Pelicans Top 6 in NBA Standings, 6-Game Homestand | Pelicans Podcast 3/25/24

Pelicans Top 6 in NBA Standings, 6-Game Homestand | Pelicans Podcast 3/25/24

Welcome in to the New Orleans Pelicans podcast the official podcast of your New Orleans Pelicans a podcast dedicated to everything you need to know about the squad hear from players coaches broadcasters and those who cover the NBA on a daily basis it’s time to flock up the New Orleans Pelicans podcast starts right Now hello everyone and welcome to the New Orleans Pelicans podcast it is a brand new week as your New Orleans Pelicans are back home for not one not two not three six games is awesome six game home stand and it will be a season defining when all of these games matter

The pels go three and one on their latest road trip including a victory yesterday in Detroit this is what it sounded like on the Pelicans radio network Jose for three answers ni job Alvarado another three Murphy got it heat up Kenneth right away Kenneth II making the most of his starting flip

It deflected and stolen by Naji oh nice pass up the floor Jose layup good Zion trying to get on the board spins left floats it up got the roll and he is on the board they leave him alone Butler spins right spins left in herb Stuffs the shot it’s a shot

Clock violation not on Herbert chess it up the floor Nai Marshall and he dunked it with a left hand was quite a clean dunk but we’ll take it look at herb flexon Jose two-man game with Jonas drives in running right hand floater is good for Alvarado tear dropping from

Jose Jose whipping left corner Murphy extra pass CJ left winry that’s great ball movement perfect that is great ball movement Jose right corner three Splash wiin look at our bench Jose oose o he can shoot it 1188 was the final in Miami back up top Williamson swing it to

McCullum he’ll go right Baseline spin left follow a 10-footer good bucket getter getting buckets early Naji the uncontested rebound outet to Alvarado alyu Zion two hand thunder in Detroit that is a beautiful pass from Jose Alvarado it was perfect and Zion finished 80 run pels her up 25-1

Turnover number five Sasser up the floor lost it there’s herb Jones another steal not on herb up the floor Hawkins get it left corner Naji sets his feet for three good heat check noge Zion left fre thr line extended he has it Cross Court over to Herb right angle three nothing but

Net for herb Jones McCullum bounce Fe to Z kick it the herb off the curl left wing three Barry Herbert K Jones Zion drives on forier gets bump throws it up got the roll with a left hand Flex that left bicep Z he shall kick it out to Naji right at the

Top three Splash for no his fourth made three of the ball game and that ties his season high it’s the fifth time he’s done it this year back and forth dribble kick it to Z left angle back up top McCullum pop a straightway three got another one got

Another one Monty Williams takes the timeout that might be the dagger 114 101 was the victory for the pels here’s head coach Willie Green uh I like that we were really sound defensively we forced him into some tough shots um you know these games can be tough sometimes um

Last game of a road trip they have guys out but I like the fact that our group we did what we needed to do on their home floor and took care of business Zion Williams s l the team with 36 points his thoughts on the victory uh

We executed when we needed to um whenever they went on runs uh we CED it with a run right back pels don’t get that win without CJ McCullum continuing to play well five threes for him as he finished with 23 points Zion on CJ McCullum scoring and I think that’s just

Natur like who he is uh but CJ is such a great teammate and a great leader that you know when the team accent when coaches ask him to facilitate he’ll do that but I went to seej like hey man cut that out yeah I need you to

Score um he’s been doing it so as I mentioned a six-game home stand begins tomorrow night against the Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Willie Green on the expectation level for that first is to get back home uh get a little rest and and then get ready to go we want to take

Care of home court that’s the biggest thing for us is focus on one game at a time focus on one opponent and let’s try to attack it from from that perspective and as for Zion how is he feeling heading into the six game home stand I

Feel great uh and I’m I’m having fun um and in terms of stacking my days is just doing all the little things recovery extra recovery conditioning and extra conditioning um and then when we’re in practice just bringing a high intensity so that my body can be used to that all

