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Can the Pelicans break the Groundhog Day cycle?
The New Orleans Pelicans are once again floating around .500 and I feel numb. I am descending into nihilism because chances are that if you have been watching the New Orleans Pelicans this season you may also be wondering if the season has truly started or if we’re all witnessing an incredible troll job. We […]
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In The NO Episode 10: Scrutinizing Schemes, Rationalizing Randle, and Theorizing Trades
The Pelicans continue their up and down trend, so Shamit & Mason are back to talk about it. What are the Pels trying to do schematically, what is preventing them from achieving sustained success, and how should Julius Randle fit into the team’s short-term and long-term plans? Tune in to find out. Listen on iTunes […]
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In The N.O. Episode 8: The Roller Coaster Continues
Shamit and Mason discuss the Pelicans recent string of losses. How do you stop turnovers? What is defense? What happened in the locker room after the Celtics loss? Tune in and find out. Listen on iTunes Listen on Spotify RSS Feed Direct Download Blue Wire Network – this looks new, doesn’t it? (You’ll also notice that […]
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Pelicans Scoop: Systemic Concerns
Do you have any systemic concerns around the team? Shamit – Defense is a concern at the moment but I think it is a symptom of changing personnel. With injuries and experimental rotations, it is difficult to establish consistency and an identity on that end of the floor. I do believe it will […]
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Pelicans Scoop: 15 Game Temperature Check, Wizards Players
ESPN just released a report saying Washington is willing to hear offers on all of their players including Beal and Wall. Would you go after those two and what are you willing to give up? Shamit – I said this before for Paul George, and I will stick by it for Beal – you […]
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Pelicans Maintain Flight Path Despite Rotation Disarray
Photo Credit: Andrew Smith Through 13 games, the Pelicans sit at 7-6 and in a 3-way tie for 9th place in the Western Conference. They are also 10th in the NBA in Net Rating per Cleaning the Glass’ stats database (which removes “garbage time”) at +3.1 points per 100 possessions (6th in the West), and have […]
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In The NO Episode 7: Perfect Pelicans No More
In the latest episode, I brought on a couple of guests to help look both backwards and forwards. First, I chatted with Andrew Lopez of the Times Picayune/NOLA.com about the Pels’ recent string of losses. After that, Brett Dawson of The Athletic joined the pod to preview Monday night’s Pelicans @ Thunder game. Listen […]
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The Corner Test
The corner three is one of the most efficient shots in basketball, why? It is the closest distance three point shot in regards to proximity from the basket, especially the short corner. The corner three allows more floor space on the fast break for the ball handler. When a fast break has capable shooters running […]
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Taking the Initiative
This week, New Orleans Pelicans General Manager Dell Demps was called “a lousy general manager” by former NBA Commissioner and contemporaneous proxy owner of the New Orleans Hornets David Stern. This produced reactions all over the NBA, including the local media and the New Orleans Pelicans themselves. I want to address a few things about […]
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Gentry Needs To Find Out Now If The Three Bigs Can Play Together
When Julius Randle unexpectedly became a free agent on July 2nd, the Pelicans put in a call to his agent half expecting to get blown off. They had no cap room left, and only had the mid-level exception to offer to the 23 year-old unrestricted free agent. Even in a slightly depressed market, guys like […]
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Thoughts on the Ajinca-Johnson Trade
Just before the start of the season, Alexis Ajinca was traded to the Clippers for Wesley Johnson. It was a straight up deal with no other assets changing hands. The trade, I think, is potentially very helpful, but not for the knee-jerk reason, which is “The Pelicans got a player who can help them more […]
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In The NO Episode 6: The Pelicans Beat The Brakes Off The Rockets
First pod of the season. Mason and Shamit react to the Pelicans whooping the Rockets on opening night. Listen on iTunes Listen on Spotify RSS Feed Direct Download
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Born to Run: Pelicans fly higher than Rockets in season opener
If you are fan of New Orleans sports and you felt confident enough in the Saints that a few months ago you told people not to judge the team by their preseason performances, then you can apply that same rule to the NBA. After going winless in preseason, the Pelicans open the season with a […]
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Ian Clark Looks to Build on Great Finish to Season
July 2nd was certainly the climax of the New Orleans Pelicans 2018 offseason. Rondo and Boogie went to the West Coast, Julius Randle chose to team up with AD and Elfrid Payton came home. A day that we will look back on years from now, as one that forever changed the direction of this franchise. […]
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Let’s Be Real About Rondo
Some have characterized Rondo going to the Lakers as a “big loss” for the Pelicans. They cite his stats, his relationship with AD, and his intangibles as things that the Pelicans will find it hard to replace. He allowed Jrue to play off the ball, they will say. He was a great guard for the […]
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Anthony Davis means business and we should appreciate that
Ever since New Orleans Pelicans once-in-a-generation superstar Anthony Davis switched agents and signed with Rich Paul from Klutch Sports, who also have LeBron James as a client, the dominant NBA narratives out of The Big Easy center around the power forward’s future. I don’t know if it’s because local fans are experiencing Chris Paul PTSD […]
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Waiting on Wings
By Ryan Hebert (@RyanHebert89) The NBA offseason has slowed down and aside from a few minor transactions, and it is hard to see the Pelicans making a major trade or acquisition at this point. That is, until the February trade deadline. If you asked most fans what the Pelicans need right now to solidify themselves […]
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Do The Pelicans Need To Save Cap Space for Julius Randle?
It was all smiles at the introductory press conference. Julius Randle spoke about making New Orleans his home long term, and Dell Demps spoke of Randle as if he was a core building block moving forward. And while both men were being authentic, the NBA’s pesky little salary cap could put a thorn in the […]
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How Much Hype Can One Man Randle?
By Rick Stone As one door closes, another one opens. The New Orleans Pelicans might have lost DeMarcus Cousins in Free Agency, but the overall fan base has not waivered. Excitement comes in the form of Anthony Davis’ freshly recruited big Julius Randle, that has joined the Pelicans on a two-year, $18 million deal. The […]
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Q-Pon Coupon Trade Candidates for the Pelicans
Last week, I wrote about the Pelicans’ $3.85 million trade exception obtained via sending Quincy Pondexter to the Bulls last summer in a move to clear salary. In it, I mentioned that the team would likely only use it if Boogie ended up elsewhere and the Pelicans didn’t sign-and-trade him for a player (or players) […]