LIVE REACTION POSTGAME SHOW: New Orleans Pelicans vs Denver Nuggets
[Music] This program is brought to you by FanDuel, where we give sports fans the chance to win every day. Career high night for Derek Queen. Zion Williamson returns as the Pelicans lose their ace straight to the Denver Nuggets. Y’all favorite people here to talk about it right now. Let’s get it. Welcome to another episode of Propuls. I am your host here, Chris Connor, here. We got my dog here, Ross, as always. We got Chaz. We got uh we got the chat here. We got all the people, the good people that support us here. John Deere, Sunshine, Tas, FanDuel as always, Scott, Vic, Neil, you know, they do. They fight for the win. I mean, you know, we not all matching today, but nothing nothing runs like a deer. And nothing loses like a pelican. Um I I I really want to stop saying that because I want them to win at some point, but they’re not they’re not helping. But um what’s up, F? We going to get into um I mean it’s a lot to talk about here in this game um two and 13 or not but first off fellas how y’all doing? Doing well brother. Doing well. What’s popping? How about yourself? I’m sorry. No. What’s popping y’all? Man, I’m straight. Doing all right, man. Doing all right. All right. Look, man. Um I This is a weird delay. What’s going What’s going on? No watching this. Oh yeah, I think Chris got a delay. Is it Is it for everybody? That’s just you. It’s me. Yeah. Yeah. Good. Go. Go ahead. Here we go. Same [ __ ] Go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. Give me a second. I’mma switch something around. Go ahead. Uh yeah. You know, hard to win this league. You can’t make threes, man. you know, the pool being out. Carlo, I mean, Carlo made two threes last game, but some of these lineups, man, with these one shooting lineups and there we go. Again, bro, this ain’t no disrespect to my dog. Well, he ain’t my dog. It ain’t disrespect to this person, but these Jos lineups got to stop, dog. At at this point I I kind of wish rather you just bring Alfa Peyton back like cuz I know Al Peyton not necessarily a scoring threat but these Jose lineups got to stop the end of the first quarter going into the second quarter to me that’s the game when you can’t really generate no off you still can’t generate no offense with Zion off the floor right fears being in the I thought Fierce had a terrible game honestly fears being in the um the starting unit they’re not really staggering the lineup just yet. So, he’s off the floor when Jose is there. Then you got the I know he’s trying to figure it out, but these these one shooter or no shooter lineups are just abysmal. That’s just my estimation. And you know, unfortunately, or fortunately, guys, you’re welcoming back Zion Williamson. Um, which compliments things or which makes things even more difficult for a team that my [ __ ] tweaking? Yeah. Yeah. Y’all hear me? Yeah. Um, yeah. Just keep going. You’re good, man. I got like popups coming up. All all type of stuff. Yeah. But welcome welcoming back Zion Williamson, man. you know, unfortunately, um, the spacing didn’t didn’t help in his first game back, but they definitely they got off to a good start. They did, you know, they they were strong defensively early on, and it felt like this might be a game that the Pelicans can could uh I mean, I don’t know if necessarily still, but Denver looked sloppy, they look slow, they look tired, and then the bench came in and everything broke apart. Uh, Fiverr. Yeah. Um, to be honest, man, I I was Let’s Are we moving off Zion for a second? Okay, Zion’s back. Great. But man, Dairy Queen, bro. Jesus Christ. It It feels like It feels like like the the judgment of the pick or or trading for the pick was almost it’s like buying a house right now. Like the housing market is messed up, but you need a house. So, you might have to overpay for a house and people that have a house would be like, “You paid way too much money. The interest rate’s way too high, but you you identified something that you needed and you spent you spent whatever you had to get it.” And I’m okay with that if you can identify what that is and go after it. and is coming out to be like he might be a really good player. You know, 10 days ago, Willie Green was saying that he didn’t know if he had minutes for him and now he just he just went at Joker and he had a season season high or career high at this point. Right. Right. Career high. He’s a really good basketball player and I I can’t even knock Joe for for spending what he spent on it. Like it is what it is. He got what he got. Great. Now we trying to see how it can benefit him. Like the return on investment seems like it could be a high one. When you’re talking about Derry Queen, you know, it felt like that that Kobe um um and Mike pitcher them like I think both at the free throw line. Yeah. Just you know, kind of just kind of chopping it up, you know, watching watching Joic and you know and Queen in some you know in some respects. Queen got a long way to go. Um but you know the ceiling man and just watching watching so many of the players just accept that everything like our best looks are coming from him. Yeah. Our best ways of scoring, our easiest opportunities are coming from him. guys coming off the ball, cuts, curls, um Queen, Queen offensively being aggressive, dribble handoffs, like it adds Ross a different, you know, Queen when he has the basketball and he’s able to set up um in that middle of the floor, it turns this offense into something that from a creativity standpoint, we just typically don’t see unless they’re on unless they’re in transition. There’s no other halfcourt advantage creator that’s simply like him on this team. No, that that’s that’s absolutely right. I mean, I think the frustrating part is I find myself asking the same question of, okay, you now have this intriguing talent, clearly intriguing talent. How do you put the pieces around him? because it’s in a lot of ways he’s got a skill set that’s that’s totally different than Zion obviously, but in a lot of ways the the ancillary pieces around him need to be the same. You still need rim protection and you still need shooting and you got neither of either. Yeah. Like it it is I mean it’s almost frustrating and I see people in the chat saying it like generated some pretty good looks and you still scored whatever 120 points or whatever but somebody I mean somebody got to be able to throw it in the ocean. It’s the same. I mean think about how many years we’ve said this shooting shooting shooting shooting shooting and yet here we are you know years later still and so that part is frustrating but he’s impressive and I agree. I mean, look, we I think we’ve seen this even I mean, really, even from the first game he came in, like things happen offensively, like things open up. He he’s he’s a different offensive player. He he creates mismatches right away. Joic was really really struggling defensively in ISO situations. Um he’s a clever passer. I I I I saw some good things from the off like I really don’t have any complaints about the way they played offensively aside from the fact that you just can’t shoot for [ __ ] You five Peyton Peyton Watson tonight hit five threes. Um he had five threes made the entire season coming into tonight. It’s, you know, it’s interesting to think about like, you know, yeah, you know, on one end, you know, you got guys on the other end having having career nights, but, you know, Jamal Murray didn’t have that great of a game. Um, you know, but Denver did get some production from their bench and the Pelicans, I mean, as I mentioned earlier, just simply didn’t. No one no one made a three off the bench. Um, other than Derek Queen hitting one and Herb hitting a three, the only person to hit to to convert on threes tonight was Trey Murphy. And Trey was the only Pelican to hit multiple threes tonight. And that ultimately like really it was a crucial part of this game like Ross mentioned. Um, first of all, shout out Mo. Can’t believe I watched DQ as a primary decision maker and crunch time while Z was on the floor. I move it. I mean, I love it. Move on. I wouldn’t say necessarily move on, but I think this is a part where what up my dog Leto. Uh this is a part where um let’s just talk about the Pelicans and how you know the random guy or the the ancillary guy has a big night against your team. I’m okay with that to be honest with y’all, right? Like you took away a primary guy and the other guy got hot. That usually doesn’t I mean it usually happens for the Pelicans but you think about historically that usually doesn’t happen away from you know their home floor the opposing team’s home floor. It just continues to happen. But if you continue to have that kind of game plan you can minimize it. Eventually it’ll start to work because you’ll see the same things over and over again. Just like you know having Derek Queen as your, you know, ball handler, right? are your decision maker. These guys missing shots because now they’ll know where their shots are coming from every time. Now, eventually they’ll have to upgrade to a better shooter. But if Chris, if I told you you’re going to shoot five threes, probably most of them out of the corner, you know, eventually that that’s night in night out. This is what I’m going to have to work on because before it was more so like random. Like you would shoot a three at random in random spots. With Derek Queen, you kind of know exactly where you need to be. Michael Peavey, I didn’t hit a couple threes tonight, so I’m I’m a back cut. Like, you’ll start to understand where you can have advantages. I saw Zion Williamson have easy baskets because of Derek Queen in a in a clutch, right downream from Trey Murphy. They have to make a decision because you just kind of had the same situation where Trey back cuts Derek Queen throws a bad bad pass. But the look is there. They’re going to continue to do that and do the same thing the next rip. They throw it to Trey. Trey throws a bounce pass to Zion. It’s the strong side. Catch finish. Like I was super excited about tonight looking at them execute like a basketball team. this look like a basketball team when you have a guy like Derek Queen on your team, Chaz. And um I want to welcome everyone here to the show, man. Welcome, welcome, Leo. We have 430 people in