Right time now to bring in Jim mik for New Orleans pelicans.com sir it was so nice yesterday being out and about seeing fans here as well Friday was out and about we were at wrong iron it was so much fun just to see but more importantly get those wins you wanted to

Get that split in Florida didn’t get the win in Orlando but this team bounced back that was a tough back-to- back win for them to go through and do that what impressed you the most about that win at Miami just the I think the grittiness the the toughness the intensity I wasn’t

Surprised to see any of those though based on you could tell how much motivation that players like Jose Alvarado and Naji Marshall had going into the game specifically against the Heat and obviously there’s a good reason for that they both were suspended from the altercation that happened last month

In the Smoothie King Center against Miami so they brought what they always bring to the court but I mean they may have even taken it to a different level in that game so yeah that was a that was a great win the fact that the Pelicans

Went three and one on the road trip I think we kind of looked at that as maybe kind of the goal you know obviously you want to try to win all four but if you’re going to if you’re going to win three I think the fact that they split

The Florida road trip and they got the Miami game but not the Orlando game I think I preferred it that way based on all of the uh circumstances that went into the Miami head-to-head no doubt I think one of the things Jim you look at too is you just mentioned those two

Players and it’s crazy to think that we will look back at that three in one road trip we look back at where this team is still currently in fifth same as when they left which we’ll get into the importance here as well but you’re right maybe do we start the success on that

Road trip based on the bench not Zion not CJ not Trey filling in for Brandon after he goes down with an injury which again that started the beginning of this road trip here as well but it’s crazy when you think about it isn’t it yeah I mean I I think especially the weekend

The two wins they got on the weekend considering that on Thursday was the game against Orlando where Brandon Ingram got injured so all of a sudden you’re in a situation where one of your best players is sidelined you know you’re not going to have him for at

Least the next couple weeks so the bench was so huge in the in the wins against Miami and Detroit I thought too that and Willie Green addressed this a little bit after Friday’s game against Miami they were a little tentative in the first few minutes of that game the first quarter I

I I forget what it was but it was something like I don’t know six to four after five six minutes of that game played um or actually the heat were up I I think a few buckets in the beginning it just seemed like the Pelicans were kind of feeling their way through like

Okay we don’t have Brandon Ingram now so how do we work this right but after the sluggish start that they got off to in that game Jose and nii came in and and just immediately gave them an energy boost Larry Nance was big as well I I

Noted Friday too that Willie Green only used eight guys so it was really those three Off the Bench in his rotation but I mean it’s been the case all season I know CJ McCollum after Sunday’s game on postgame radio also said we have I think

We have the best bench in the NBA and I think that continues to be proven over time that when the starters get off to a slow start those guys come in and change the game in new orleans’s favor and a big reason why lately over the last

Bunch of weeks the Pelicans have had a ton of 20 plus Point wins is because when the starters do play well the bench is just adding to that lead they’re not letting up at all they’re taking a 10 12o lead and turning it into a 25-point lead and eventually a double digit win

So the bench has been so instrumental in not only New Orleans being one of the best teams since the allar break but consistently winning games by a good margin you know one quick fact too they haven’t played in a game that’s been decided by less than eight points since

The All-Star break win or loss that’s kind of interesting yeah really they haven’t played every single game that has been a win or loss by eight points or more obviously there’s been we got clutch games though there’s been right there’s been times where at some segment

In the last 5 minutes it got under five points so that counted as a clutch game but in terms of the final score they haven’t had any game decided by eight points or less than eight points since the allstar break since the All-Star break so before the All-Star break was

The last time there was a game decided by less than eight points I believe it was I believe I’d have to double check this but I’m pretty sure I was looking up up this yesterday and I’m pretty sure that the San Antonio game where Zion Williamson had the game-winning basket

That was Fe early February that was the last time that played in a game that was decided by um less than eight points 114 113 yes sir there it is the next one was 138 100 117 106 I can go on and on but you’re right it’s it’s crazy when you

Think about it from that standpoint look at Jim iike offer this is why we we love you they do have they did have a seven-point game against the Wizards on that was right before the All-Star break so that was that was the only other one that was less than eight over these last

