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The New Orleans Pelicans’ Most Intriguing Squadron
The New Orleans Pelicans’ addition of center Omer Asik answers a question that had no clear answer last season – who to start at center. A more uncertain question, however, is how minutes and rotations will be managed among the Pelicans’ three-headed front court monster of Asik, Ryan Anderson, and Anthony Davis. The default assumption is that two […]
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Breaking Down the New Orleans Pelicans Schedule
In the NBA, not all schedules are created equal. In addition to playing your division foes twice as much as you play the other conference, you also have numerous other factors that can effect the difficulty of your schedule, including: number of back to backs, your non-division conference schedule, and differing lengths of East and/or West […]
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Is Anthony Davis going to break out for USA Basketball?
I’m not sure how many people plan on watching Team USA play in the World Cup of Basketball this off-season. I intend to watch most of it since Anthony Davis is going to be there, and I’ll take any excuse I can to see him play basketball. Other than that horrific Paul George injury, which I […]
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Tanking and Conferences
I love the game of basketball – but there are three things that bother me about the current NBA setup. The last 2 minutes of a basketball game are too friggin’ long. Egregious tanking. Using conferences to determine the 16 teams is silly when one conference can have so many superior teams. The first issue can […]
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Weakside Eyes: The Value of Heartbreak
When I walked into the room I started looking around . . . I wanted to see what kind of guys I was dealing with. I wondered how many of ’em could handle an alley fight. Who could I count on if two thugs were pounding me into the cement? — Benny Booms to Uncle […]
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Anthony Davis and His Next Contract With the New Orleans Pelicans
(A special thanks to Jason Calmes in this article for his fact-checking and infinite wisdom. Also, a large shout out to one of our favorite podcast guests and salary cap guru’s Larry Coon.) While the drama of free agency is fun for most, it is nerve-racking for fans of that team whose star player is […]
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In the NO Podcast Episode 186: James Ham on the Kingly Pelicans
Cowbell Kingdom’s James Ham joins us to talk about the new former Kings the Pelicans have imported: John Salmons, Jimmer Fredette, Omri Casspi – and of course, we can’t avoid talking Tyreke Evans too. Then Michael and I talk about rotations, Darius Miller returning to the team, and who the most irreplaceable Pelican is this […]
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New Orleans Pelicans End Summer League With Loss to Timberwolves
Russ Smith and the Pelicans started off red-hot, but they could not maintain the offense they produced in the first quarter, and as a result, they lost to the Timberwolves 97-78. Smith finished with 21, and the only other Pelican in double figures was Cameron Ayers, who had 11. The Pelicans went cold after jumping […]
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Game On: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
And now we have come to the 5th and final game of Summer League, as the New Orleans Pelicans end their run in the Consolation Bracket. After three close games, yesterday was tough, as the Hornets got red-hot and mowed down the Pelicans. Russ Smith was stellar once again, but he got little help outside […]
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Why The New Orleans Pelicans Shouldn’t Play Transition Basketball
It isn’t a question of pace but of getting out in transition is something Mason pointed out to me on twitter the other day. I was saying that I think the New Orleans Pelicans will play with a slower pace because of the Omer Asik trade, but Mason was right: Transition is the correct word […]
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New Orleans Pelicans Add Shooters in Salmons, Fredette, and Miller
After the trade for Omer Asik, Dell Demps had the core of his roster in place, but there were still holes on the wings. As the saying goes, ‘You can never have enough shooting’, and Dell is proving that by adding John Salmons, Darius Miller and Jimmer Fredette to fill out the roster this week, […]
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Farewell to a True Pelican, Jason Smith
Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you’re doing so to the longest tenured player from your favorite team. Jason Smith has given us so much on and off the court that it’s going to be hard to see him in anything besides a New Orleans Pelicans jersey, but especially one that says Knicks. When Smith […]
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Red Hot Hornets Take Down the Pelicans
The Hornets should consider changing their names to the Opossums, because that is what they played the first week in Summer League. Charlotte was one of the worst teams in Summer League for the first three games, shooting just over 35%. Today, however, they could not miss. And as a result, they pulled off their […]
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Game On: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Charlotte Hornets
This is the game we have all been waiting for folks! The Pelicans against the Hornets in a game that, once and for all, will end the confusion amongst the national media. Right? Right?!?! The Hornets were terrible in the first three games of Summer League, but destiny reared its head, and got us the matchup […]
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Pelicans Scoop: Asik, Playoffs, and the Starters
1. What excites you the most about the addition of Omer Asik? Michael McNamara: The fact that we will get to see Anthony Davis freelance and roam more on the defensive end. Last season, he was always the last line of defense, so he had to stay disciplined and you knew that if he got […]
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An Educated Guess on the New Orleans Pelicans Rotation
I have spent a lot of time (maybe too much) studying Monty’s rotations over the years. Whenever I hear vague comments and accusations thrown around, it is in my nature to want to learn more so I can be better informed. There is no accusation thrown at Monty more than, “His rotations are horrible.” Going […]
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New Orleans Pelicans Sign Russ Smith
Just prior to the press conference to introduce Omer Asik, the New Orleans Pelicans announced another move, the signing of Russ Smith, the second round pick they got in exchanged for the draft right to Pierre Jackson. Both players were drafted by the 76ers. Press Release The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team […]
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New Orleans Pelicans Acquire Omer Asik in Trade
The New Orleans Pelicans acquired Omer Asik today in a trade. The trade was rumored in June prior to the 2014 draft, but the trade could not happen until today for a few reasons, explained below. The Pelicans also acquired Omri Casspi. Both Asik and Casspi came from the Houston Rockets. Following are the deal […]
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Pelicans lose to Spurs by 2. Dangit.
The Pelicans failed to capitalize on their strength advantage as the Spurs – a lousy rebounding team, controlled the boards and edged out a two point win. My observations: Russ wasn’t wearing his awesome pastel shoes tonight. It made me sad. I think it also affected his game. His opening quarter was brutal. Almost every […]
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Game On: Pelicans vs Spurs
Destruction in the Desert. Violence in Vegas. That’s right. Tonight, the Pelicans take on the Spurs in a game that means everything. Will the upstart young Pelicans defeat the veteran-laden Spurs squad this summer? Will they continue to play well and put down their old division rival and rise to the league playoffs? Some of […]