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iykyk985
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The Pelican Defense is very OFFENSIVE (for the other team)
Posted by iykyk985 on 1/16/26 at 9:01 pm
One thing is obvious, even to the untrained eye, Queen and ZW cannot be on the court at the same time. Neither is capable of playing defense at this level; the difference is one is a rookie and one is a seven-year veteran. You can hide one uber-negative defender, but neither Auerbach, Jackson, nor 'Pop' could make lemonade out of these two defensive lemons.
Add to this that they both need the ball in their hands in order to be somewhat effective offensively (while we are trying to simultaneously develop a rookie point guard) and you have a recipe for failure, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE GOT!!!!
So, they have to decide who they are:
^^ Are we blowing it up and building around the youth?
^^ Are we re-tooling around our 'alleged' Superstar?
It's that simple. Choose one and STICK WITH IT!!!
Add to this that they both need the ball in their hands in order to be somewhat effective offensively (while we are trying to simultaneously develop a rookie point guard) and you have a recipe for failure, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE GOT!!!!
So, they have to decide who they are:
^^ Are we blowing it up and building around the youth?
^^ Are we re-tooling around our 'alleged' Superstar?
It's that simple. Choose one and STICK WITH IT!!!
0
re: I finally accept Zion just isn't that good
Posted by iykyk985 on 1/15/26 at 11:48 am to whatiknowsofar
All those players who were dumped because they 'didn't fit with Zion' have gone on to either maintain their play or flourish with their new teams. But, ZW, despite his improved physical conditioning, has seen his play wane (especially on the defensive end, if that's possible). Candidly, I wonder who didn't fit with whom.
His market value is at an all-time low (today, you'd be lucky to get a ham sandwich and a bottle of pop on the open market). If all you are looking for is a highlight dunk every other game, he's your guy. But if you'd like to see your team succeed and win games, look elsewhere.
I ask anybody to tell me how the almost $200,000,000 (after this year) that we have spent on our part time 'superstar' has been money well-spent. I'd be appreciative,
I'm sorry; I remember being so stoked upon his arrival. Sadly, today, I see him as a 'Paper Lion' who, for his team, has had the effect of a lost 'pussycat'
Minus 17 against the Nets!!!!!! Let it sink in.
His market value is at an all-time low (today, you'd be lucky to get a ham sandwich and a bottle of pop on the open market). If all you are looking for is a highlight dunk every other game, he's your guy. But if you'd like to see your team succeed and win games, look elsewhere.
I ask anybody to tell me how the almost $200,000,000 (after this year) that we have spent on our part time 'superstar' has been money well-spent. I'd be appreciative,
I'm sorry; I remember being so stoked upon his arrival. Sadly, today, I see him as a 'Paper Lion' who, for his team, has had the effect of a lost 'pussycat'
Minus 17 against the Nets!!!!!! Let it sink in.
re: I finally accept Zion just isn't that good
Posted by iykyk985 on 1/15/26 at 11:07 am to whatiknowsofar
If he's on the court, the team doesn't win his minutes regardless of how many empty numbers he puts up. (Operative word: TEAM)
If it was just about his 'Fanboy Numbers" he would have a market, but, as we know, he doesn't.
If it was just about his 'Fanboy Numbers" he would have a market, but, as we know, he doesn't.
re: I finally accept Zion just isn't that good
Posted by iykyk985 on 1/15/26 at 10:11 am to whatiknowsofar
-17 and not on the court when the game is in the balance says it all.
re: Oh yeah pels vs nets
Posted by iykyk985 on 1/14/26 at 8:19 pm to Peytonknows
Guess who's -16 at half (and leading the Pels - in a bad way)?
To quote a great American intellect:
"THAT'S ALL, FOLKS"!!!!
"THAT'S ALL, FOLKS"!!!!
Build on Fears, Matkovic, Missi, Murphy, Peavy, and Queen (alphabetical)
The rest have got to go.
Sidenote 1: I reserve judgement on Murray until I see him on-court.
Sidenote 2: I'll let you know what I think about Borrego after I see the rest of the season.
The rest have got to go.
Sidenote 1: I reserve judgement on Murray until I see him on-court.
Sidenote 2: I'll let you know what I think about Borrego after I see the rest of the season.