Couple months it that is crazy I’ve been here for a while I don’t think I definitely have never seen that before the only thing that I might have closest seen this is a a pretty bad Hornets team that had you know a bunch of losses by

That kind of margin but maybe a win or two sprinkled in but you know this is very rare that you see this something else we haven’t seen in a while Jim and it’s something that we’ve been bringing up in our podcast routinely here since we started we haven’t seen the team be able

To handle things such as losing a key component of your team actually we’ve seen it very routinely be where if they do you know uh oh boy right and when you go back to that 24-hour stretch Jim I don’t think we can overest or overstate what Thursday Friday felt

Like first off the game wasn’t going well and then bi goes down early third the mood I mean you heard the players in the locker room the mood changed they sounded sorrowful they were hopeful but they they were fearful and then Friday you kind of got some idea that

Hey he was in good spirits and things of that you know graph is like look he he’s smiling he’s and you wouldn’t think that if there was season ending this is before the MRI came out and then the MRI comes out it almost feels like a burden

Was sort of lifted off the shoulders so if this team by the way they went out and played because you heard then the players after the game of Miami say we got you we’re going to go hold down the fort right and look it’s still going to

Be two weeks until you get re-evaluated he will miss the entire home stand final game of the home stand is when he will be re-evaluated that’s the Spurs game on the fifth but still that I don’t know if they handle that the way they did and so

I I think it shows depth physically in terms of your team but can you touch on the mental aspect how how much has this team grown mentally to be able to handle that yeah that’s a good point I mean I feel like obviously this team is across

The board a little bit more experienced than they were last year you’ve had the same group of guys now this is pretty much the third year that a lot of these players have all been together on the same team whether you’re talking about the guys who came in in 2021 through the

Draft or undrafted with Jose Trey and herb and then Jonas Valen chunis also came in and it’s also Willie Green’s third year here so I do think that there’s been some maturation and some development from that standpoint I mean also think about what a difference between this season and last season

Because last season really the injuries was really what took everything down they were in first place into the beginning of January all of a sudden they had a bunch of injuries and they weren’t able to sustain even close to the level of play that they had they had

A 10- game losing streak that really kind of derailed everything and I think a big difference too between this season and last season is yeah you have renan Ingram out and you have Dyson Daniels but it’s not Five Guys out all at the same time the way it was I think for

Part of that losing streak last year so and even the beginning of the Season as well there’s a certain amount of I feel like there’s like a critical mass of this many guys out you can’t overcome like you can play 500 ball maybe you can kind of hover around competitiveness but

I mean there’s no team in the league that if you if you just take out all of these guys they’re going to look the same I mean even on a different level the Detroit team that we saw yesterday like you just can’t compete with that a

Number of guys that are out where they didn’t have Kade Cunningham or Jaylen Duren so on and so forth um but I mean we’ve seen repeatedly with this team this season that that if you have a couple guys out there’s plenty of depth that can overcome that there’s enough

Versatility from different players no one guy is going to be able to replace what Brandon Ingram does it’s impossible but you can get a little bit of scoring from here and there you can get a little playmaking from other guys you can get some defense from different players and

All of a sudden you know you’re still able to keep your head above water and even win a bunch of games even though you don’t have some of your main players on the court one of the things I also want to touch on here as well Zion Williamson the trip to Florida he

Heard the graph say it yesterday before the game he just needed to get out of the state of Florida right um against Orlando he did finish for 20 points if you just look at the box score and just his point total you’re like okay we’ll win a terrible game and yeah you could

Excuse it hey look Brandon ingr out all that and they did something very interesting on how the defended IM Muni talked about that on Friday and we talked a little bit about how I think those two games is an a real world snapshot film study case study how

However you want to use it that this staff is now going to be able to prep for get ready for and you look at these three games here you got you know OKC Boston and Milwaukee Milwaukee that are very good there at the top good coaches as well you’re you’re going to know

