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Game On: Pacers @ Pelicans
The Pacers are one of those teams that don’t get any respect. If you look at their line-up, only Paul George strikes you as an above average player. (and yes, he’s really good) Even George has his warts, as he’s not a natural offensive force – due to his middle of the road ball-handling. There isn’t […]
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The Pels want transition defense – are they getting it?
Gentry – and his coaching tree – are big proponents of transition offense. You heard all about pace in the off-season, and the general reason for that is transition attempts are generally worth about 1.09 points per possesion, or .1 more points per possession than their half-court conterparts. The flipside of that is that the […]
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In the NO Podcast Ep 239: Middle of the Road?
Signs are pointing towards the team getting back to being a middle of the pack sort of squad. Jason Calmes and I talk about whether that is real or fake – if we think the team will continue to improve, and totally avoid talking tank. Sorry tankers! We address Tyreke’s less than stellar play, a […]
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Pelicans play three quarters of basketball
Even when things should be going well for these guys, things don’t. They came out with energy and good defense in the first half. They executed plays and got rolling to the basket for easy scores. And they ended down 2 as the Clippers hit 9 threes to keep them right there. Even Austin Rivers […]
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Game On: Clippers @ Pelicans
Quietly, the Pelicans have been playing (essentially) .500 ball since that horrendeous 1-11 start. Which, truth to be told, isn’t that far off of what they played last year for the whole season. They are starting to figure things out, despite all the noise and disappointment. Their opponent, after a month of trying to figure […]
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In the NO Podcast Ep. 238: Two and Two and a goodbye
Michael and I recap a week in which the Pelicans have some crazy highs and lows – and actually get to play their preferred five for a few minutes. Yay. Then – we predict the rest of the year as Michael says goodbye to the pod after 238 episodes. Yeah. Don’t have much else to […]
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Pelicans finishing five take down Denver
I wanted to bring some attention to the line-up on the floor at the end of this game. It was the finishing five we talked about being so good last year – and they came in and turned a 4 point deficit into a 7 point advantage in a little over four minutes. It’s not […]
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Game On: Pelicans @ Denver
So now it’s time for us to adjust our thinking. The initial thought is “Denver’s not a good team, we should totally beat them!” That’s not the case. Records aside – which can be misleading – Denver has given up 4.9 more points per 100 possessions than they have scored this season. The Pelicans have […]
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In the NO Podcast Ep. 237: Is it time for the Tank?
In a lot of respects the Boston loss (and its aftermath) crystalized just how bad this team has been over the course of the season for many fans. So Michael and I talk fallout – trades, what we want this team to do, what we think they will do, what is a decent outcome if […]
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In the NO Podcast Ep. 236: Mini Pod
Michael and I rip of a smallish podcast for you – since my inability to record properly destroyed the longer one we put together. Bleh. Anyways – we talk Asik return, Norris Cole, “are our guards any good?” and how Michael is really down on the crew right now. We also predict the upcoming week […]
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Pelicans work hard to cause bitterness
The Pelicans needed to tread water through the tough part of this schedule. They aren’t. Instead, they are tying lead weights to their feet, just to see what happens. Tonight, they showed another real cost of all the injuries and line-up uncertainties: these guys simply haven’t played together and when the pressure ratcheted up a little, […]
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Game On: Disappointment Bowl
Come one, come all, to watch the most disappointing teams in the west! The Rockets, pre-season Title Contenders, face off against the Pelicans, expectant 50-win Juggernaut! Or maybe it’s a team with a -6.1 point differential going up against another with a -7.4 point differential. In other words, teams that typically struggle to reach 50 wins when […]
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In the NO Ep 235: Terrible on the Road
Michael and I continue to be flummoxed by some of the trends for this team – including just how bad they are on the road. We also play “what is more disappointing?”, “Rap lyric vs Shakespeare”, “Which Pelicans not named Davis could be the third best player on a good team?”, “Who on the Rockets […]
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Pelicans down Suns
The Pelicans handled that game with poise, absorbing the haymaker Brandon Knight threw in the first quarter and then working the Suns deliberately for the rest of the game. Despite the 20 points by Knight in the first quarter and the 39 total points scored by the Suns, the Pelicans were only down 2 at […]
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Game On: Pelicans @ Suns
In the last game between these two teams, Gentry played Chandler straight up with Asik, and since Chandler was winning that battle in general, switched it up and went small. The result was Chandler having to defend on the perimeter, several fouls, and Chandler only getting 16 minutes. It will be interesting to see how […]
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In the NO Ep 234: Look! Wins!
Michael and I are agog over the two wins. When there are so few of them, they become just so, so precious. We talk Anthony Davis’ sudden surge in energy, Ish Smith playing well, Anderson playing great, and the imminent return of Tyreke Evans. We also address Asik and Ajinca’s minutes, Holiday’s poor play and […]
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The Pelicans fall to Thunder
I know they lost, but I enjoyed that game. Every Pelican available played, and every Pelican left everything they could on the floor. Had the Pelicans shot a little closer to their normal percentage from three or not had to deal with a 9 to 40 free throw attempt discrepency, they would have snuck away with […]
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Game On: Pelicans @ Thunder
Alright, I have good news and bad news. The bad news is the Pelicans play again tonight. Against the Thunder. In OKC. And Anthony Davis’ status is unknown. And Cole, Evans, Pondexter, and Perkins are still out. And Jrue won’t play. And Asik was sick yesterday and so he was probably vomiting all over the […]
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In the NO Podcast Ep 233: Total Eclipse
Michael and I are clearly starting to lose our optimism. Well, I am. Michael still is holding out hope. Regardless, we try to keep it light, talking the good we are seeing, what Gordon’s role will be when healthy players come back, and the Turkish Klay Thompson. We preview the upcoming week, make bad predictions […]
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There is no space as the Pelicans lose to Knicks
Usually when writers talk about “space” in basketball – they are simply referring to shooting. Put some shooters around the perimeter, and viola, teams have to guard them, there is room inside. That is pretty much garbage though. Competent NBA defenders know when to collapse and recover and are capable of defending 10-12 feet of […]