The season is officially over for the New Orleans Pelicans after their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA’s Play-In Tournament. Jake Madison breaks down how this loss was a failure on 3 different levels. Players like CJ McCollum struggling, or Zion Williamson not playing, hurt the Pels. Strange coaching decisions from Willie Green cost the team multiple games this season. And a lack of depth from the roster construction limited the Pels at the end of the year.
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49 Comments
Feel free to vet. How are you feeling after the Pelicans season ended?
Pels a young team that won 6 more games than last season. Despite the loss they played well, and are a team on the rise.
It’s so hard to judge this team with all the timing of the injuries. I hope we can put it all together this off season and improve. Thank you jake for this podcast. Incredible job
I'm through. I've been with this team since they moved to New Orleans from Charlotte. I have been here for it all. Family has been season ticket holders for years. After these 20 years, I'm good. It's been 3 years since I stopped watching the Saints, Gayle's other team just made the list.
This season was a big disappointment and disaster. Players are too inconsistent. CJ has been making the worst decisions knowing he’s injured. He’s had some great games but some horrible last 2 minute mistakes in multiple games. I’m ready to see the next level of Herb and Trey. I’m not excited about Zion. His interview put a bad taste in my mouth and the timing couldn’t be worse.
The amount of bad hands on 50-50 balls/brain farts/lost in space moments (especially that literally 1-point-less mini-Draymond shot to Giddy, courtesy of J. Richardson) by most of the players on this roster was especially deadly in this final game. OKC had a few themselves, and it is of course, part of every team and every game. But when there are 15-20 of these incidents each game, you cannot win in the NBA. JV played his best or second best game of the year (although there were still a handful of the inevitable 'lay-up-drill' episodes for the opposition), but there were several doom points: no Larry, no Jose, and the extra added icing on the no-Zion-cake from that media appearance that required its own therapy session or team of social scientists to decipher accurately. This is a currently constructed.400 team without Z, plain and simple. Besides Zion and BI, there are currently no championship-level starters on this team. Except CJ when healthy, OK. Some excellent bench players out of this post-Zion starting five, no doubt. The rash of injuries was the #1 reason for the overall slide from contender to pretender, but they really need an athletic rebounder, a real point guard, and a 3.0 Trey Murphy (reference Klay Thompson) who can naturally stop and pop in traffic as well as they currently shoot alone in the gym. See you in September.
He's learning second year cha
All in all, this team didn’t deserve to go to the playoffs. I’ve been frustrated as a fan since January at the staff, the lack of urgency in several several several games, and the low IQ when it comes to to rebounding and running the clock.
Let's be real Zion never wanted to come here because of all of the dysfunction this team had and still have yeah do Zion a favor and trade him! Griff is full is shit and should have never got that front office job sorry everyone but Zion was never happy here!
Thank you Jake. This season was indeed a disappointment. Even though they finished with a winning record they did not live up to their expectations coming to this season which is making playoffs and nothing less. Injuries did play part in our season but I would put the most blame in our coaches for not making the right adjustments through out the season. That 10 game loosing streak really hurt this team. Zion missing 50 plus games because of a hamstring and CJ being really streaky this year. That first game against Brooklyn when we dominated had us all excited for this season. Talent wise when healthy I know this team can compete with anyone. BI was the only consistent star we had this season but he needed help from CJ and Zion and they were not good enough this year. On the positive note this was a breakout year for TM3 and Herb Jones has improved alot as an offensive player. The future is still very bright for this team but at this point the Zion injuries has been very concerning. The bad timing of injuries to Jose and Nance for the play in game sums up our season. Still proud of this team to climb their way to even get a play in spot. But this season still sums up as a disappointment. Hope they come back stronger and healthier next year
Cj played hurt..don't blame this in him
Seriously why happen to Dyson?? How did he fall out the rotation?
Jax and kira should have been playing over Josh Richardson and Nance. Jax and kira are both first round picks and our future. How are they supposed to get better if they don't play. I don't understand how Josh Richardson could come on our team and play more than people who has been here for years. He isn't even part of our future. Also I would rather Billy over Nance. He at least gives you points and rebounds. Nance doesn't give you either. He is supposed to be a defensive presence but is consistently getting beat. What's the point of having picks if we don't play the picks we draft.
It's time to clean house
The thing about cj is he was not here to be Batman or robin he was here to be Alfred and he was doing what you expect from Alfred it’s not on him
Thanks Jake for keeping us Locked On!
Questions? What happened to Dyson? Kira in the rotation now?JV in the Third? CJ with the last shot? TM3 no shots or any set plays why not? Zions Dad holding him back due to weight ins? Can we move on from Billy if he cannot crack the lineup?
Weird?
Woulda taken Billy over Jax. His decision making –
Also Jonas was subbed in too late to close the second half and not used enough in the 3rd
CJ played 75 games. A good portion while needing surgery in his shooting hand.. I’m not saying he played well every game but I respect the hell out of the effort. I can’t say the same for Zion and personally I feel disrespected and I think his teammates should too.
Willie Green sees himself in role players like Devonte Graham, Josh Richardson, Garrett Temple, etc. and that's why he plays them in big minutes.
Josh shot 38.4% from 3 on 4 attempts a game. Not sure why Willie changed the line ups in the fourth when they were in the middle of a run.
Valanclunas finally played like he should have played all season by being aggressive and going to the hoop with quick moves but still need to get rid of him.
My guy Jake looks tired but also pissed ..
Same thing that happened a lot of the season.. Lead at the half time, getting out scored by double digits in the 2nd half and lose! Willie has to make better 2nd half adjustments. We also need more depth and should have made more deals at the deadline.