Before you get to the postseason how they’re going to play you how you need to do things and all that nature but when you look at Zion the thing that impresses me and it’s very easy to see the 36 points last night it’s easy to see the alyu it’s easy to see

His smiling the shot blocking you know Jim what really make what impresses me he didn’t force it yeah he didn’t force it he didn’t play good against Orlando he had eight turnovers now bi goes out you’re handling the ball more I so I can understand that really good defensive

Team five turnovers against the Heat same thing yep good defensive Four Points Four Points he didn’t play the fourth quarter Willie Green said after the game the guys we had in were working and and they won and they were winning and they were doing well in the

Fourth quarter I I don’t know many NBA stars Superstars names that have the kind of game that they did don’t play the fourth quarter and on on Instagram or something on you know by the time the game comes on making a comment to the reporters afterwards and even yesterday I didn’t

Feel like he forced it right they there were layups there were AR cord he was he still did his stuff part of the unit in the team and afterwards like man CJ had it going it wouldn’t even about himself I I just don’t know in a three- game

Stretch how many guys that would lead sports center with the Highlight have that game of stretch Bells win two of those three and you honestly would know it by his demeanor do you understand what I’m getting at I think that that shows a ton of maturity man for sure

It’s interesting too because you always hear players say the only thing I care about is winning and you kind of say like for a lot of guys it’s they say that but really what they mean is I only care about winning as long as I get my

Numbers and I get my credit and I achieve the status individually that I deserve and think that I should be getting um but I think he’s so repeatedly over and over again lately said the only thing I care about is winning that I mean there you have no

Choice but to believe it just based on the way that he’s played and like you said he was totally fine um sitting the fourth quarter of the Miami game I I saw I posted a picture tweeted a picture of him and and Brandon Ingram kind of smiling and looking out to the court

During the fourth quarter of that game just kicking back and relaxing I think they enjoyed the heck out of watching what Jose and Nai did in that game as well as some of the other role players for them to be able to secure that win

And for those two guys to be able to just chill on the sideline and and and kick back I mean I think that was a lot of fun for them even if Zion didn’t have great stats in that game yeah there it

Is is I I like that a lot so you kind of get something out of that uh something else I want to touch on too so we’ve touched on BI the importance obviously what that was like and on Friday’s podcast we’ve kind of touched on other

Guys that needed to step up we started this podcast mentioning the bench got to be something Trey Murphy also here as well something else that stands out to me is CJ McCulla man 23 points in the game yesterday another nice night from Beyond The Ark so I saw this stat on

Social media the last five games from Deep for CJ McCullum and it’s 6 of 12 that’s 50% four of eight that’s 50% three of six 50% 6 of 12 50% last night five and N 50% you’ll take somebody shooting 50% beyond the art especially on that volume

Yeah you’ll love that yeah he he shot 51% from three last week which during the road trip they went 3 and one he was 52% from the field um averaged 5 and a half assists a game averaged 21.8 points so he was huge and it seemed like um the

Sunday game against Detroit was a good example of this too he gets off to a poor start Trey Murphy did as well shooting wise but then in the fourth quarter it was he made three three-pointers and it was like any chance that Detroit has to think about

Hanging around and trying to win this game is out the door because he’s making big shots so he’s done that a bunch of times lately and uh been another big reason why they’ve had such a good record since the All-Star break so a method to my madness the reason why I’m

Bringing all these differ up and we kind of gone in order here 11 games remain now is the time that we take a look at the standings on the podcast because that’s what we do we start with Jim last night I’m not saying can I get fined I’m not

Officially somebody that can be fined I don’t think so I don’t think so I think you’re good even if I did you know what Jim you and I can start a some sort of gof fund me yeah something like that I was going to go another way but yeah we we’ll do that

Um you didn’t happen to watch the Lakers game yesterday did you I did or at least the box score you happen to at least see the box score I oh I know where you’re going now they took on the PAC watch theame would you say the Pacers are a good team

Yes they’re a good team they’re not a bad team I know you’re going with us you’re going with free throws um first off what’s amazing is they I feel like it felt like they’ve been playing there forever and I saw one of their reporters they did have just a six-game home stand