If you make it Batman (I mean Phatman) instead of 3M3 and Podziemski instead of Moody and I'm all in.
Yeah, I sure do wish JB would have converted on that uncontested lay-up and that he never allowed himself to get trapped at the mid-court junction, or that he didn't drift out of bounds, or make stupid bounce passes in close quarters (under the basket), all late in the fourth quarter. All that's on Borrego.
Our stars are choke artists who accumulate eighteen-wheeler loads of empty, worthless numbers. When their backs are against the wall, these Humpty Dumpties crack like an over-cooked, hardboiled egg game, after game, after game, after game; they stink like one, too.
With apologies to your critique of DD, the Pelicans currently have the most overrated One Trick Pony in the history of the league.
In seven years, he has done nothing to expand his game...nothing, nada, nyet, zilch,
Most everybody (including my 94-year-old grandmother) knows exactly what ZW's going to do when he reverts to ISO-Zion (the only offensive game he knows or cares about), In case you are in the minority (I'm not saying you are), here's some food for thought. FLASH!!! His shot chart suggests he's going to drive left. When he does, one of three things usually happen:
1. He scores the ball (not nearly at the same rate he once did).
2. His shot is blocked. Did-J'-Know, that he is among the league leaders in having his shot blocked?
3. Because he's undersized, and has nothing else in his offensive toolbox, he's a turnover waiting to happen.
Talking about 'offensive'. I find the most offensive thing about his game is his defense. How many times have we seen his weakside defense get abused? I won't deny that he's good for one Sportscenter Play a game, but on average he's a dog...not a 'DAWG but a frickin' DOG on defense!!!
I leave you with this, if he's so great (you know, an NBA Superstar) how come his market value is virtually non-existent?
Coming out in '19 I was stoked (I bought the cheese), but after seven years of his foolishness, I've seen the light (as have 29 other NBA Front Offices).
In seven years, he has done nothing to expand his game...nothing, nada, nyet, zilch,
Most everybody (including my 94-year-old grandmother) knows exactly what ZW's going to do when he reverts to ISO-Zion (the only offensive game he knows or cares about), In case you are in the minority (I'm not saying you are), here's some food for thought. FLASH!!! His shot chart suggests he's going to drive left. When he does, one of three things usually happen:
1. He scores the ball (not nearly at the same rate he once did).
2. His shot is blocked. Did-J'-Know, that he is among the league leaders in having his shot blocked?
3. Because he's undersized, and has nothing else in his offensive toolbox, he's a turnover waiting to happen.
Talking about 'offensive'. I find the most offensive thing about his game is his defense. How many times have we seen his weakside defense get abused? I won't deny that he's good for one Sportscenter Play a game, but on average he's a dog...not a 'DAWG but a frickin' DOG on defense!!!
I leave you with this, if he's so great (you know, an NBA Superstar) how come his market value is virtually non-existent?
Coming out in '19 I was stoked (I bought the cheese), but after seven years of his foolishness, I've seen the light (as have 29 other NBA Front Offices).
BI was the problem because he didn't fit with ZW.
CJM was the problem because he didn't fit with ZW
DD was the problem because he didn't fit with ZW.
JV was the problem because he didn't fit with ZW.
SAdams was the problem because he didn't fit with ZW.
JJ wanted out because he knew this was a sinking ship.
DG was the problem because he didn't fit with ZW.
JHart was the problem because he didn't fit with ZW.
NAW was the problem because he didn't fit with ZW.
Lonzo wanted out because he knew this was a sinking ship.
Jrue wanted out because he knew this was a sinking ship.
JR was the problem because he didn't fit with ZW.
Now that we have gotten rid of all these 'problems' and 'malcontents' Zion Williamson has never looked better, huh?
The franchise gambled on a 'hope and a prayer' and got rid of a slew of real basketball players and we are now living the result. Should we have expected any better?
CJM was the problem because he didn't fit with ZW
DD was the problem because he didn't fit with ZW.
JV was the problem because he didn't fit with ZW.
SAdams was the problem because he didn't fit with ZW.
JJ wanted out because he knew this was a sinking ship.
DG was the problem because he didn't fit with ZW.
JHart was the problem because he didn't fit with ZW.
NAW was the problem because he didn't fit with ZW.