here, man. Now, like whether this is your first time or this your you know this your last time. Hit the like button now. You know what I mean? Leave a nice comment. Subscribe to the show. We go live every single recap. Um, no one no one else here like is any is anywhere close to what we do post games or at all contentwise uh when it comes to the Pelicans. But um Chaz, I I want to hear your thoughts about you know some of the decisions and how Barco tried to use his bench tonight uh rotation minutes wise. Um earlier in the first half you saw a little bit more of Ees Mei second half not so much that Eves played 12 minutes. I thought he was, you know, had had some positives, but um I think he got to a point to where you were, you were playing a numbers game and once you got once you were, you know, down 15 close to 20, maybe that didn’t make sense. But first half after not playing a little bit, Kavon Looney gets him early. I think it might have been first quarter minutes, plays five minutes, doesn’t play the rest of the game. No Carlo tonight after, well, I think you know, you know, we talked about got a feeling. Oh, Carlo Carlo’s hurt. Yeah, I didn’t know that. Okay, well then that that would explain why Looney play. I didn’t even I didn’t even see that. And these cal injuries, man. Um Sadique Bay though Sadique Bay was welcomed back to the lineup. A little a little rusty after missing the game, but he played 19 minutes. Um only two players to play to play 30 were Queen and Trey Murphy. Uh what were your thoughts about how you know the experimenting that Burggo is trying to find with some of these parents, some of these groupers in these lineups tonight? Um well, if I want to borrow a phrase, give him credit early on. You’re about pra maybe one practice and a half in. Still got to do your installs against a tough team, smart team, team that’s been together for a while. Um, you know, first time some of these guys are playing together, even with like Queen being in starting lineup. First time you I think this is the first time you probably seen this lineup at all, right, with with these guys. So, you still got to kind of figure it out with Zion Trey and Queen in the starting unit. In the starting unit, I think um I think Burggo I think they kind they really found their rhythm going into the fourth quarter. I think Queen had a rough he had a really rough start but really found his rhythm the more he played and kind of picked his spots. I think with those three having that level of talent far as having three threats out there like real offensive threats kind of like creates a little bit of space for everyone. But I think u I think he had an interesting uh pregame speech. Um, it’s interesting. You know, has some nice anecdotal stories, but I also think now his first real test is what to do with Herb Jones in the starting lineup. It’s the first real test. And, you know, it’s a lot of it’s not his fault because there was a lineup toward the end of the first. It was like Jose and Peavey and Hawkins and it it was just some old some apocalyptic [ __ ] lineup. And it was just like what? To Conan’s credit, you know, he started off hitting a couple shots. Shout out to him, but it’s like, nah, you just got to get some talent, man. I keep saying that like you got to get some actual NBA talent. And it’s it’s it’s tough. But um like tonight, I I see some improvements as far as I don’t see Herb going rogue as much tonight. I didn’t see I only saw point Herb like once. Herb do a [ __ ] off the dribble uh off the screen pull up jump. I was like, “All right, so this kind of night we having, huh?” So, um, so let’s let’s say he’s dialing that back. I didn’t see Jose go as crazy as he usually goes. So, I I see some positives, right? I’m seeing some positives, especially as guys get healthier. Shout out to EMI. I thought EM was Mei was battling on the [ __ ] boards for real. For real. Um, but yeah, you need you need talent. I think Burggo is in an interesting uh spot because even Joe Dumos and Troy Weaver. Shout out to Troy Weaver for uh for what’s looking like a really good draft. But the fact that you are relying so much on these rookies and you inherited such a questionable roster, it it’s tough because again, if you’re Joe Dum Weaver, you inherited the Dejante injury. You inherited Hawkins, you know what I’m saying? and you inherited Jose to a lesser extent. You inherited some of these issues and now it’s up to you to fix it. You got to get some shooting. You got to get some modernday basketball. Um because you at one point going into the half, you were winning damn near every match. You’re winning the turnover battle. You’re winning the uh shot attempt battle. You winning all these things, but you just can’t make threes. Can’t make threes. And you miss eight free throws a night in a what a sevenpoint loss if I’m not mistaken. Something like that. So, it’s the little things. So, I think the team is trending in the right direction and they just they got to get some shooting though. They got to and pool alone ain’t gonna solve that. You you need at least one other guy. Like, seriously. Leo, um Derek Queen stole the show tonight, man. in in in Zion’s return back. Um I mean again I mentioned earlier first quarter looked like you know Zion had it on his mind right to you know the way he was you know he was back he was aggressive he was finishing at the rim and then Denver did what good defensive teams do or good teams period. They made adjustments and in their coverages, got in the passing lanes and used and even without Aaron Gordon, like they I forget the dude’s name. They came in in the beginning of the second quarter or it might have been the end of the first quarter taking charges. I don’t know if you even saw him much in the second half, but but it’s I somebody in the chat is going to know, but he he kind of resembles Michael Porter Jr., but taking charges, getting steals, ripping people in the back court, and then that kind of flipped the game. Um, and then Spencer Jones Spencer Spencer Jones. Yeah. Yeah. Um, and it’s overall Denver made adjustments defensively. We knew offensively they would figure it out. But Derek Queen, your name, your name is Queen City. All of us here have been talking about Derek Queen, you know, for a while. Um, what was different tonight that brought that that gave him a career night? Like what what was it? Was it was it the matchup? Was it some of the parents? Was it being out there uh you know with Zion? Cuz he because he didn’t get off to the I don’t think he got off to the best to to to the best start offensively if I remember if I remember correctly. So more the second second tough early. Yeah. I all I saw was the four quarter. So I don’t know what happened before I started watching. I just know when my son saw me watching he he he he the lights the lights got bright. He was like oh yeah no but I would say if you if you asking me the first two games I would say since Burggo’s been coaching they ain’t really play through Queen a lot. He didn’t he didn’t really get a chance to initiate anything. he was they they kind of had him labeled more as a a play finisher. And I think we talked about how special he is with the with the basketball. Um and putting people in the spaces that they need to be in order to get him an easy shot. Of course, having Zion on the floor helps because you can’t just you just not you’re just not gonna leave Zion, right? So him being on the floor helped. But I think him being on the floor, Derek being on the floor helps everybody. It It helps everybody in space. Um, you know, he bro he you can’t put a center on. You you can’t you and and technically [ __ ] man. It’s looking like you can’t put a four on. He had Jokic out there doing a Cupid shuffle. Jokic with them little horses that Jokic be racing like he was that that brother was out there. Hey, it’s so fire though. Like you have your career game against your idol. Like this is this is the dude you idolize your game after. It’s like it’s like the AI Jordan moment, right? AI cross Jordan ass up. Like when Queen extended that [ __ ] with his left and finger rolled it, I was like, man, he dumped on Yonis twice. By the way, by the way, by the way, that hurt. That hurt. One of them was an and one too at the end. Yeah, they they wild and they didn’t call it. They didn’t call 14 points in the fourth. Leo, 14 points. I’m saying bro like he the dude got game, man. Like you got to play through him. You gota you got to get him in involved in the game and you know shout out to them doing that doing that tonight. I mean 12 for eight and then it was efficient dog. 12 of 18. He he was 50% from three. Like you know what I’m saying? How many assists he had? have we only had four assists, but I mean 30 and probably could have had more way [ __ ] was shooting honestly. I will I would love to see the potential assist from Derek Queen or Zion tonight. Like I know I know Jeremiah Fears ain’t got no potential assist. That’s tomorrow, right? We can’t get that till tomorrow, right? Like Yeah, I think I think till tomorrow. I think till tomorrow. I I think I think I don’t think Fears got no potential assist. But I thought I liked how he was still playing hard at the end of the game, hustling, get, you know, doing this thing. But boy, it’s tough. Ross, how do you what what what course would you like to see the Pelicans take in trying to, you know, you know, you look at this, you look at the starting lineup and, you know, Fierce had had 15 shots. You know, Trey is gonna Trey has a has a myriad of ways he’s gonna get to his he had 14 shots tonight. Zion Zion had about 13 and Queen Queen ended up with with 18 shots from with everything that that you mentioned to start the show about it being clear even if you’re worried on how they’re going to build around Queen going forward in the interim. How do you balance the shots that Trey’s gonna need in in this lineup and what you and what you’re seeing for Queen and how important it is to have the basketball in his hand, but having Zion, you know, uh who who who equally is going to need the basketball in his hands. I mean, as a if you’re if you’re James Burggo, how are you going to balance having these guys start and having a you know, a a well- flowing offense with limited shooting in this group? Look, I thought it flowed