So the pel are right now eight of their next 11 or the last 11 are on the road though for the Lakers little tidbit for you good um including here in New Orleans to end the season what’s remarkable though in a fivepoint game last night what was it 150 to 14550 to

145 yeah that’s a high scoring game by the way just letting you know um um Lakers free throw attempts to the Pacers free throw attempts again this should be not shocking at all to you 43 to 16 when you count the maid baskets 38 points came from the charity stripe

For Los Angeles nine for the Pacers in a five-point game apparently Austin Reeves had six straight free throw attempts inside the last two minutes to seal that game again in a five-point game the only reason I’m bringing this up is not to say the NBA or anybody else is cheating

What I’m getting at is is they’re they’re not not going to be in the play there’s no’s going to happen they’re going to be nine but that same reporter that posted how many games they’re playing Jim he broke it down in terms of the Kings and the Mavericks and the

Tiebreakers they got and how many games to still got with him he a guy that covers the Lakers said realistically they will be nine I’m just saying you’re just saying those pel fans out here I just like hearing there in a night 10 right now you knowz you know how it is

There’s still fear they’re going to be right there behind us they you know I look the Warriors have got issues they got a game a game lead on the rocket it may not be the Lakers and Warriors it may be the Lakers and Rockets you don’t think Dylan Brooks versus LeBron in that

Playing is going to be interesting that’s funny I didn’t think about that so but again this is what we do every podcast from here and out let’s just start from the bottom up what is the game separation with the 11 to go Elin

To 10 the the very last it is 7 and 1/2 now with 11 games to play are you comfortable in saying very comfortable yes at 9 the Lakers are five five games yep pretty comfortable pretty comfortable okay that’s what I’m saying the Lakers guy is comfortable in saying

It’s going to be the N but I’m just saying pel’s fans hear that the reason I bring that up and I’m pausing there is because we just went through you lost bi in stretch you had a backto back against a really good team you had two guys off

The bench bounce back Zion couldn’t have played worse in a stretch in the State of Florida eight turnovers um one night five another and then he drops 36 G it’s the Pistons not the I I understand that but you got the win you went 3-1 my

Point is for the pels to drop to nine or 10 Jim they’re going to have to do something I haven’t seen this season right would you agree with me on that point for sure I mean yeah if they can play even 500 ball from here out if they

Go six I mean even going six and five gets him to 50 wins which and that’s what I was trying to get at here this home stand if you go three and three it just makes it hard for teams to Sur plant you I guess is what I’m getting at

Right and again the Suns the Kings the Mavs the Lakers the Warriors they all have to win on the nights that you lose that’s what I’m getting at so that’s just a lot lot to do in in a little amount of games we’re very close I don’t

Think we’re there yet but we’re very close to start looking at Magic numbers as far as you know once it gets down to 23 they’re not quite there yet even in terms of the post like just getting into the postseason and by that I mean top 10

But I I do think on a maybe on Wednesday’s show or Friday’s show we will be at that point where we can start saying like Okay they win one more game and they’re in the top 10 they win three more games and they’re in the top eight it’s it’s getting there we’re getting

Close so look at the Mavericks and the Kings and look it’s it’s crazy depending on what night it is and I watch a game that they’re all playing really well look the Mavericks eight and a half back Kings eight and a half back that’s eight

And seven at six of the Suns at eight back your pels are two so all again it’s still that four team Race I think for five and six and all of that that’s why to me again just looking ahead at this home stand Jim I know you like to do this in our

Radio round table so how about I throw this out your way of the six games MH what is the absolute most crucial game you have got to win to me it’s Phoenix yeah it’s definitely Phoenix I mean based on the fact that you’re two games ahead of them right now the tiebreaker

Is still up in the air because Phoenix is up 10 in the season series so I mean the fact that you’re play you still have two more games against them but one of them is home that I think that makes it even more important the fact that you

Still have to play them in Phoenix after this game on April 1 so yeah that’s I think that’s a no doubter that you go with Phoenix is the is the most important game of the six on this home stand how big would it be to start tomorrow night the home stand with the