As a lot of fans are saying, it's been a rough ride this season, especially after how well they were doing earlier in the year. That said, it's tough. They just didn't seem like they had it the last few weeks. I guess it's onto next season and hoping Zion actually plays more than 50% 😉
Thanks Jake for all the great analysis throughout the year! It was always a joy to listen to each day throughout the work week.
CJ = 6th Man.
Zion = Poor Leadership. I was at the game in 313 and I watched him watching the big screen with his hands in his pockets off to the side while the team was in the huddle. Jose was at half court hyping the team up, clapping and cheering his team on at every timeout.
TM3 = 2nd option with a star hurt. 3rd option with a healthy roster.
Jonas = coaching malpractice. Absolute terrorism. Failure by the staff.
Herb = All Defense. Offensive growth is encouraging!
Kira = Still don’t know what we really have in him.
Dyson = scared to shoot is a problem. Defense is good and I assume will get better.
Coaching Staff = Everyone but Willie & FV is fired.
Not on the team = GT, WH, JR, JH,
EJ = can’t wait to see if he can add more shooting and depth.
Trade Zion to Utah for Lauri And Jordan Clarkson
Willie Green, sit JH, and Kira as though he has some silly bias about them or their demeanor. then expects or just desperate for them to comein rusty, rusty,,rusty and save him, and they better be perfect.But is enamored withC.J because he talks the way he likes,and even talks better than him ,and talks much and has a show,etc. Talk is cheap and C.J. is too enamored with hisself..tooo enamored
I disagree with your comment about CJ he is not perfect nor is Green perfect. So the question is are you perfect?
Zion Zion Zion
On final sec heave hos CJ doesn't ever get the ball off in time. Coincidence?
Zions gotta go get what you can for him I will always stand by we should’ve drafted ja. Ja is a future hof
Your coverage has made me love your team. Y’all were worthy opponents
I cant lie being a fan sometimes sucks but you gotta be with your team wrong or right. Yes of course we hate to have our season shortened but tbh im glad it happen we couldnt have went any further w the way the cookie has been crumbling for us. We are banged up, the whole team(CJ, ZION, LARRY, JOSE, JONAS, & Possibly BI) like thats no way to play in the playoffs. So im glad we get a longer offseason.! & also we have to stop being hypocrites how do we complain abt CJ for playing through injuries & giving us all he got? But get mad at zion for not playing through injury because he dont want to half ass us? Make it make sense. Everything happens for a reason! We will be back better then ever’ it just wasnt our time! GOOD SEASON PELS! Im proud we got to see young guys like trey & herb blossom!👏🏽👏🏽 be back next year
It’s over. Damn
Jake all i want to say is thank you for this locked on pelicans podcast i listen to most of your show and truly enjoy them love to see what will happen next season and see if willie green will improve on playing and developing these players where will Jaxson Hayes be next season and also EJ Ledell and so on with the rooster thank you for everything you do
No one is talking about Dyson Daniel. How does Lewis hit the floor before Daniel and Marshall. Major Coaching failure…😢
Lost in the worst way possible
Jake It has been great watching your show this season. I watch everyday to keep up with my Pels. Hope team gets better in the draft and the offseason.
Last season won bcuz the rotation is JV Hayes BI>JB Nancy BI>Nancy Hayes BI.this season Pelicans giveup Hayes and Choose Murphy let him play more time. Haha stuip decision for giveup Hayes
We need a floor general to emerge this offseason. Not necessarily a point guard but we definitely need a better lead decision maker
FYI…You're not smarter than Willie Green. Not about NBA basketball at least.
Disappointing in so many ways. Maybe we need a true point guard to run this offense. So many times, whoever is handling the ball has to dribble, dribble, then when the defense tightens up, has to work WAY too hard to just get a pass off to a guy that was open, but now is not because of holding the ball too long, then the cycle repeats itself. I noticed OKC passing the ball off to wide open players—–quick thinking and constant motion. We just seem to putter putter, etc. It's painful to watch sometimes. Other than Trey, 3-point shooting is mediocre, despite getting hot off and on the last few weeks. We need more consistency.
Thanks for a great season of content Jake…haven't agreed with everything you've said but I appreciate your knowledge of the game and organization. Was definitely and interesting season of expectations, highs, lows, hopefulness and disappointments…the Pels put us through all kinds of emotions. Looking forward to the off-season moves. Thanks again Jake
If he's been injured, why is he playing ? He has been hurting the team most of the season.
Now that the season's over, here are the false narratives you're going to get from Pelicans media this Summer (don't say I didn't warn you). . .
1- Despite the fact the Utah Jazz were the #1 seed at one point in this same season, the fact that WE were the #1 seed demonstrates we're an elite team with Zion
2- Despite the fact the Houston Rockets managed a 7 game winning streak just last season (& Orlando managed a 6-gamer this season culminating with consecutive wins in Boston), our 7 game winning streak represents a golden age of Pelicans basketball, and proves Zion is our only hope to ever win a 'chip
3- Despite the fact that the definition of insanity is to do the same thing the same way hoping for different results, the only wise thing to do is (once again) put all of our proverbial eggs in the Zion basket next season.
4- The 7 game winning streak (despite the fact it was in December) is the single greatest accomplishment in Pelicans history, and thus proves Zion should be the fIrSt oPtIoN next season.
I won't be consuming much Pelicans content this Summer (if any). I heard all of this BS last Summer.
I'm not doing it again.
In CJ's defense on that last possession, Dort guarded Ingram like he was white on rice. So the play was for Ingram, but he couldn't get open. However, CJ should have used his veteran prowess to call a new play and make it happen.
Zion reminds me of eric gordon time in New orleans. I think it is time to move on from David Griffin as shot caller guy in front office
We need to go all in on Nick Nurse