well in the first quarter when they got some stops and you were able to get out in transition. I I I really didn’t see like I I in fact thought the some of those Zion Trey Queen pairings the ball moved well. There were like there was space on I mean I I thought that was fine. Those three really didn’t bother me. It’s it’s that last part. And I I don’t like I don’t have a solution on this roster other than other than it continuing to look at like some awkward lineups or or potentially I say awkward lineups like other than like starting pool and moving trade to the two and then letting Zion and Queen both play with a with a you know with Carlo or another big or something. I I’m I’m really not sure. Like you don’t like when when you look at the roster like it’s not like like there is no shoot. This isn’t like a oh they had there is no shooting. There’s not I mean we keep talking about like P isn’t the greatest shooter on earth either. Like it’s not like you’re putting in a dead eyee you know JJ Reic or something. I I De Jonte is not going to help you there. Like the the Calvary is not coming. Eves can’t shoot. Um, you know, the bench struggled mightily tonight. Uh, I think you just got to almost cross your fingers and say, you know, try to make a move. See if you see if you can find, you know, something that helps. And I look, I do I don’t think DeJonte is going to help that starting unit, but he’ll certain he’s going to like he’s going to help these bench units. I mean, I think y’all talked we talked about start the show, they got ravaged. Like I mean I I thought the starters played well enough to win this game even even missing shots and everything else and I don’t know what the the plus minus was or whatever for the bench but it felt like they got the [ __ ] kicked out of them. I mean and it’s going to be hard to win that way. So that that’s where getting some of those players back will help. But from a like a shot distribution perspective, I think that’s how it’s going to be. I mean probably not going to take 18 shots a night. Zion, I think you could tell that this was his first game back. He was a little sluggish, especially after the first quarter. Um, but some of that stuff’s gonna work itself out. But I really thought I liked what I saw out of the Queen Zion Trey stuff. I don’t have any I mean [ __ ] one game in, I really don’t have any concern about those three playing together and making it work. Chaz, how would you like to see them stagger some of these lineups? You know, stagger the nine. you know, when Zion goes out, um, you know, who’s the who’s the primary creator at that point? Some might say Fierce, some might say, you know, some might say it should be it should be Queen, others might say, you know, Trey should be the lead dog currently accept before before pool comes back, you know, and so on and so forth. what what approach or which route do you think that they should that they should go there to kind of maintain or extend runs, you know, the issues that they keep running into of trying to, you know, either a playing from behind or having a hot start and the bench not being able to kind of keep that going um heading into the second quarter. I think I think it’s some relatively easy adjustments while you wait on pool to come back. Like I agree with Ross from the standpoint that he not like he ain’t Reggie Miller, but he’s at least respectable to where like you’re not gonna turn your back on him. He can still, you know, get downhill. Um Sadique Bay, he kind of I don’t know what he’s going through right now, but he uh he had a couple rough games. I’m sure he’ll bounce back at some point. I think for me, I would probably have Queen come off first and um have him snag in line because see that’s the thing to me, you don’t need Jeremiah Fierce and Queen to start together. I think Jeremiah Fields would be incredible with that second unit because he was he started off the season incredible strong word. But he started off the season very good with that second unit, right? Incredible strong work. Kind of like he a rookie. I don’t you know, but I think I think phenomenal. Yeah. Oh my god. Chaz, it’ll make the defensive assignment a little easier for him too. Yeah. It would make the defense and it gets to the point where again tonight for me my game plan was all right, you got to go first couple plays. Queen tried. It didn’t really work out the gate, but then it’s like, “All right, now it’s time to pass the ball to Will, y’all. This ain’t working. Let’s start passing the ball to Will.” And it’s like, “All right, now it’s working a little bit. We got transition.” Trey, it took a while for Trey. I think Trey first shot. He got some free throw. It took a while for Trey to get a look. That’s the thing I think that with Fear starting right now at this juncture kind of it kind of hurts a little bit because like I got Zion who can handle the ball. I got Queen who can handle the ball. I don’t mind Zion playing off ball and cutting or playing in the dunkin spot. They had a couple spots like tonight where he was in the dunk spot and Queen made a nice B. To me, I really enjoy Queen’s passing. And I think when I look at Fierce, Zion, Trey, and Queen, not necessarily as a unit, but just to as individual players. I’m like, “Oh, y’all got talent. Like, yeah, I could I I could rock with this right here.” But then there’s the other people when when when the second line come in like Ross said like when it’s like it’s Jose and Peavey and Hawkins and again shout out to Hawkins man. He has some he has some cool shots with the midies you know he he did what he could. Um I thought Eve played well but you I never need to see that again. Like don’t don’t do that no more because even at the end of the game you’re down. I understand it because if I’m James like Chaz who the [ __ ] you want me to play right? But it was like Peavey and Herb. But shout out to Pe. I thought Peavey had a cool game. He shot too many jumpers tonight. But [ __ ] we gotta take them. Like in the in the pregame, uh, James Burger spoke like, “We not taking enough threes.” And it gets to a point where it’s a math problem. Trey’s defense tonight was abysmal, but he shot 12 threes. So, I’ll give him that. But defense was off ball defense was abysmal. So, go ahead, Lo. No, no, no. I finished your point. My bad. My bad. Yeah. No, it’s good. I’ll just say he shot 12 threes. Like we need somebody else capable of at least attempting nine. Somebody you want to take those shots, not just some old random [ __ ] taking them shots, right? You because I don’t think like just looking at the box score. Oh my god. Okay, so her went one for four. Um Zion for or they I thought Zion shot a three, but Zion I guess 0 for nothing. Queen shot two with 50%. Jeremiah Fez 0 for four. Sadik 0 for three. Jose for four. Hawkins 0 for two. Michael Pee 03 like you shot 20% from beyond the arc and it ain’t like Denver set the world on fire. They shot 35%. So if you can get that 20 to maybe like 25% 27% you probably win tonight but you can’t even do that. So So you just need talent. Five. Go ahead. Go a little I was gonna say I I didn’t see the game again. But if I’m just just I saw the fourth I saw the end of the third and I saw the fourth. If I’m looking at the box score too, we talked about this the other night, dog, when we was at the game. You five for 12 from three. 14 shots ain’t going to [ __ ] cut it, dog. Let that [ __ ] go. I don’t I do not understand. Well, well, Alito, I I will say this. He tried tonight. It couldn’t it tonight. Tonight, tonight’s one of the nights where the box score doesn’t doesn’t show him trying to actually get shots off. They run him off the line pretty aggressive. Like they ran him off the line. They blitzed him a little bit. Got the ball out of his hand. Um he was he was sloppy with you know like he he had a few turnovers that he probably shouldn’t have had and trying to create. Um I don’t I mean sure I mean I think in a perfect world yeah you know as long as it you know Zion is even even welcoming Zion back you would love Trey to get up 20 you know 20 attempts. Um but I do think he tried tonight I I think partially tonight was on Denver um just having people that were going to make his life a little bit more difficult getting up in his airspace to where he’s not he’s not able to take contested shots. He couldn’t take, you know, a couple step backs he tried to take didn’t work. He was shooting from Ross le, you know, 35 feet, you know, them threes that Ross loved so much. Um, shot air ball from right there, didn’t he? Yeah. Yeah. So, I I think I think he tried. Um, it’s just he’s just lit. It’s [ __ ] up, Leo, because he’s the only shooter. So, yeah, I might want to get up 20 shots, but it’s way more important that I get over 10 threes up cuz can’t nobody else either make a three or or even enough of a threat for me to get these open ones. I got to take every opportunity I get. That’s fair. There was one possession and I feel like this happens every night. Trey, you got to stand up for yourself though. I had tagged Trey on this LaMelo ball. Uh ball like I need the ball like in transition. If if you trade there there was a point tonight man F my dog with Fizz on that right wing and Cam John like Cam Johnson right there but he kind of like looking at Fizz it’s like F just pass him the ball Trey in the corner right there he go the total opposite direction I don’t know I forgot how the play ended but I was like just pass the ball like if you try you got to be more demonstrative like the man in the ball 123 is not bad but to Chris’s point they was blitzing them and [ __ ] and I At one point I was like just get angry and start shooting. Like just just soon as you get the ball just shoot from the other half of the court like y’all got to take me out the game cuz now I’m fed up. Like you got to just start shooting though. Five. Do you think that this and this isn’t saying that Fierce is playing poorly, right? It’s a night like it’s a him him being 19 years old and being as skilled as he is even like not afraid of what’s being tasked of him so early is incredible and he’s had some good performances during this stretch but do you think that with his current skill set the you know the parts around him right now or just just period just as an individual you think he has