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Message
The Athletic NBA: Pels rank 7th
Posted on 7/16/24 at 10:15 am
Posted on 7/16/24 at 10:15 am
Contenders:
1. BOS
2. OKC
3. DAL
4. MIN
5. DEN
Brink of contention:
6. NYK
7. NO
1. BOS
2. OKC
3. DAL
4. MIN
5. DEN
Brink of contention:
6. NYK
7. NO
quote:
Additions/re-signs: Yves Missi, Antonio Reeves, Dejounte Murray, Daniel Theis
Subtractions: Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., Naji Marshall, EJ Liddell, Jonas Valanciunas, Cody Zeller
Did they get better? I think they did, but the Pelicans still need an answer at center with the departure of Valanciunas. I love the addition of Murray. He didn’t fix the Hawks’ defensive issues, but he will absolutely bolster an elite defense in the NBA (New Orleans ranked sixth last season). I like the Theis addition, but I’m not sure New Orleans can utilize him as its full-time center. We have to see what happens with Brandon Ingram due to the team’s perimeter logjam.
2
Posted on 7/16/24 at 10:25 am to whatiknowsofar
5 out of the top 7 being in the West is stupid scary. We can win 50 games and be fighting to stay out the play in again. Glad to see us get some good national press for a change.
Posted on 7/16/24 at 10:32 am to whatiknowsofar
I was about to post this myself. We had two big problems last season:
1) The center position was bad, as JV couldn't guard the P&R, couldn't set a screen that wasn't moving, and was generally slow, especially at the end of the season.
Larry started the season with several nagging injuries, sat out a month with a broken rib, came back great, and then wore down over the rest of the season and was barely playable at the end. When he was on the court, we couldn't get a rebound.
2) We lacked an elite distributor. BI bringing the ball up the court and initiating the office? That failed. BI struggled with doubles at times, and elite defenders (as we saw in the playoffs with Dort) could just shut him down. BI needed a good screen to operate well, and JV and Larry couldn't deliver those screens. That led to lots of 4th-quarter problems, as we all know.
So, now, the first problem still exists, but everyone is ignoring how bad it was last season. A big part of the reason that our starting five was so bad as a unit was how useless JV in defending the P&R. We struggled in the 4th quarter, because Larry wasn't a good rebounder.
No, we didn't fix our problems at center position, but it's really not so much worse than it was last year. We had a lot of success late in the season when Willie finally experimented more with small-ball lineups, when Zion was doing a much better job rebounding, and we could switch BI onto guarding opposing bigs.
But we dramatically fixed the other problem. We're going to be much, much better at getting up 3s. We're going to consistently have elite creation on the floor at all times, in different lineups that will absolutely destroy opponents' 2nd units. We're going to be able to perform in the 4th.
But the biggest difference this season is that we should get a much better version of Zion Williamson. This absolutely should be his best season yet, and that -- more than anything else -- is what gives this season's Pels elite potential.
1) The center position was bad, as JV couldn't guard the P&R, couldn't set a screen that wasn't moving, and was generally slow, especially at the end of the season.
Larry started the season with several nagging injuries, sat out a month with a broken rib, came back great, and then wore down over the rest of the season and was barely playable at the end. When he was on the court, we couldn't get a rebound.
2) We lacked an elite distributor. BI bringing the ball up the court and initiating the office? That failed. BI struggled with doubles at times, and elite defenders (as we saw in the playoffs with Dort) could just shut him down. BI needed a good screen to operate well, and JV and Larry couldn't deliver those screens. That led to lots of 4th-quarter problems, as we all know.
So, now, the first problem still exists, but everyone is ignoring how bad it was last season. A big part of the reason that our starting five was so bad as a unit was how useless JV in defending the P&R. We struggled in the 4th quarter, because Larry wasn't a good rebounder.
No, we didn't fix our problems at center position, but it's really not so much worse than it was last year. We had a lot of success late in the season when Willie finally experimented more with small-ball lineups, when Zion was doing a much better job rebounding, and we could switch BI onto guarding opposing bigs.
But we dramatically fixed the other problem. We're going to be much, much better at getting up 3s. We're going to consistently have elite creation on the floor at all times, in different lineups that will absolutely destroy opponents' 2nd units. We're going to be able to perform in the 4th.
But the biggest difference this season is that we should get a much better version of Zion Williamson. This absolutely should be his best season yet, and that -- more than anything else -- is what gives this season's Pels elite potential.
Posted on 7/16/24 at 11:15 am to GOP_Tiger
Lol. We will absolutely finish lower.
Posted on 7/16/24 at 11:23 am to Patfic15
quote:
We will absolutely finish lower.
We finished with the 9th best record in the NBA last season, 6th in the Western conference. Do you think we've somehow gotten worse this offseason?
I would say the addition of Murray is better than the loss of JV, Larry and Dyson.
Posted on 7/16/24 at 11:31 am to GOP_Tiger
I think Murray has potential to be a great PG with this team and I can definitely see us playing a lot of small ball with a lot of ball denial and help on centers if need be.
