October 25th - New Orleans Pelicans @ Memphis Grizzlies - 0-0

[Pelicanidae]

Time for the real deal - it's #PelicansGameday 😄

🏀: at Memphis
🕖: 7 pm CT
📺: @BallySportsNO
📻: @995WRNO#Pelicans | @SmoothieKing pic.twitter.com/OhDiG0ybT8

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) October 25, 2023

So here it is, first game of the real season. A number of injuries plague us, but that's just Pels Life so nobody is surprised. First three games of preseason were awful, the last one was good. Let's see whether the team has figured anything out in the last 2 weeks.

Here's to another one.

[Mrakar]

On paper we should be winning this. They have Smart as decision maker now and no Tyus Jones. They dont have rebounders(we suck at rebounding and this is rare opportunity to win in this category). They are f'ed with injuries and suspensions even more than we are.

However they have one thing going for them. They play hard!!!
Of course that is something we cant say about our team. That ahould be enough for them to win and if i was betting i would put them with 7.5 point difference.

We have our chance. We need to get the ball to Zion and let him attack JJJ. Yes, he will het blocked 3-4 times in first quarter but JJJ will also pick up 3-4 fouls in the process. If we come out flat on defense and with CJs and Ingrams long 2s on offense, it will be sign for me to already give up on this season.

[donato]

Let's get it! Super excited for this one!

[6warddude]

i cant believe im saying this,,,we will start the season off 0-4...

i still believe that zion will be in the mvp race but the team is not ready yet..

go pels.....

[Pelicanidae]

i cant believe im saying this,,,we will start the season off 0-4...

i still believe that zion will be in the mvp race but the team is not ready yet..

go pels.....

If the team isn't ready yet, he won't be in the MVP race. Zion will only get MVP buzz if he is playing like he did last December and the team is winning.

[donato]

I saw the Lakers lost their opener. A reminder to all, we get their pick. It mostly likely won't be good unless LeBron or AD miss a lot of time though. What's the 2024 draft look like?

[luckyman]

On paper we should be winning this. They have Smart as decision maker now and no Tyus Jones. They dont have rebounders(we suck at rebounding and this is rare opportunity to win in this category). They are f'ed with injuries and suspensions even more than we are.

However they have one thing going for them. They play hard!!!
Of course that is something we cant say about our team. That ahould be enough for them to win and if i was betting i would put them with 7.5 point difference.

We have our chance. We need to get the ball to Zion and let him attack JJJ. Yes, he will het blocked 3-4 times in first quarter but JJJ will also pick up 3-4 fouls in the process. If we come out flat on defense and with CJs and Ingrams long 2s on offense, it will be sign for me to already give up on this season.

You can keep repeating that Ingram takes a bunch of long 2s every game like a parrot. But much like parrot speak, repeating something never makes it true.

Yes they should win this game, but early season games are wierd and funky. KD went 7 - 22 last night (and only attempted two 3pt shots---such a 10th seed player he is). Which is common for Jayson Tatum, but very very rare for KD. Lebron went to the ft line 1 time in 29 minutes. Just weird and unusual.

So all Pelicans fans should do themselves a favor and be prepared for literally anything.

[PELICANSFAN]

I saw the Lakers lost their opener. A reminder to all, we get their pick. It mostly likely won't be good unless LeBron or AD miss a lot of time though. What's the 2024 draft look like?

Highly likely we defer that pick to 2025 and hope it is good then.

[luckyman]

The line has swung in the last few days to Memphis -1.5 to Pels by -1.0, now back to even.

Vegas has no idea on this one.

[luckyman]

Highly likely we defer that pick to 2025 and hope it is good then.

If that pick lands top 10 they'll likely take it. And the odds on that this early is undetermined. Lakers are led by old man Lebron and 2nd half ghost AD.

If it lands 11 or above they'll defer to 2025.

[6warddude]

If the team isn't ready yet, he won't be in the MVP race. Zion will only get MVP buzz if he is playing like he did last December and the team is winning.

you over thinking it dae....zion is going to zion on the score card for the whole season....team get healthy in December then go on a big run...zion will be in MVP talks.....do a 3 team trade for someone....get the 6th seed in the playoffs and go out in the second round....

dae, i dont loose many bets...

[Pelicanidae]

you over thinking it dae....zion is going to zion on the score card for the whole season....team get healthy in December then go on a big run...zion will be in MVP talks.....do a 3 team trade for someone....get the 6th seed in the playoffs and go out in the second round....

dae, i dont loose many bets...

You make my entire point for me.

I have no doubt that Zion, if he is healthy, will be a top tier player. But you yourself just said we'll end up 6th seed.

If we are the 6th seed, nobody is going to have Zion as a serious MVP candidate. We'd have to be top 3 for that, imo - home court at the very very least. Team will have to win for those talks, regardless of Zion's output.

[Pelicanidae]

I saw the Lakers lost their opener. A reminder to all, we get their pick. It mostly likely won't be good unless LeBron or AD miss a lot of time though. What's the 2024 draft look like?

Pretty good draft, a few very intriguing prospects near the top (as usual). No Wemby type guys but still.

As others have said, there are complications with that pick tho

[PELICANSFAN]

If that pick lands top 10 they'll likely take it. And the odds on that this early is undetermined. Lakers are led by old man Lebron and 2nd half ghost AD.

If it lands 11 or above they'll defer to 2025.

2024 draft is pretty weak as well from what I have read. Chances of a top 10 are not high.

[Impose]

It would be nice to play a relatively clean game, will be watching the TO's. We threw the ball away far too much pre-season. Hopefully they worked on that.

Also want to see if Zion looks fired up or pedestrian.

[Fedupfan]

I agree. Just get shots up instead of turnovers.

[donato]

Ah right re: draft. I forgot this was the defer option year.

[P_B_&_G]

Over/under?

I say 240

[Pelicanidae]

Weird start to the game but some good stuff offensively for the most part

[Pelicanidae]

For what it's worth, other than one play each from BI and Zion, defense has been pretty good too for everyone. Grizz hit a few tough shots

[Pelicanidae]

I remember when we could have drafted Desmond Bane. I remember arguing vociferously that we should. Then Griff traded down and sold the picks lmao

[Pelicanidae]

We have taken one (1) three pointer so far this game and it was by JV lmao

[Pelicanidae]

Great entry pass by Zion, wish JV had kept that high. Fumbling it and having to regather gave JJJ time to recover defensively, lost an easy basket

[Pelicanidae]

Love that play, BI gathers a double team, passes out to Zion who is at the top of the arc, drives to draw his own help, easy corner 3 available. Just weaponising gravity from scorers.

[Pelicanidae]

Love BI's effort on the rebound. Didn't come down, but the effort counts