too much right now um on his shoulders right now of being the point guard in that starting group. See, see this is the issue with having Willie Green as your coach initially, right? Like you have no rules. So, you get to play as free as you can. And when the injuries happen and there’s nobody there’s no one else to get downhill, there’s no one else to do the other like, oh, I can do that, so let me do that. And then I have success at it. And now when when Zion returns, now Queen is ascending. Um, you got guys out that now you need to get shots up. Now your role changes. Now your skill set needs to change. And that’s the issue. Now he’s trying to adjust to that. This is the wall. This is this is a wall that he he’ll have to overcome. Um, and that’s why I always thought like the second unit was probably best for him because he’ll he’ll be able to one truly run a group because you wouldn’t be running the the first group anyway that’s all going to go through Zion that’s all going to go through now Queen and possibly Trey like you would have to like almost facilitate to them like you know where to get the ball to now you got to go kind of get out the way you couldn’t really be yourself in the second unit you can because you’re needed in that way. They need you to get downhill. They need you to create for them and that responsibility needs to be earned especially now in the NBA. Like they don’t just give you the keys to the team anymore especially as a as a you know 63 63 62ish guard. I wouldn’t say 64. I don’t know where that comes from, but um but yeah, like that’s where you need to really like learn how to be a guard and you can have your own team within a in a team. You’re muted, Chris. You’re muted, right? My bad. Um Leo, you think that Beer’s got a lot on his shoulders right now? I mean, it’s a lot to ask of him at at this stage. um you know being a like it’s almost like if he’s a if he’s not a table setter it feels like a failure because he can only impact the game really in one way right now. I know a couple nights ago he had, you know, he had what, eight steals, not like close to close to nine steals. Um, and he was shooting 35% from three coming into the game, but it really the finishing at the rim isn’t there yet, right? He has to get stronger through contact. He’s not he he hasn’t learned, you know, he he’s it’s going to take some time for him to learn how to navigate his way to getting the free throw line. You know, um transition is where he wins the best, right? That’s that’s a superpower. That’s when we watched on film. Um, do you think for whether this team is at two and 13 just doesn’t matter right now? Just let him get as many reps as as he can to start users. Who cares? Or is this just or or do you kind of have to is does have to kind of reel him in a little bit and kind of restart this learning curve? I mean, I think I think you can do both. I think I think both I think both things are true. I think he does. I mean, listen, to be a league guard in the NBA, like you do have to set the table at some point. Like, you do have to understand Tom score situation. You do you do have to understand with his speed, which is his superpower, he could literally he can get a bucket. He can attack anytime he wants to. Anytime he wants to, he can get in the paint. Is that for the betterment? You know, like it’s funny because we having this conversation with I via text about empty calories, empty calorie stats. And I said that everybody on this team gets empty calorie stats because this is not a winning team. They don’t play winning basketball. So everything is everything is I’mma get me and then in the Florida game, you kind of figure out how to get you, but I’m not really gonna get you involved. You know what I’m saying? That’s on you to figure out. So, but if you gonna have the basketball 85 90% of the game, you absolutely got to be some sort of a table setter. You can even look at Shay who’s like a scoring guard. You look up Shay might have 30, but Shay got at least seven, eight assists. He He’s He’s passed the He’s He’s penetrated and kicked. He’s He’s slashed. He’s He’s gotten to the paint. He’s gotten somebody else a good look. Do I think that Fierce has these this in his cache? Not yet. Because he played on a bad team in Oklahoma. He really have nobody to pass the ball to that. Also, he 19 years old. He 19 years old. And I think that’s the I think that’s the biggest thing in his story right now. He just ain’t seen enough to do enough. A and that’s again, if I go back to Shay, I saw the same thing. I’m not comparing him to Shay at all. understand developmentally when I saw him as a Clipper, when I saw him, you know, when he first got the OKC, he was he was he was scoring that bit like he was scoring the basketball and I think that’s just a part of the game. That’s how it goes. I’m going to do the thing that I do well. I don’t want to work on the [ __ ] that I’m not actually doing well. I’m not seeing a floor like that yet, but the game is going to slow down and he’s gonna get better at it. What the last my last point about him is dog once his shot from three stars to four and they can’t go under that screen on him, it might be nightmares for people. That’s a really good point. That that’s a really good point that that Ross in watching young talent especially somebody that’s that’s not even 20 years old dog to to to be able like you you have to you have to be able to to to to imagine what one step today like how that turns into three steps. you know, how one shot, one one ad to his game, what that looks like in three years in a in an NBA program with, you know, strength and conditioning hopefully. Um, and just and just him being able to mature. Uh, clearly with fears, the mindset is there, the will is there, the want is there. Um, and in some respects, the game is there. How do you uh how would you manage because he could, you know, he’s not as his floor isn’t where Queen’s floor is right now. Queen Queen has a skill set that you can just drop him in right now and he’s going to impact he will more likely be able to impact every game. Fears may take a little bit more time, but you know, similar question to what I asked Leo. Leo, if you’re Bargo, how do you manage that right now? You mean you didn’t you didn’t make the decision to start him. Um, do you think that maybe you you you want to kind of reel him in and maybe have him play more reserve minutes or is there something else that you would do to kind of make this development for like put him in as many advantageous positions as possible for a team that is struggling to get a third win. Yeah. I mean, look, you said it you kind of said it there, which was right now he doesn’t have a choice like like there is no so I mean whether it’s reel it in I I don’t think he I don’t see fears as a guy you have to reel in. I just think he needs coaching like I mean Leo just said it. He needs coaching and experience. I I don’t He hadn’t done anything really that’s maybe been like whoa whoa you know hold up but pause rewind let’s I think he just yeah it’s a lot on his plate but like what are the op what other option does he have and and that’s the unfortunate part I I I do think I would I would play him more with the second unit um when Paul comes back I I I wouldn’t start him um and and that may be a awkward because, you know, maybe he feels now he earned a starting spot. Whatever. It is what it is. This this is Brego’s chance to like put his fingerprint on the roster to play the style of basketball that he wants to play. And he’s got to treat this as if this is my team for the next three years, even though, you know, really it’s just it’s not. I mean, he’s an interim coach. But you you’ve got to you’ve got to foster fears to become something more than like Kobe White. like that’s like that’s got to be the floor. A player that’s fast can do some of those same things, but you want to see him add to his game and not just lean into, okay, hey look, we you know, Leo, you said it best and I and I agree with you. You do things that are comfortable, playing in transition, playing downhill, gambling for steel, those type of things, those are the easy things for him to do right now. The difficult stuff is the stuff that he really can’t do. Like he’s not prepared to to run an offense. Fortunately, he shouldn’t have to with this team. Y he’s not prepared necessarily to table set in a half in a half court. Like he he’s he’s gonna be an inconsistent shooter. I think I god for if he ever develops a legitimate three-point shot is it opens up [ __ ] for him and for everybody else for the whole franchise to be honest if he develops a legitimate shot. But it there’s just a lot to ask of someone like we I don’t he shouldn’t he shouldn’t he shouldn’t be in the position he’s in. just an unfortunate reality of injuries and a you know sketchy roster. But I I don’t I don’t you know to go back to I’m kind of rambling but to answer your original question I don’t think he needs to be reeled in. I just think he needs experience in coaching. And fortunately I think Berago with the style of basketball he wants to play like can provide some of that for him. So I’m still optimistic. I honestly I think I don’t know. I feel like it ain’t that deep a lot of it. Right. I I feel like when I really evaluate him, of course he’s not this athlete, but I see a lot of Russell Westbrook as far as like just organized chaos. He’s an excellent rebounder, got a hell of a motor. I just think if you if you evaluate him through that lens of that’s the type of guard he is, like if I’m pairing him with Derek Queen and it’s like, okay, then I anticipate you to benefit from Derek Queen’s passing, maybe not necessarily vice versa. I just think that uh with him being in the starting lineup, that’s where it kind of like because even if you had Russell Westbrook, you wouldn’t start Russell Westbrook on this team right now. Or even you had like a just a nonshooting guard, you probably wouldn’t do that right now because yeah, it’s good to have two people that can collapse the defense and get downhill, but it’s like I I only got one person that can really take advantage of that right now and and that’s Trey. I don’t really have another like shooter. or even if like Carlo was playing as well, you have maybe two people that could kind