The biggest thing with this team is IF Ingram stays on this team he has to be willing to take more catch and shoot 3s. He passed up so many open looks last season it was beyond infuriating. Yes, we have 4 guys now who will initiate the offense but I really hope beyond hope that Murray and Zion are initiating the offense at least 75-80% of the time.
The biggest thing with this team is IF Ingram stays on this team he has to be willing to take more catch and shoot 3s. He passed up so many open looks last season it was beyond infuriating. Yes, we have 4 guys now who will initiate the offense but I really hope beyond hope that Murray and Zion are initiating the offense at least 75-80% of the time.
Posted on 7/16/24 at 11:31 am to Bonkers119
quote:
I would say the addition of Murray is better than the loss of JV, Larry and Dyson.
Murray is great addition but its not as simple as this. Those were our best rebounders and Dyson was an elite defender. We have a huge black hole at center. To me its honestly a toss up if we’re actually better with this current roster.
Posted on 7/16/24 at 11:39 am to GOP_Tiger
quote:The issue is that the problem still exists AND we lost a guy in JV that could alleviate give you something back on the offensive end from the 5.
So, now, the first problem still exists,
The problem has also gotten worse at the 5 on defense because we lose JV's rebounding, and are still bad at everything else we were bad at like rim protection, as well as spacing for the offensive side, etc.
quote:On defense, but on offense it is much worse.
No, we didn't fix our problems at center position, but it's really not so much worse than it was last year.
quote:Will we?
But we dramatically fixed the other problem. We're going to be much, much better at getting up 3s.
We'll still have BI, Herb, Zion, and the center position...all dudes who don't shoot at volume playing major minutes.
We may get up more with Murray and Hawkins, but I'm not sold that either will be efficient.
Posted on 7/16/24 at 11:40 am to GOP_Tiger
quote:
A big part of the reason that our starting five was so bad as a unit was how useless JV in defending the P&R. We struggled in the 4th quarter, because Larry wasn't a good rebounder.
Yet despite this we were 6th in defense last 2 years. Was this really that big of a problem?
quote:
We're going to be much, much better at getting up 3s.
The main issue was that one of our best players (ingram) refused to shoot more 3s. This has been on par for the last 2 years under Willie. We’re again bringing back Ingram and Willie. Not sure if this issue is fixed.
quote:
But the biggest difference this season is that we should get a much better version of Zion Williamson.
We can all hope like we do every season of Zions career.
Posted on 7/16/24 at 11:46 am to Pels_Yaz
Dyson was almost unplayable on offense with our other pieces though. As good a defender as he was, you can't really afford to play guys that don't get guarded when you have a guy like Zion that needs space to operate.
I really hope he does well in Atlanta and helps cover some of Young's shite defense.
I will say that JV should be a big loss but the way Willie refused to play him at critical times last year, I am not sure we will miss him that much IF we stay healthy. Nance was frustrating after returning from injury last year. He was not athletic and was beaten to many rebounds he would normally get. I hate to think he is already washed since he is a great guy so I hope he recovers some of his athleticism.
Rebounding will definitely be an issue this year and that does scare me. Hopefully Zion steps up in that regard as his rebounding % numbers are quite low for a guy of his athleticism and size.
I really hope he does well in Atlanta and helps cover some of Young's shite defense.
I will say that JV should be a big loss but the way Willie refused to play him at critical times last year, I am not sure we will miss him that much IF we stay healthy. Nance was frustrating after returning from injury last year. He was not athletic and was beaten to many rebounds he would normally get. I hate to think he is already washed since he is a great guy so I hope he recovers some of his athleticism.
Rebounding will definitely be an issue this year and that does scare me. Hopefully Zion steps up in that regard as his rebounding % numbers are quite low for a guy of his athleticism and size.
Posted on 7/16/24 at 12:11 pm to shel311
quote:
The problem has also gotten worse at the 5 on defense because we lose JV's rebounding, and are still bad at everything else we were bad at like rim protection, as well as spacing for the offensive side, etc.
I'm with you on the rebounding, but pretty sure whoever we play at the 5 will provide better rim protection than JV. Spacing, probably a wash. Yes, JV hit the occasional 3 but he didn't create space. Having more athletic guys playing in the post who can actually move around will help with spacing.
I also think we don't play a traditional center more than 20-25 minutes a game, at least to start the season.
Posted on 7/16/24 at 1:14 pm to Mickey Goldmill
quote:
I also think we don't play a traditional center more than 20-25 minutes a game, at least to start the season.
I agree with this. Theis will start against the Jokic/Gobert guys, but I otherwise expect us to play small.
I imagine that Willie is right now telling BI, Trey, and Herb to spend extra time in the weight room getting stronger, because they will all have reps (along with Zion, obviously) in defending opposing centers.
If he sets his mind to it, I really think that BI can become a decent defender against opposing bigs. He's got the length, but he was so skinny when he first got to New Orleans. He's a lot stronger now, and he needs to double down on that, but I think that it could work.
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