The New Orleans Pelicans lost their 8th straight game Sunday night and now find themselves in 8th place in the West while Zion Williamson is injured. Jake Madison looks at if it’s time for the Pels to panic or if everything is actually okay. Plus, Kira Lewis Jr finally got some extended playing time against the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo and looked like he should be getting more minutes moving forward. Plus, Trey Murphy III is in the dunk contest!
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47 Comments
Are you panicking after the Pelicans 8th straight loss?
No, I'm not panicking because I never expected the Pels to compete for a champonship this year. We are first year, and it is way too earlyl to set our sights on the whole prize. We may even slip into lotteriy territory – we're close to it now. But when our leaders take over we will level out the ship. We are neither as good as we looked at the top, nor as bad as we look now. We need to be patient. Next year is the one to make a move for the top, or maybe the year after. And then we will dismantle after a few years and start over.
My uncapped (ceiling) for this team is the wcf…. healthy off course. Plus Jax has played his way out unfortunately but we NEED something similar to him but can actually play defense, bring some physicality against other bigs. He shouldn't be getting pushed around like he does.
Trey murphy 2023 slam dunk champ!!
If everyone is healthy, I think we can make a deep playoff run, but to win the championship, we might need another year. Going from play-in team to champion is asking a lot.
We played an MVP candidate at home with our 3 best players all not playing. I didn’t expect much from this game. On to the next one. Didn’t have high expectations for this game so this isn’t the game i’m losing my shit over
What the hell does Willie have against Kira? Give him more minutes already.
we know our ceiling is not a champ yet…but this team really look different lately…lack of energy…not effort on D…didn't take care the basketball
The player spotlight post game immediately went to Kira, with AD and Joel all but begging to see him getting minutes going forward. I get not saying anything extremely definitive in a presser from Willie, but it really would be a malpractice to not give the kid some run
8 straight losses is not good, but we need to set this straight and come out on a long winning streak after all-star break, when all, I hope, are healthy 🙏 🏀🇬🇧
See Trigga Trey is in the dunk contest!! 🏀🇬🇧
Concerns ! Weaknesses not solved from offseason.Shooting is a major problem.Pels are one of the worst 3 point shooting teams in the NBA. Injuries should not have Pels losing 8 straight games.
As a Pelicans fan, I'm so frustrated! I really don't want to go to the games anymore, until Zion plays I'm not going! We got to stop making excuses for this team. Is it bad luck, are we babying these players. You think back to the 90's this was never an issue, player's played! Jordan always played no matter what And like someone said modern medicine is so much better.. and I'm going to put this on Zion a little bit too and believe me I'm his biggest fan, like I don't want to watch anybody but him in the NBA, but at some point you gotta be like, I'm playing, I don't care what y'all say. I'ma start posting pictures of me dunking if y'all don't play me lol, like seriously, we were doing so good and now we're talking about next year, what!.. I just want one year where everybody plays, is that too much to ask! so frustrated..
The pelicans are cursed.I pray Zion gets out and gets with contenders b4 that pelican curse destroys his career permanently.The harder he has 2 perform on offense the more injuries.The floor needs more spacing gotta create easier baskets 4 not just Z but the whole team.Needs better coaching.
we could get Porziņģis in off season.
To win you make trades. Every championship LBJ got has been because the team did whatever to win, no matter what the cost! For we don't know if Zion or BI going to stay.
I really hate the same regurgitated excuse of “oh we are still building something special” or “this is a long term investment” every time we lose. It’s becoming really stupid and really old real quick. This is supposed to be the year that Zion is supposed to shine after sitting out for over a year almost. And now we are talking about good news being that Trey is in the slam dunk contest….let that sink in. Please stop damage controlling this and demand better. Sacrifice if you have to. NO MORE EXCUSES!
Even when fully healthy, there are no reliable Embiid or Giannis or Luka stoppers (or at least keep them under 40!)OR super strong offensive rebounders, or high quality 3-ball launchers, so via trade I think the right player can bring them a few desperately needed wins now, and a better shot in all post-season play. Who is that guy?…an Al Horford-type looks pretty needed to me. Maybe John Collins.
Playing time for Lewis is needed. He definitely has the speed to get defenders scrambling. Also is there any word on Liddell’s rehab?
Imao this roster sucks. Val is constantly in the bad defensive highlights, CJ is a ballhog that can't provide anything to a team with winning aspiration, BI is at best a top 25 player, Trey is overrated and Griff is just a bad VP.