of take advantage of that. And it’s a little early to say that for Carlo, but he hit two threes last game. Shout out to him. Um yeah, I just think I just think he shouldn’t be in the starting lineup when the team is healthy. Even now, for example, I thought even now if you want to put Sadi Bay in that starting lineup or or uh or Carlo in that starting lineup and bring FZ off the bench, I think that will help you. I think you’ll win some games. I think you might have won tonight if that was an option because the second unit is just so bad. Second unit is just so bad that it’s like no just no. And I think fears would help with that quite a bit. five. Uh, Ross, well, Ross made a good point about um or an interesting point about like Kobe White. And it it doesn’t have to be. You can use another another guard if you like in regards to his floor. Not it’s not to say that that he isn’t a good um that Kobe White isn’t a solid player. You know what I mean? He is. Um, but with all the talks that we’ve had about the missteps that this organization, this franchise has had over decades with young talent and getting them from, you know, having a plan and getting them um really really putting in the building blocks towards development. How do you provide that floor that Ross is talking about? How do you provide that that that space to where like you are not going to be any worse than this? We will we will help you alone not be that now where your ceiling is is ultimately up to you and the work that you put in. But this is the foundation to where whether it’s Kobe White or you know whomever you won’t be any any worse than this. How does an organization develop that? How does a how does a you know um you know a staff um what would what would your what would some of your ideas be in trying to help him along that route? Keeping things very very simple to start out right like these are your goals. Um you know we need to get x amount of paint touches. We need to make sure we’re we’re you know hockey assists. We’re counting assists. we um how many pick and rolls you’re going to go through, but also looking for others, right? Like you’ll see guys, you know, go through a pick and roll and their first thought is more so they’re trying to get themselves involved. You can see it like you can almost feel it in a sense where there’s no thought process of like this is actually just to move the defense. No, I’m just trying to score. um for him in a sense like the coaching staff needs to make sure like his thought process I need to move the defense. I need to make the defense adjust to me. That way I can get others involved and that will open up his game because we know he can get downhill. Great. Cool. We’ll we’ll work on finishes. We’ll work on floers. We’ll work on left right hand. Like we that pretty much is on him to to do. But how are you going to impact the game with other people? Also with people that aren’t as talented as you cuz you’re uber talented. Great. Cool. But can you can you help Michael Peavey be better? Right? Like how can you influence that? Can you can the team or can the organization birth that for him? And and once they start doing that, once they start building those small building blocks, then we’ll see a different player. And that’s when you’ll be able to transition him to the starters because then he’ll be able to play with anybody whether they’re better than him, whether they’re worse than him or the same plane as him. You’ll you’ll see the small incremental gains from this and and it’ll all be beneficial, but keeping the little things or the the the foundational pieces very in front of him and very apparent and attainable. 484 people in here, man. Please, I don’t know. Somebody give me a count of where the likes are at m right now, man. But appreciate y’all. Appreciate y’all in the chat. Uh we will we will have the star questions at the end of the at the end of the show as well as the super chats. Um Leo, um remember when do you remember the early days of Naji Marshall. Yeah. When he when he when he first started playing. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Do you remember how long it took you, you know, for like a for like a um you know, for someone who was who was undrafted and was um you know, an upper classman of sorts and but still had holes in his game. Do you remember how long it took you to be like he gonna be something? You remember how many games roughly games? It was I’d say probably first 30 games or so. I, you know, give you give you an add. That’s fair. That’s fair. Um, I only ask that because that’s that’s where I am with Mike Pee. He’s not he’s not Naji, but it’s just the art of being a role player and like succeeding in that at the wing position. It’s just it’s just there. It’s just natural to him. It just the cutting, the screening, the defense, the the the sitting in the corner, the knowing when not to, the extra plays, the offensive rebounds, 50/50 balls. He’s he he’s a corner three away, ain’t he from generational wealth. Yeah, man. Listen, listen, man. He He First of all, he a nuisance. He a nuisance. Doesn’t mind doing dirty work, just like Naji. Naji didn’t Naji didn’t care about mixing it up. He didn’t care who he had to guard. Really didn’t even care about scoring like that. You know what I’m saying? Like I see those same traits in him. Uh him being uh uh Peavey. I I like I like his attitude where he’s he’s like, “Yo, look, I understand who’s on the floor. I get it. I’mma find a way to fit in. I’mma find a way to be on the floor and be able to produce. And to be honest, man, like regardless of skill level, if all basketball players looked at the floor from that type of lens, that’s winning basketball. That’s what that is. You know what I’m saying? Like I can’t score 30, right? Maybe what I’m doing is not going to score on show up on a stat sheet, but I’m helping the team. Like, did I box Jokic out, right? Did I did I did I did I you know run back on defense so like nobody got a easy layup [ __ ] that’s just not necessarily gonna score show up on the stat sheet. Michael Peavey does and he don’t mind doing it. You know what I’m saying? Like he don’t he not looking for a pat on the back. He just want minutes. He just want to be in the game and play basketball. And to be honest, man, I I you know I was saying this earlier in the season. I don’t know how, you know, I don’t want to I don’t want to diss that brother that plays for the Pelicans whose number is 24, but I don’t understand how he getting minutes over him. I I I just don’t Yeah, I mean, I don’t want to I I mean, again, I I brought up Naji just to just to bring, you know, a friend. You know, Naji was Naji was undrafted. PB was barely drafted, but just that roleplaying wing and it being it being so early, you know, their their play styles are totally different. their their their strengths I think are different but that Naji knew immediately what I need to do to survive in his league at that position like he he knew immediately he knew how to make himself available and he knew how to make himself around and touch the basketball does that as well like I know you put that you you put that perfectly he’s going to find a way to be a part of a play just the natural elements of basketball he’s gonna find a way to be a part of a play even if it’s like, you know, the ugly thing that nobody else wants to do, a tip pass, a tip ball, a extra, you know, um, you know, he had a tip in, offensive rebound, a box out, whatever it is. He just finds a way to be a part of a play like that feels like like that breeds somebody that should be a successful role player in the league. Whoever else wants to jump in, you guys can. Micah Micah Peavey and [ __ ] Marshall both played in the Big East, right? One with the Georgetown, one went to Xavier. Like it’s the same style of play. Good point. Right. Six. What? Michael is what? 67. 67. Naji. Same height. Oh, wow. That’s crazy. Um Um just like the the type of players, man. Like it it makes sense. Although their their games are different, but they’re also similar. Um, Micah couldn’t shoot to save his life tonight, but he impacted the game. We saw many nights like that from Naji. Yeah. You know, once once he figures out like that one move where Naji kind of has that in the lane floater, whatever that that was his like go-to uh that spin and and finish. Once Micah figure figures that part out for for himself or whatever that is, then you’ll see the development of the corner threes. It’ll it’ll be a slow process, but he can impact winning. This is why I picked him as the Pelicans rookie of the year. Like, cuz I knew he was Willie Greenproof. Like, oh, you Oh, you have a role already. You almost undrafted. Great. Cool. You can impact win. You want to you want to defend? Because he literally wants to defend. I really didn’t see a drop off between Herb and Micah Pea tonight guarding Jamal Murray. I didn’t see I I truly What’s the difference there? What What’s the What’s the Because they their their strengths and the way that they approach um pressure defensively is is a little different. Um, tell me tell me how peevey um I guess at that point made it even in regards to what you saw guard Murray. I think Micah’s strength is strength, right? He trying to make it physical. Yep. Right. Herb is almost like length. I I’mma try to Paul I’mma try to strongarm you. Go ahead. But like and then cut you off. Yeah. Right. Like that’s that’s Herb’s identity. They both work, right? But they can be used in different facets. And I think Jamal had issues with both. Yeah. Chaz, you know, I I I keep seeing Matt Ryan’s name come up here and I mean it’s crazy. Pelicans always find themselves in these situations, man. But it’s like even even a Matt Ryan would do wonders for the for the lack of team. You talking about the bots? The bots? No, not that not that Matt Ryan. Not Not the quarterback either. Uh uh uh the shooter. Gosh. The shooter. Matt Ryan. What what what do you Chaz, do you have any ideas um in the interim in the short term that the Pelicans can do to acquire any type of help shooting? Like if you were if if you had the if you had the juice, what would you do today to get I know you said they need multiple, but a shooter some kind of help. Um, I think at minimum you probably could look for a couple of two-way