can get that waterfront spot by the aquarium in that parking lot. That would probably be dopest arena tourism set up in the league.

[msusousaphone]

Positive GIFfrom Larry David GIFs

We're going to win by 12.

[Chris]

Good rebounding so far.

[AD-AT]

Hayes getting involved on the first O board. I like it. Find some way to contribute until you can score.

[Chris]

Val picking up where he left off...

[As I See It]

Move your feet defensively, JAX!!

[Taker597]

So.. Willie is gonna run back game 1? Not shocked. Sadly.. Playoff series don't give Willie 56 games to make adjustments.

[neworleanshoo]

please - ball - through the hoop - thanks