Win against the team right now tied for first yeah I think that would be that would be huge as well that would be a great s they half game back sorry yeah half game behind Denver yep yep um yeah I mean to to set the tone for the home

Stand I mean think about this too this is something that I’m writing about today the over this week which is OKC Milwaukee Boston your playing against the team that OKC has the third best record in the league Milwaukee has the fifth best record in the league and

Boston has the best record in the league so first third and fifth are coming to the Smoothie King Center so if you can beat the third best team in the league right off the bat in the game against the Thunder I think that would be a very

Good omen for you know hopefully that you can just keep beating good teams on this home stand win a bunch of games and put yourself in great position where where you’d have five left after this home stand look they’re eight and uh there’re seven and3 in the last 10

Pelicans are 8-2 in the last 10 suns are seven and three kings are seven and three what I’m saying like yeah it’s incredible look at there’s Denver A2 they’re starting to really look like they did last year here as well and the t-wolves give them credit losing you know call Anthony

Towns I thought they were going to lose more often than not they’re seven and three in their last 10 and on a current two game winning streak Anthony Edwards is absolutely an MVP candidate Shay gilders Alexander is an MVP candidate yok is an MVP candidate some have him as

The favorite gym I just mentioned the top three teams in the west with an MVP candidate that’s how tough the West is right now yeah I mean think about that yeah I mean there’s these are these are quality teams and like you said the fact that Minnesota’s still been able to keep

Winning without towns has really helped them I thought that it was possible at one point that they might drop below the clippers but then they had a great comeback win against them and instead of losing ground to the Clippers over this last stretch they’ve gained games on

Them and they’re still in the race for first in the Western Conference they’re only a game behind Denver so I mean they still could pull that off as well um I’m I’m really interested to watch too how this plays out between Denver OKC Minnesota those three teams only

Separated by a game to see where they’re where where they fall because obviously that’s going to affect a ton in terms of the matchups in the first round of the playoffs one and two are going to play teams that come out of the playin tournament the three seed is going to

Play six so it’s it’s really interesting right now there’s just so many things at stake and so many things on the line over these last three weeks of the regular season it’s crazy when you look at it well again we got a lot to get into as the games continue it is the

Final 11 game stretch and if you’re a pels fan I’m just telling you the blender is going to be bumping these next six games it’s going to be awesome again I would love for that Laker game to not really matter I’d love that Warriors game that not matter the Kings

Game but we don’t know got to take every game at a you do you legit have to take every game one game at a time you do sure yeah I mean some of these teams it’s interesting too because on this home stand I feel like everyone other

Than the Spurs has a ton to play for I mean the Spurs are out of the race they’re one of the few teams across the whole NBA that has been eliminated from postseason contention completely but I mean OKC we just talked about they have a chance for the one seed Milwaukee’s in

A battle right now for you know two and three in the East Boston actually is know this is interesting too we should mention Boston I believe has a magic number of one to clinch the the one seed in the East hopefully that happens before right I’d say there’s a pretty

Good possibility considering they have a couple games yeah it’ be nice they play in Atlanta twice this week so if they can win one of those games or have another outcome go their way actually even just Milwaukee losing to the Pelicans on Thursday would do it as well

Yeah um so yeah so and then the Suns huge race that we talked about Orlando has a chance for homec court advantage in the East and so you’re talking this is this is actually to me I’m writing about this a little bit as well today it’ll probably be posted by the time

This podcast is out this is one of the most interesting home stands I think in the history of the franchise I mean since I’ve been here which covers a playoff home stand yeah really it’s a legit playoff home stand and you mentioned the Spurs game at the very end

Wiim bayama has been playing really well that’s a papovich team they they’re looking at those games as hey you’re playing a playoff caliber team this is a learning experience this is how good you can sort of be what do we need against this team look they’re not looking at it

As let’s just get this season over with not not with that guy and not with that coach so you’re right there there are no gimmies at all I think on this home stand I mean the Spurs are still at the point where they’re just trying to make progress they know obviously they can’t