guys. Um, again, you kind of put yourself in a tough spot, whereas if if Buffkin was traded for cash, I can’t imagine Hawkins’s value. You might have to give somebody cash to take him at this stage. The good thing is that you’re not in the tax. Um, you probably could get you probably could get somebody uh interesting for Jose. What I mean by interesting is like you gota, you know, it’s like the stocks, man. You got to sell the rumor. This guy hard-nosed defensive player, you know, every team needs one. Like, yeah, you you have he could be yours. Uh you might can do something like that. Um truthfully, though, I think I think you’re you’re a ways away. I I think you you’re looking at probably January. um looking at probably aside from the two-way thing because you you probably can make something happen with two-way thing, but you’re really looking at like roughly January when and that’s unfortunately when Herb Jones becomes trade eligible because like I’m screaming to the heavens. This was a mistake. You can’t do this. Like no one does this anymore. Like this this is this is not back in the day. is not, you know, not the old days when we can do what we want. So, I I think like, look, man, there was a lineup put out here. That’s why I got to give a regular pass. There’s a lineup put out here was Peavey, uh, Herb, Fizz, Zion, and Mei. I said, “Oh god.” Like, what the [ __ ] Like, what what is this? Um, I just think I just think her not a contributor on either side of the ball at that level right now where you can justify some of these things because you got to pick an identity. It’s what that’s why I say’s first big test is is what he decides to do with Herb drops. To me, that’s his first big test and it’s a tough position to be in. It’s unfair to Herb. It ain’t her fault. They they drafted Jordan Hawkins. It ain’t Herb fault that they kept missing in [ __ ] lottery. Herb Herb’s more than earned his keep over the years. He’s done his part. But like all good things, it must come to an end. And I I think you’re at the stage where it’s like, nah, we need more upside talent. We need more offensive talent just because the day and age we in. Like right now, Tony Allen wouldn’t be playing in the NBA. like he wouldn’t get no real minutes like just being real like I forgot who said it Paul Pierce was talking about Rodman it’s like yeah you know here and there like rebound or something like that he could but the fact that it ain’t that significant of a drop off from Herb to Peavey and I’m not disrespecting Herd but the fact that it’s not that significant of a drop off. I don’t think it would be that significant of a drop off if you just got a guy off the street because you can’t stop nobody anyway. So, what’s the point? You might as well pick a direction and just try to outscore everybody. Like, you know what I’m saying? You might as well just lean into what you at least got some of the pieces to do well. And unfortunately, with that extension now, you you got to wait to January. You got to wait till January to see how you can round out this roster. Again, if I was the Pelicans, I would be in talent acquisition mode. Like I say with five, I said earlier before like I don’t hate the I don’t I hate doing it like that, but I don’t hate trading for if you believe Queen is a high level talent because you ain’t got no talent. Like you got to get talent on the roster. You either gonna get it through. You got to stop drafting role players. That [ __ ] is dead, son. You got to get you gonna get him via trade or you gonna get high upside talent via the draft. You made a trade. You got a guy who’s who’s exquisitly talented, extremely talented in Queen right now. So, it worked out for you. Whatever, right? Just you deal with the cards you’re dealt. But moving forward, you got to turn some of the lower tier talent players into talent. Like, you you got you got to like it just that’s the only way you gonna win. And mind you, Denver was missing. Eron Go, Christian Bone, uh what’s that dude? Strawberry, whatever the [ __ ] his name is. That dude killing the strawberry. I hate that dude. I hate playing against that dude because if it wasn’t Watson, it would have been him tonight because that dude kills the Pelicans. Him. It’s like you got they got people who can really play and hit a three every once in a while. The Pelican just nah. It just you got to get some offensive talent, man. Say Chris, can I uh one one one thing? So, like I see people I see people talking about um Bergo and his coaching the past two games or so and um I see they’re a little down on them and I and I and I I understand cuz they losing, right? Um what’s the Wait, Alto, before you before you go into your point, what’s the criticism because I haven’t seen that. What’s been the criticism on him? Somebody in the chat said Willie was better than Bergo at what? Oh, okay. So just like certain [ __ ] I see on Twitter, certain [ __ ] I see in the comments. It’s crazy. But I think man, you got to understand like this not even a Barago team. You know what I’m saying? Like this Chaz was saying you don’t you got to get talent, bro. There’s no this this roster like don’t have talent like that. You know what I’m saying? Like I’m sorry. Just to add, every Burggo offense has had a guard that can shoot. Like you go back to Devonte Graham. You go you even go back to [ __ ] Chris Paul to a lesser degree. You have a guard that at least come off screen is getting the actions and shoot. Uh who you had? He had Scary Terry. I think he had Kima. Yep. Even had like I mentioned before Devonte Graham. People was I think dude name Andrew said this. I don’t know if I would go that far but he said Devonte Graham was Damian Litterard light. That’s how that that’s the level that uh at least Bergo kind of he could he at least allowed you to believe something like that. So even if it’s you know who knows but he can leave it allowed you to believe that this offense I think you’ll see more that when pool comes back but for right now no shooter lineup’s not conducive to Burggo’s offense. Yeah, I think I just think you gota I mean James is at a a clear disservice like a clear clear disservice right now with what he’s working with. And I it’s clear like it’s it’s clear as mud. You know what I’m saying? Like I I I I just think you know you I feel bad for him because it’s like Hey, what’s up? What’s up? I’m gonna be honest with you, dog. I’ve seen vast improvements these last couple of games. Like the bones of it because of Burggo. Vast. Like they know where they’re going with the ball at times. I’m ecstatic. I I don’t I don’t understand why you guys aren’t smiling like I am. I’ve been happy this whole time. I watched the NBA basketball game played in New Orleans tonight. I haven’t seen that in years. So, so when you when you say that that they know where they’re going with the basketball, what like do you mean in regards to how quickly that they’re getting in their sets and who the primary like like facilitator or ball handler is? What do you mean? Yeah. Think about the second half. Zion gets a um let’s I wouldn’t say um he was not in a short corner, but he wasn’t at the at the nail. So, almost in that that wing spot. And a double’s coming, right? Joker’s coming on the double. He immediately looks. Boom. He’s going straight to like like it’s almost like an automatic trigger. That’s what they are. If he moves, you throw. There’s no if ends or buts about it. Go look at Golden State game. If they send two, it’s a automatic skip. Like that’s the NBA. Yeah. You can blindly do things that they call this thing called they call it like a Brady pass, right? It’s where it’s a uh pick and roll with the big side pick and roll with the big you dime him and if the help guy steps up, it’s a blind throw to the opposite corner. That’s what NBA teams do. We were doing that tonight. I don’t care if they miss. If they’re good shots, great. If you miss it, I can accept it. But I just want to see good basketball being played and that results in a good shot being taken. Eventually, that shot’s going to go in because you’re taking a good one. We just got Yeah, man. I saw an inverted ball screen tonight, dog. I’ I’ve been I’ve been yelling for that [ __ ] for 70 games. Swear to God. I don’t know how long we’ve been talking about that, but I saw an inverted pick and roll and I couldn’t believe my eyes and it worked. Uh, Ross or Ross, I I I want to I want to get your get your thoughts here before I mean, we’re we’re getting over an hour here. We, you know, probably got about 15 minutes left before we close out. Kendrick Perkins had some comments today about Zion. And we have the video here. I’m not gonna play the full a minute and 50, but you’ll get the gist of it and I’m curious on your thoughts and we’ll go from here. This is less about Willie Green being fired and more about how Zion Williamson is a culture killer or organization killer. Well, I ain’t have much culture before. No, no, they had some co No, no, no. AD and Drew Holiday were there. AD, Drew Holiday, and uh Monty Williams. Yes. They they was they had they had some culture there like but Zion Zion has completely [ __ ] this organization since they drafted top to bottom like no real talk because you can’t depend on them. You don’t know what’s going on. It’s so many things you have to do. You got He had to clean up certain areas. And shout out to Bill Duffy because Bill Duffy he he’s taken over. He’s trying to help Zion with a whole lot of things. hold him accountable. One of one of the best to to ever do it in the game. I love Bill Duffy. I got a Bill Duffy story one day. But just but but think about it though, right? So now you’re the Pelicans. Okay. The first thing that you need to ask yourself is what are we going to do with him on this non-G guaranteed Think about this. Think about this. The most hyped athlete is LeBron James and he is on a nonGarante max contract. We have never heard of anything like This dude rambles about nonsense. Um, what do you want me to say? Like, what’s the question? I mean, look, some of what he says has some merit. Like, it’s been a rocky road. Um, but I I’m I’m of the opinion and and look, maybe maybe I’ll prove to be wrong. I mean, won’t be the first time. It’s been a long time, but it won’t be the first time that that I believe a lot of that was was