Have to start by getting rid of Willie, he's the one driving the franchise into a brick wall. And how good is Flagg really? Is he a franchise carrier?
Clippers 116, Pelicans 113 Another stinging loss (10th in a row), a game the Pels led most of the way but couldn't hit shots or get enough stops down the stretch to close out a win. Murphy shot lights out for the first two and a half quarters but didn't attempt a shot in the last 15 minutes...I see a lot of people blaming C.J. McCollum's "ball hogging" down the stretch (he scored 33, Murphy had 18), but I notice the Pels hit 9 of 18 shots in the 4Q, CJ went 3 of 6 but Dejaunte Murray went 1 of 6. Murray's been everything advertised defensively but has fallen well short as a point guard in my opinion. Turnover prone and looks for his own shot too often.One other thing, I see Pels fans hyping a Yves Missi for Rookie of the Year, and he certainly deserves to be in the conversation at this point.
Heat 119, Pelicans 108 Similar to the loss to Houston at the beginning of the week, started awful and were behind double digits in a heartbeat, put together several runs to get the game close but could never get over the hump. Second game in a row Murphy came out smoking but couldn't sustain it. He had 25 at the half, 34 after 3 quarters but only got two shots in the 4th. Eleven losses in a row and if Willie Green isn't considered to be coaching for his job over the next week (play Washington back-to-back next, home Friday and road Sunday, I think, and no excuses will be good enough to lose either of these), the ticket holders should consider a boycott. Good news is, I think they could get Jose Alvarado back Friday, and Zion not long after.
Pelicans 132, Wizards 120 Pelicans 110, Wizards 98 Pels get the two wins they (and Coach Willie Green) absolutely had to have, thanks much to a 50-point night for C.J.McCollum in the first game and a triple double (14p, 10r, 12a) from Dejonte Murray in the second. Good news is, Jose Alvarado returned and looked OK, not great, but the second unit just has a whole other gear when he's in there. Bad news, Trey Murphy rolled an ankle in the 3rd quarter last night and did not return. No word on how long he's out, he did put weight on it as he left the floor, so that's encouraging. Home back-to-back next, tomorrow vs Minnesota, Wednesday vs Portland. Nothing to go on but a gut feeling, but I think Zion will play Wednesday. UPDATE: A Pelicans "insider" (didn't get a name) was on WWL awhile ago, says Zion looks like mid-month (next week?) and that Trey shouldn't miss more than "a game or two."
he is very good. he is not a magnificent destroyer at any given talent. but he is a very very good at everything. he can move with the ball, he can shoot and block and rebound and pass and play defense. he is an all-rounder that would start on any team. he wont put up 50 or dominate like doncic or SGA. but he will do everything else. he is on right now vs Pitt .we hope pitt wins to juice LSU's NET
He can definitely play. Question is, where would he fit in with the Pels, and how would they adjust the roster to help him fit? Pels have won 3 of their last 6, and had the chance to beat Boston on the road the other night. CJ's running short range jumper, a shot he hits 8-9 times out of 10, rattled out at the buzzer to cost us a win. The lineup looked pretty cohesive (it was the first time Zion, Murray and Trey were in the lineup together) and if there was ever any question whether Murphy can replace Ingram in the starting 5, he's answered it. He can definitely replace the scoring (talking raw numbers), forces the defense to spread out to respect his range, but can drive to the rim if they overplay him. Also is at least BI's equal on defense, and about the only aspects of BI's game I would say are decisively better that TMIII are passing and mid-range shooting. (Also still waiting for Murphy to hit a "clutch shot", he missed a game-tieing 3 with just a minute to play the other night, and he was wide open.) So Ingram is expendable, and the question that will now be in play over the next few weeks becomes, is Herb Jones expendable? A week ago, I would have said no emphatically, and I'm still at no, but wavering a bit. It does not look like a tank job is on, and if they can keep some people healthy and play to their potential, the Pels won't be in a position to draft Flagg.
Jones and Murphy and zion are the core. Ingram needs to go ASAP. the way the system works, it really inventivizes tanking. sometimes I think the front office wants to lose and the coaches and players want to win
Pelicans 119, Bulls 113 Pels shake off a horrible first half of shooting (4 of 24 from 3) to build a 16-point lead midway through the 4th quarter. Almost blew it by going ice cold in the last 4 minutes, Bulls cut the lead to 4 but a steal by Murphy and subsequent FTs put the win away. Murphy had 32 despite going 2 of 13 on 3's (he's hit at least 2 3's in 30 straight games, longest streak in the league by a mile). Zion had 21 with 9 assists - probably would have had about 15 if people could shoot - and 7 boards. Real good minutes off the bench from Alvarado (4 consecutive 3's in the 4Q), Green with 4 steals and Theis. Pels go 2-1 on the road trip, would have gone 3-0 if that buzzer beater drops in Boston. Return home tonight against Luka-less Dallas, and if they sit Zion fans may riot.
Ingram for a really reliable 2 guard out of the east works for me. Might have seen the guy we should target last night - Zach Lavine. Everything I see says he wants out of Chicago. Watching the Portland game a week ago, I would have said the tank was on, but didn't look like it on the road trip.