Lonzo wanted out because he knew this was a sinking ship.
Jrue wanted out because he knew this was a sinking ship.
JR was the problem because he didn't fit with ZW.
Now that we have gotten rid of all these 'problems' and 'malcontents' Zion Williamson has never looked better, huh?
The franchise gambled on a 'hope and a prayer' and got rid of a slew of real basketball players and we are now living the result. Should we have expected any better?
Pennies on the Dollar
Posted by iykyk985 on 1/8/26 at 12:07 pm
Like it or not, our top three salaries are all negative assets:
^ Williamson: $ 39,446,090
^ Poole: $ 31,848,215
^ Murray: $ 30,801,103
That's $ 102,095,408 of the $154,647,000 or 66% of the 2025-26 Salary Cap.
To trade any of these players at this point would result in the Pelicans receiving pennies on the dollar in return. Nonetheless, two of the three have to go, I would cross my fingers and hold on to Murray (but what do I know).
Going forward, Queen and Fears better work out or else we are looking at seven to ten years of more of the same. Sad; but true!!!
^ Williamson: $ 39,446,090
^ Poole: $ 31,848,215
^ Murray: $ 30,801,103
That's $ 102,095,408 of the $154,647,000 or 66% of the 2025-26 Salary Cap.
To trade any of these players at this point would result in the Pelicans receiving pennies on the dollar in return. Nonetheless, two of the three have to go, I would cross my fingers and hold on to Murray (but what do I know).
Going forward, Queen and Fears better work out or else we are looking at seven to ten years of more of the same. Sad; but true!!!
We really can't get a bead on JB as a basketball coach as New Orleans has very few basketball players to coach.
If I may, I'd like to refresh your memory, that's the exact same thing people said about JAX seven years ago. Seven years later, I think you'd be hard pressed to find anybody that would say that Jaxson Hayes is 'It".
Fears has all the makings of D'Angelo Russel -- serviceable, but poor Basketball IQ with a lot of empty numbers.
Fears has all the makings of D'Angelo Russel -- serviceable, but poor Basketball IQ with a lot of empty numbers.
re: Pels vs Lakers
Posted by iykyk985 on 1/6/26 at 9:56 pm to whatiknowsofar
Maybe BI and JV wasn't as bad a fit with Williamson as everyone claimed because ZW is just a shell of the player he was with BI and JV on the court with him. The only # 1 about Zion Williamson is his jersey number. He's not a Batman; maybe a Phatman, but definitely not a Batman.
Sidenote: Fears ain't 'IT" either.
Sidenote: Fears ain't 'IT" either.
re: Deni Avdija reminds me of Peja Stojakovic’.
Posted by iykyk985 on 1/4/26 at 12:37 pm to LSUPilot07
Peja wished he was as good as Avdija,
I liken Avdija to a smaller version of Lauri Markkanen. Both of their careers took a few years to blossom.
I liken Avdija to a smaller version of Lauri Markkanen. Both of their careers took a few years to blossom.
quote:
Queen
Fears
Trey
Zion
Ship everyone else out and get the right big man, along with shooters, lots and lots of shooters. With those 4 as a core you can win if you surround them with the right type of role players
Not a complete basketball player in the whole bunch; all are specialists. With all due respect, if that's the team's core, where are you going to get the defense?
Pelican Defense
Posted by iykyk985 on 1/1/26 at 11:28 am
While I fully recognize the individual offensive skills of DQ, 3M3, Williamson and JF, these four cannot co-exist on the court at the same time no matter who the fifth player might be. All are defensive liabilities of the highest ilk.
^^ Defensively, Queen is little more than a traffic cone right now and he is faced with the daunting task of over-coming a lack of athleticism just to become adequate. He's, at least, two years away from being a viable option on the defensive end (if ever). I don't (and won't) ever question DQ's basketball IQ or his will to succeed.
^^ Five years in, Murphy still has that 'deer in the headlights' look on the defensive end. I don't doubt his athleticism or his 'want to', but I do question his mental toughness; he's very soft and is often pushed around. Because of his superior shooting skills, however, he would make an ideal 'Sixth Man' off the bench.