Make the postseason but they are making incremental strides I think lately they’re winning more games they’re looking more like a team that you have to be worried about when you play them as opposed to earlier in the season where it was like they were constantly losing games by 253 points so yeah it’s

This is this is I think it’s a little unprecedented this that you have a six-game home stand which is tied for the longest of the Season you’re playing three of the five best teams in the league you’re playing the two number one picks from the last two years between Ben Caro and and

Wenyama um and then you have Phoenix in between with Durant Booker and Beal so I’m expecting this to be so much fun and I’m expecting the Smoothie King Center to be maybe in playoff mode but we’re kind of Dipping our toes a little bit in that in playoff mode over these next

Couple weeks Gus I can’t wait it’s going to be fun for sure that’s you m can offer pelicans.com quick break will we come back it is Monday which means it’s going to be the player of the week and the player to watch I love that so we’ll

Do that when we come right back I would like to start our week with a player to keep an eye on here yes the player to watch this week for the Pelicans is going to be Mr Zion Williamson and part of why I picked him beyond the obvious

Of I feel like he’s not only a player to watch for the Pelicans but just around the league everyone is kind of starting to tune in and say man this guy is looking like Duke Zion how much fun is this going to be you know he’s had he

Had a couple bumps in the road this week past week that we talked about in the games in Florida but now that he’s out of the Sunshine State this week the Pelicans are playing OKC Milwaukee and Boston you know I’m not sure how much of these are going to be individual

Matchups where he’s facing these guys one-on-one and defending them but just interested to see Zion and chet hren on the same court I think for only the second time this season um Zion versus Giannis has been one of the most fun matchups when those two guys have both

Played I feel like I’m not sure about this season I think Thursday’s game is on NBA TV but either TNT or NBA TV have picked up a lot of pelicans bucks games over the last few years because of the Zion Giannis matchup and then Saturday obviously Zion going against

You know porzingis Jason Tatum Jaylen Brown and the and the star players that Boston has so just a just a really fun group of opponents for Zion and and some interested to see how some of these teams defend against Zion you know another thing too you you mentioned this

Earlier when you were talking about the way that some of these teams defended Zion last week how about this Gus Miami is Orlando is third in the NBA in defensive efficiency Miami’s e Detroit we’re not going to talk about that they’re lower towards the end of

The league but we saw how Z did against them but this week coming up um Boston is second in the league in defensive efficiency Oklahoma City is fifth Milwaukee’s a ways down the down the rankings they’ve moved up a little bit since Doc Rivers took over their 16th

But I mean you’re still talking about in this stretch of schedule between last week and this week they’re playing against almost every top defensive team in the league so curious to see how some of these teams try to defend against Z if they try to steal some of the things

From the strategy that the Heat and Magic tried against him if that’s the case I think the fact that he’s been a improved playmaker and passer this year that’ll be something that he relies on finding open guys like Trey Murphy for open three so that’s the player to watch

This week if you want to move to the player of the week from last week we have such an interesting race as we record this right now okay um the four candidates that I put out there from the three on three in one week of beating

The Nets Heat and pistons with a loss to the magic were herb Jones averaged 1.3 steals Naji Marshall plus 28 plus minus CJ McCollum shot 50 51% on threes and Zion averaged 22 points a game now we have a exact tie right now as we record

This with Nai and CJ both have 32% of the votes um there’s about 21 hours left in the poll so make sure you get your your ballot in and and vote for who you um think should have been the player of the week but just uh a credit to nii

That you know he has a chance to to be player of the week which I think would be the first time for him this season CJ’s won it a couple times and he’s also a very viable candidate but kind of shows you a little bit about how good of

A week that the Pelicans had that Zion coming off a 36 point game against Detroit is third right now in the voting and Herb with all the stuff that he did is fourth so once again it was another week where there could have been more

Than four guys but X only allows you to put four options in there so right now we have quite a race in 2024 between Nai and CJ well that also tells you how deep this team is isn’t it for sure for sure yeah I think maybe there could be some