Willie Green. So, so for me, I I’ I’ve got to give the guy like what I would consider to be a fresh start um under new leadership. I mean, this you’re look, you’re still basically under new leadership with Dum Mars. They finally gave him the the the green light to get rid of Willie Green. So, you now have what I would consider to be two new voices. Um, you know, has the Zion relationship been been [ __ ] underwhelming, a disappointment, whatever word you want to use is is is adequate? Um, yeah, it has, but you you you finally got the one of the scrubs out of the way that I think was holding everyone back. So, I’m I’m gonna give the guy an opportunity here. um to see what happens. You know, maybe an opportunity how how long I myself will know by the All-Star break. Okay. Okay. I I can tell you I can I will be able to tell you by the All-Star break what I would do with Zion because I think it’ll be very clear. Any other Chaz, what about you? Even if it’s not about the Kendrick Perkins comments, more so leaning off Ross about a new leash on life for Zion. I mean, you know, giving him another opportunity here. You said leash. You said leash on life cuz that’s low. That’s low. I apologize. Okay. Okay. Okay. I think shout out to Perk, man. Perk a friend of the show. I I think I think because people generally don’t give a damn about the organization, they kind of go with more of the lowhanging fruit. Perkins probably M Gail Benson in passing like, “Oh, that’s the lady.” Okay, Perkins don’t know who Mickey Lumis is. He don’t know what none of these people are. Like he Perkins will probably half ass know David He say nothing bad about David Griffin. David Griffin gave him a job in Cleveland at one point. You know what I’m saying? He not gonna say nothing about Willie Green. with the greens his basketball brother fraternity, you know, as as his bro. So, I I think I I think it’s because it’s the lowhanging fruit and it’s the it’s the name that’s going to make headlines. I do think Z is at minimum 25% to blame because I drafted you to usher in a new thing, a new regime. Anytime you getting paid $30 million, you you need to help me make this [ __ ] work, right? You need to help usher in a new thing. But also, I think it’s the reason everybody lead this organization after about six years, man. Like, and people rarely have anything good to say, dog. Like, even people that you would think you treated well, like they don’t have good things to say. And that that’s kind of it’s kind of tough, you know, especially even for a fan base. Um, but for as with Ross’ point, yeah, I would kind of like to see how everything looks under Burggo and the new regime. I’ I’ve been told that Joe and and uh Zion real tight. I’ve been told and Zion real tight, but none of that matter if you can’t stay on the court in my opinion. I don’t give a [ __ ] who you get along with. You need to stay on the court. Like that’s the end all be all. But I I do think this organization from top to bottom, they got some serious issues with uh keeping talent and how talent feels towards the organization. Well said, man. Um, any other any other thoughts five five LO in in regards to Zion and you know where things kind of kind of go from there or progress just strictly in regards to this season? I’m just tired of trying to predict it. Um, hey bro, just hoop. I just want to see you play basketball, right? Let’s just figure it out. I feel I feel the same way. I’m just It’s a exhausting experience. Like I I couldn’t tell you. I can’t tell you either way. I You know what I’m saying? Like if it if cool, if not cool, if it like whatever you know what I noticed too, and this is a little off subject, but to that comment that Ross highlighted as the schedule, the Pelicans has been really unlucky. Luck is, you know, timing meets preparation. You know what I’m saying? Like with the Pelicans, like they wasted six months for Willie Green. You knew how everybody felt. You know how the players felt. You know how your best [ __ ] [ __ ] with player 15 feels. You know how your best players felt about Willie Green. You knew it wasn’t working like like several of them right. And then it got to the point where [ __ ] started getting injured. So you dug yourself in a a deep hole in this situation. So think you wasted six months with that. And you you going through a point where you not catching the injury breaks like and everyone caught you as an injury break. But I think [ __ ] [ __ ] balances out at some point. It’s just a matter of can you take advantage when it does. And I think I think Burggo some of the things he’s doing is trending in the right direction. It’s about putting people in position to succeed. All right, man. Let’s um let’s get to the super chat here, man. So, we can get everybody out of here, man. The the the Pelicans play they have a back-to-back Friday and Saturday. I think Atlanta they they play Saturday. Is Dallas? Yeah. Wait, Atlanta Friday. Dallas. Okay. Dallas Friday. Dallas on Friday, Atlanta Saturday. Yep. Okay. All right. So, you know, we got everybody sick. They cuz they they in a um they they playing right now. Last I looked, they were in a dog fight with Yeah, they playing the Knicks. Um let me see if that’s still It doesn’t matter. We’ll get to that later. Look, let’s get to these super chats here, man. Starter says, “Speaking of Luck.” Tate Tate Flight Nola. Who the hell is Peyton Watson? That’s Ry’s cousin, man. He’s related to Moses Moody. I will dog dog. It was It’s the [ __ ] Scott. It’s the It’s the Scott report. It’s It’s um Who was that? Uh the the Spurs game. Um that was Castle. Castle. Yeah. It’s like, “Hey, go ahead. Shoot as many of these as you want.” The Laker game, Marcus Smart, shoot as many of these as you want. And tonight was Peyton Watson and he couldn’t miss F again, y’all. He made five threes tonight. The brother had five threes made the whole season. Lots over and under. Over under shout out to fam dude was eight and a half points. He had nine in the first quarter. That’s neither here nor there. Close out with some [ __ ] conviction though, man. Please. Yeah, he stutter step ass close. Mo, shout out to Mo again, man, for the 20s, dog. Really appreciate you, bro. Can’t believe I watched Derek Queen as a primary decision maker in crush time while Z was on the floor. I love it. Move on. This is an incredible comment. Um, is that is that more about Queen? Um, is that is that just about the just about the game? Um, I think it’s about both of them. Yeah. I mean, Queen isn’t isn’t isn’t able to act in that capacity if Zion isn’t on the floor. like there was just space to operate and and you found a good matchup and you went with it. I think this is a like something you lean into. Uh when those guys were on the floor, there was more space. There’s opportunity. Um it can be an equal opportunity offense. There’s nothing wrong with that. I think you caught Queen in a good matchup and he was feeling it. Go with it. Um I don’t think it’s a I love it, move on. I think it’s complimentary. Like that’s that’s that’s a good thing. Yeah. Y’all think y’all think um for a guy like Zion who’s so who’s so used to being like well I don’t even know ball dominant throughout the he might go a quarter without touching the ball but um y’all think that’s going to be a problem for him at all like you know if it gets to a point to where Queen is going to be in situations having a basketball and the primary decision-m shout shout out to my my Viking brother Kelly Oolen but Zion was like man feel so good to play with someone like this It’s Kelly Olen. No disrespect to Kelly Oolen. It was Kelly Oolen. Like, god damn. That’s how low the bar is. I nah. I think he’s probably like, “Oh, man. This is awesome.” Hell yeah. He like they had a lot of interactions, him and uh Queen, they they seem to get along really well. I saw Zion had a dunk in the half court offense tonight. An uncontested dunk that I might be the first one of his career. I saw Trey get the easiest shot he’s ever gotten. Yeah, I don’t think Zion minds at all. I think he’s looking for it. Queen threw Zion alive at a from the free throw line as he has his man seal. Like I think the fact is the last person we seen do that. He’s such a selfless player. Only time he get in trouble is when he kind of being selfish. But he’s such a selfless player that every everyone likes playing with a selfless player because it it kind of fits the temp like the mind state of your other two guys as Trey and Zion. So I think everyone appreciates it personally. Zion is only going to shoot 15 shots a game anyway. Yes. Maybe 18 at the most. He average what, like 16? Yeah. Yeah. He not taking a ton of shots. He like, “Oh, there’s been games where the dude’s been like 11 or 13 at halftime and it’s like, oh, he’s going to get 50 and his ass will end up with 18 shots at night.” Yeah. I I think it’s going to be interesting to see. I think with more shooting though, like just hypothetical, not not to beat this dead horse, but if you did have a Matt Ryan type out there that you couldn’t just totally [ __ ] ignore, man, some of them actions you saw tonight would have been so crazy. like it like it it like you could like to to F’s point, you could see like the bones of a good offense. It’s a shame you wasted six months. And if and I think if Queen gonna play like this, it totally justifies Well, I don’t want to say totally. It justifies to an extent trading the P so you feel better about it. How much more you got to see. My bad, Chris. Well, well, well, no, Leo. Leo, because you going in the right direction. I mean, I know what you’re talking about. If you have if you if you drafted a planet like Like, are you guaranteed to know that whoever the hell you draft next year, whether whether it’s whether it’s AJ, whether it’s a boozer, whether it like are you sure that they can be d Ross, I just I think we got to we we just got to be cautious about that. Tone it down a notch. We got to be cautious because it’s still two it’s still two different things. It’s still we can we can still say I think is it’s very okay to say that Queen is justifying where he was drafted. I think that’s more than true. I think it’s also still very fair to say that that trade was [ __ ] horrific. Yeah. And that you may very well give up the the number one overall pick this