^^ Zion is one-of-a-kind. He's an anomaly blessed with more athleticism than anybody else in the game for a 'man of his size', when healthy. In the same vein, it's his size that impedes him from ever being more than very, very average on the defensive end. His lack of a first step (and height), defensively, allows svelte well-conditioned athletes a decided advantage and is, too frequently, his undoing. He can (and does on occasion) recover by making an awe-inspiring defensive play, but you can't succeed in basketball if you are always playing from behind. Also, ZW falls asleep on the weakside all the time which is simply a matter of self-discipline.
^^ With Fears, it's all between the ears. For a young man of his skill level, his basketball IQ is (to put it kindly) sub-par. He takes far too many chances and plays undisciplined (actually on both ends of the court). He's got to learn how to and when to 'play over the top' and when to go under top-of-the key screens. Players like Colin Gillespie Craig Porter, Jr, and Tyler Kolek have looked like Steph against him. There's a reason we give the second most three pointers on average in the league. With this said, more than any of the other Pelican listed, I believe he can fix his flaws the fastest.
There's a reason we can't win close games late in the game and it's all because our starters can't play defense. You might be able to get away with one defensive liability on the court, maybe even two, But, when you have team full of sub-par defenders (apologies to Herb) you are in a heap of trouble.
^^ Defensively, Queen is little more than a traffic cone right now and he is faced with the daunting task of over-coming a lack of athleticism just to become adequate. He's, at least, two years away from being a viable option on the defensive end (if ever). I don't (and won't) ever question DQ's basketball IQ or his will to succeed.
^^ Five years in, Murphy still has that 'deer in the headlights' look on the defensive end. I don't doubt his athleticism or his 'want to', but I do question his mental toughness; he's very soft and is often pushed around. Because of his superior shooting skills, however, he would make an ideal 'Sixth Man' off the bench.
^^ Zion is one-of-a-kind. He's an anomaly blessed with more athleticism than anybody else in the game for a 'man of his size', when healthy. In the same vein, it's his size that impedes him from ever being more than very, very average on the defensive end. His lack of a first step (and height), defensively, allows svelte well-conditioned athletes a decided advantage and is, too frequently, his undoing. He can (and does on occasion) recover by making an awe-inspiring defensive play, but you can't succeed in basketball if you are always playing from behind. Also, ZW falls asleep on the weakside all the time which is simply a matter of self-discipline.
^^ With Fears, it's all between the ears. For a young man of his skill level, his basketball IQ is (to put it kindly) sub-par. He takes far too many chances and plays undisciplined (actually on both ends of the court). He's got to learn how to and when to 'play over the top' and when to go under top-of-the key screens. Players like Colin Gillespie Craig Porter, Jr, and Tyler Kolek have looked like Steph against him. There's a reason we give the second most three pointers on average in the league. With this said, more than any of the other Pelican listed, I believe he can fix his flaws the fastest.
There's a reason we can't win close games late in the game and it's all because our starters can't play defense. You might be able to get away with one defensive liability on the court, maybe even two, But, when you have team full of sub-par defenders (apologies to Herb) you are in a heap of trouble.
re: What will Borrego do with Dejounte when he’s healthy?
Posted by iykyk985 on 12/30/25 at 6:52 pm to TeddyPadillac
Unless it's Jose', I don't see anybody being traded by the deadline (and that would happen only if DM has been cleared to play and is effective).
The objective for the second half of the season should be to win as many games as possible (to evaluate JB) and, in the process, showcase Zion, DM, Poole, Looney, Hawk (I don't think there's much value there) and possibly Missi and then flip some/all of them in the offseason for draft picks and fill.
Assuming that Queen and Fears (not as sold on him as much as many of you) are the Pelicans' cornerstones going forward, we have to get off the old timeline as soon as possible. There'll be plenty of opportunity to develop those two without throwing them to the wolves. ....and I don't want them to develop bad habits.
The objective for the second half of the season should be to win as many games as possible (to evaluate JB) and, in the process, showcase Zion, DM, Poole, Looney, Hawk (I don't think there's much value there) and possibly Missi and then flip some/all of them in the offseason for draft picks and fill.
Assuming that Queen and Fears (not as sold on him as much as many of you) are the Pelicans' cornerstones going forward, we have to get off the old timeline as soon as possible. There'll be plenty of opportunity to develop those two without throwing them to the wolves. ....and I don't want them to develop bad habits.
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