Right-in votes for you know Jose the work that he did Larry Nance that he did Jonas you I want to write in vote for you you were out and about twice with the people this week twice yeah you know it was it was a lot of fun you know

People it’s definitely it’s definitely a different environment I I’m so used to being locked in and and and focused but uh but it was it was fun being around the uh the fan base for sure No Doubt last your Mike can offer give a follow

Over there on X Jore I can offer of course pelicans.com we will be back with you on Wednesday hopefully talking about a Pelicans Victory tomorrow night that will take on the Oklahoma City Thunder I’m Gus catale that’s GMI K Hofer thank you for listening to the New Orleans Pelicans

Podcast thanks for listening to the New Orleans Pelicans podcast join us three times per week on pelicans.com the Pelicans mobile app the iHeart Radio App or where you get your podcast and be sure to give Jim and Gus a follow on X at gimore Ian offer and

Gcat 17 we’ll see you next time right here on the New Orleans Pelicans podcast f

On the latest New Orleans Pelicans Podcast from Monday, March 25, 2024, Jim Eichenhofer and Gus Kattengell recap the Pelicans winning weekend against the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons. The duo discusses how the 3-1 road trip will shape the team’s prospect at holding on to a Top 6 seed in the NBA Western Conference playoff picture. Jim also gives us his Pels player to keep an eye on this week as the team begins a six-game homestand against the Thunder, Bucks, Celtics, Suns, Magic, and Spurs.
00:00 – Welcome to the Pelicans Podcast – Introduction to the episode, focusing on the Pelicans’ current season and what to expect from the podcast.
00:52 – Highlight Plays from the Road Trip – Recap of standout moments from the recent road trip, including key plays and player performances with interviews from Willie Green and Zion Williamson.
02:05 – Analyzing the Pelicans’ Team Dynamics – Discussion on the synergy between players, spotlighting the effective ball movement and teamwork.
03:43 – Postgame interviews from Head Coach Willie Green and Zion Williamson
05:33 – Jim Eichenhofer recaps the Pelicans’ recent road trip
07:07 – Impact of the Bench and Resilience – Analysis of the Pelicans’ bench strength and the team’s resilience in overcoming challenges, especially in light of Brandon Ingram’s injury.
08:24 – Importance of Team Depth – Discussion on how the Pelicans’ depth has contributed to their success, particularly during the absence of key players.
10:41 – Standings and Playoff Implications – Examination of the Western Conference standings, the importance of maintaining position, and potential playoff matchups.
14:26 – Zion Williamson: Player to Watch – Focusing on Zion Williamson’s impact and matchups against top teams during the homestand.
19:35 – Looking Ahead at the Standings – Detailed analysis of the Western Conference standings and what the Pelicans need to do to secure a favorable playoff spot.
23:40 – Homestand’s Key Games – Identifying the most critical games in the upcoming homestand and their implications for the Pelicans’ playoff positioning.
28:10 – Playoff Atmosphere at the Smoothie King Center – Previewing the exciting and playoff-like atmosphere expected during the Pelicans’ homestand.
31:22 – Jim Eichenhofer’s Player of the Week and the Player to Watch

#NBA #Pelicans #NewOrleansPelicans
Latest NBA News & Pelicans News @ https://www.pelicans.com

New Orleans Pelicans Roster
———————————————–
Jose Alvarado #15 Guard
Dyson Daniels #11 Guard
Kaiser Gates #12 Forward
Jordan Hawkins #24 Guard
Brandon Ingram #14 Forward
Herbert Jones #5 Forward
Kira Lewis Jr. #13 Guard
E.J. Liddell #32 Forward
Naji Marshall #8 Forward
CJ McCollum #3 Guard
Trey Murphy III #25 Guard
Larry Nance Jr. #22 Forward/Center
Matt Ryan #37 Forward
Dereon Seabron #0 Guard
Jonas Valanciunas #17 Center
Zion Williamson #1 Forward
Cody Zeller #44 Forward/Center

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