Be aware this is the 4th year of rebuild.
Making a contending winning team with all the assets we had it shouldn't take 10 years!
Everyone is tradable but if we have to start with a core Zion/Alvarado are a yes. Kira, Naji, Herb and DD can give good contribute in a winning team too. All the rest rest should go, Griff included.
At least this is happening before the trade deadline
No all about Zion still he the diffence for playing for chip not just playoffs
After all star break -well see
we should never pay Lux tax
dont trade let go
Just worry about getting that first in draft
Who sell out Zion hello
Man this team as constructed is TRRRASH. Two injury prone stars and supporting players that were HIGHLY overrated and can't win a game.
Now that I've calmed down lol…I mean I guess we can assume these two will play at some point after all star break. The Pels will likely be a play in again…but just get in man and let's the chips fall.
Kira just need more minute, his speed… man….
when will Zion ever play? A question noone will answer
Smh , I've already said we were in trouble before the 8 Loses . Jake included, didn't want to hear it . I stated that the injuries and lack of chemistry would be our Achilles 👠. 🛑 Drafting and trading for 🤕 players. Makes no since. Show me a NBA team. that made it to the finals without there best two players ,playing the majority of the season 🤢🤮🤯🤬 🙈. The pelicans are so deep , deepest team in the league 🤣😂. How'd they lose 8 straight then. how can anyone shine in a blowout loss , just curious.the sun shines on a dog's bum as well. I've been saying this for the last 2 months 🎙️🎤 📣📣
Wow
I think our ceiling this year is the western finals. We really gotta get another shooter or something. We can’t just depend on Zion to carry us.
We fans shouldn’t care AT ALL if Billionaire Benson has to pay a luxury tax
Jake, what evidence do you have that this team will get healthy ?
These talking heads that are paid by the team refuse to acknowledge that this organization is incapable of being Healthy regardless of personnel.
We fans are TIRED of waiting
I’m not panicking yet, but we need to get healthy soon.
Our team is pathetic. Never seen so many injuries. We look like a 12th seed. There is no team that is afraid of the pels. Our wings are broken. It's too late to do anything.
Who cares for luxury tax? This team needs to figure out how to get better that's all that matters if this team cares about winning.
We will be losing every game until Zion comes back.
Murphy in the dunk contest 🤣🤣that tells you a lot about his 3pt shooting abilities if it was any good seems like he would be in the 3pt shooting contest. I have never seen a Murphy dunk that has impressed me. He should take that time to work on his game. Time to put Kira in the rotation. Jonas can't compete with the top centers. You are sooooo wrong on Murphy
I’m only worried bc it seems like they forgot how to score over the last 4-5 games
It’s definitely not time to panicking…. This team whole identity and adversity!! They haven’t been healthy which happens in Sports…. The good in it all is the bench guys is getting valuable experience that you don’t want them getting in the playoff… B.I. Has always needed a few games to get his legs back… as you seen in his 2nd game back he was unguardable before fatigue start to set in…. Post all star game they can still make a good run cause they should all be healthy again but best believe B.I. Coming…. He did it last year and he will do it this year… stop sleeping on him…. No team wanna see A healthy Nola no matter what seed!!! All we need is for B.I. And Zion to get a lil time to Gel before the playoffs and it’s over because one thing we all no they want to win now!!! Be patient Nola still the deepest team in the league and only getting better because guys who don’t play getting to play!! Sound like a winning formula too…..
This team needs to invest in shooting, not guys to develop into a shooters, already made shooters wether in college for next season or free agents/trades
My panic or worry for this team was and will be here for the foreseeable future due to injury concern.
PANIC AT THE BLENDER!
We have to make a trade. This roster simply ain’t it. We were aware of that coming into this season. But we got to #1 seed and thought we were hot shit. Reality check, we have a chronic injury problem on Airline Hwy!! The “larger concern” IS the concern for me!
Hi Jake , play the long game , when healthy were 1seed
🔥 love the show 🤙🏼
Thanks Jake. PANIC!!! We were number freaking 1 and surprised the NBA while adding bandwagoneer's. Zion & B.I. this is you're team and we need yall to get on the court, take control and make em respect us. At the beginning of the season, teams knew that when they were playing us, it was gon be a problem. We were feared and respected. Now teams come in and expect us to play close in the 1st half then slowly wither away. Pels Let's Geaux and FlockUp!
Did b.i. Injured his toe again? How bad is c.j. finger?