year for a player that you could have got without giving up the number one over. I think those two things are still very fair and and you know both true. I mean, I think Queen is more than living up to his end of the bargain. I think it was still a horrible trade and you made but it doesn’t make it a good decision and you right now are very much on pace to get the number one pick in the draft. We was basing it off the last game. It would look it would look pretty bad. I’ll say that. Yeah. Hey, I before we continue, I just want to say like my my dog Joe Dumar has already said, it’s gone. There’s no need to cry about it. Hey, move the f move on. You can say all and if I was I would say that I would be saying I’d be saying that anytime somebody would want to hear it. I’d say you got that money I let you borrow. You still tripping off. You got that money I let you borrow. You still tripping off that little money that pokey $20. Leave it alone. Damn. You worry about $20. That’s crazy. I ain’t think you was petty like that. This is my money, right? You must be broke, huh? Yeah, that’s you need it. Must be down bad, man. $20. Uh Alito, Alito, you were you were you were asking a question. Oh, bless you. You were asking a question. How uh how much more do you have to see? And then I and I cut you off. Yeah. No, I mean that was that was basically right. I mean it’s it’s like ro I guess Ross like what more would you have to see from Queen of Phil? Like, all right, they they broke even on this. Oh, that’s easy. Maybe not even Go ahead. It’s easy wins. Got to win some [ __ ] games. Like, that’s it’s not his fault. That’s what I’m saying. He It has nothing to do with Queen. It It’s just a He’s just in a bad position. Um because the only thing that can justify it is wins. Because if you give up the number one overall pick this year, it’s a terrible deal. I mean, unless unless Queen goes on to like, I don’t know, lead you to a championship or become an MVP or something. I mean, the bar would be so high. Think about that. Like, the bar would be so high that he he would never he he can never justify it. You have to win games this year um for it to even be closed. I don’t think he has to justify it. Just to be clear, I I like I said, I this has nothing to do with Queen. He’s doing a great job. So, yeah, it ain’t his fault. It ain’t his fault they gave up all that [ __ ] for him. Yeah. All right, let’s move on here. Jesse, can we give I have to be born. I’m sorry. We ain’t landing. All right. Can we give the rookies Herbund million $100 million contract? Um, we cannot. No. I feel like that contract gonna kind of be like, whatchamacallit though? uh like the dude Zeke Zeke Naji in Denver who was like why’ y’all do that and like whereas Herb actually earned it but the with Zeke Naji is like why y’all did that not not like what the [ __ ] the problem with Herbs is why didn’t you did it early why did you just wait a year like that made me think they got something like in their mind somewhere me too me too I Dog Hoff. My bad, Chris. I I I don’t know if you read Hoff a question. My bad. I interrupted. Yeah. You know what? I was in my mind. We did that. It’s time for me to go to sleep. H Z must only do layup drills at practice. Nah. Nah. Five. Five. You You’ve been there. Leo. Leo. You’ve been in the building, you know. Uh Ross, you’ve been in the building. I mean, I’ve I’ve seen I’ve seen Zion work. No, he work on a lot of [ __ ] Even pregame. like he’ll, you know, he’ll he’ll take them midies, shoot a lot of jumpers. Yeah, he’ll shoot a lot of jumpers and just not shoot them in the game. Um he shot what? One jumper tonight. Yeah, that was like end of the Well, he shot two. One end in a quarter that didn’t count. Eddie went in. Ain’t that a [ __ ] And the other one was like end of the shot clock. I don’t like rhythm players too much, but I got I got to feel it going like, you know, in the during the game and then I could like get deep into my bag pause. So, you know, just just start off the game doing it, bro. It’s all good. Okay. All right. Uh TDS Gaming, appreciate you, man, for the two picks, man. Really think we going a winning streak once Jordan Pool comes back. JP, hey, they mad at that. I got a theory. I think they going on a three-game winning streak coming up. I can see that. Yeah. So, Dallas comes after that. Dallas, Atlanta. Now, the only thing is it’s on [ __ ] back to back. So, you probably get Zion if I’m not mistaken. And then wait, damn Atlanta. That would be that would be like those these are the type of things. And I know it’s like injury stuff is separate from Bergo and Z all that stuff. Like some of that’s just the medical, but like these will be things that start to matter for me when we talk about like evaluating Zion. Can you can you play in the back to back? Then just go [ __ ] play. Yeah. Like let’s stop all the the [ __ ] all this weird [ __ ] going on like you cool to play like it it just need like he they need to deal with him on like a like that kind of basis like hey you straight to play cool let’s go ahead like know like ah you know we’re going to wait and see I want to know the baseline or the checklist to be able to play after shoot around with warm-up like what’s what’s the because Sadique B don’t look like he should have played he look he looked bad I don’t even know what happened to him I ain’t see see the injury just like I didn’t see Carlo get hurt so I don’t know what happened to me like where’s my car you know wild I y’all say you know you want to like I just want to I want Zion to be able to pull up at the arena and no one say anything to him and he just plays like don’t say nuts like why are we asking you if you’re playing tonight I should already assume that you playing even have to discuss this we probably should discuss like this is the game plan tonight right not determine if you like that’s I’m I’m hustling backwards. Y we got we got an epidemic right now with these calf injuries though. We really do. It’s tough. Somebody somebody was I was watching something today in which in which a lot of people feel as if it’s the Steve Kerr Steve Kerr was talking about he thinks that the pace of the league right now uh at the at the amount of games the consistent pace of of basketball being played as like faster than ever it’s just it’s just a lot for for even like the most conditioned athletes to keep up with and it makes it really hard on soft tissue injuries. That’s that’s his fault. Yeah, that’s what I’m saying. All right. Well, started that [ __ ] I didn’t think of that, T. You got a mirror. Damn game. Like, man, it’s a damn shame you play so fast, man. That What the [ __ ] I can’t imagine who started that. Uh that’s like the uh that’s like the dude that’s like the newscaster who who got the uh they they got the sketch of the criminal in the back and it look like it’s not even about to say it’s not even the Golden State joints. It’s the it’s the Phoenix ones like you were part of that the Mike Danton offense was like [ __ ] Yeah, he helped build some of those teams. He’s a part Yeah, you’re right. No, that that’s crazy. Um this is This is pretty cool. Jameson, I really like when Burggo subbed in Looney and Mei for those end of game Murray free throws. Then he called the time out to advance the ball taking I believe both of them out to for you know defense or offensive. A good comment. Wouldn’t have seen that from Willie man. The coach. Yeah. Wow. [ __ ] calling timeouts. It’s the It’s crazy. is the bare minimum [ __ ] just like just rouse us up. Not taking them home. Not taking them home. This [ __ ] This [ __ ] took two timeouts home from the Charlotte game. Two challenges, timeouts. This guy here, [ __ ] is in his apartment now. Many [ __ ] ink pans missing from the Pelicans facility. All kind of [ __ ] band-aids and notepad. [ __ ] got an office in this house full of [ __ ] Stapless. Yeah, stap. you know, printer paper. I was cleaning I was cleaning the room and you know and putting this stuff together. What? Why do you have a bag of times just sitting here, man? What the heck? Like Yeah. What’s this about? Thought I had more time. Well, put these for Thanksgiving and [ __ ] I thought I had more time. Damn. Dylan. Dylan, shout out to you, bro. Uh, question for you. Is it too early to change anything? I feel like the chemistry and the rhythm hasn’t had time to develop between Well, Dylan, I mean, yeah, starting by they had no they a had no chemistry. They ain’t had no time together. This a new season pretty much. That’s true. Like, yeah, today is more or less game one, honestly. Which is unfortunate, but hey, you can win the season. You you can win your your season, whatever that looks like, because the West is [ __ ] terrible this year. God awful. The West The East ain’t much better. The East is hurt, but the West is terrible. Chuck Nola, uh, that fourth quarter was fun to watch. My optimism went up for a tick. Appreciate that. That $2. Hey, thank you, Chuck. Y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y’all don’t know this, but the recap got pushed back five minutes cuz I was actually I was actually watching like like I was tuned in like wait and and the reason and this is a really good point because I it’s interesting like being glued to a game that you know they’re not going to win. Like I knew that they weren’t going to even like they cut it to to to to six or five. I knew they weren’t winning the game, but I was intrigued and interested in watching how it all was gonna was gonna finish. Like that is that that’s a really good point, Chuck. Chuck Nola, you know, that’s a that’s pretty cool. Um, yeah, let’s see. Happy astronomical model. If Fears is going to be the point guard, he has to pass more. He’s averaging less assist than Zion, Trey, and P. He’ll figure it out. He gonna be all right. He g he gonna be with that second unit at a certain point. He gonna drive there. I just hope when he is demoted. Well, I can’t say demoted. When he’s put in his proper position that he doesn’t get discouraged. That’s something that’s gonna, you know, make me think. But I think he’ll be fine. Teflon Don, did you guys expect Zion to score 30 off an injury? Yes. No. Well, yes, I did. I mean, I expected 40 and and a and a win. I expected four threes. I expected all of that. Yeah, I I I surely did. Yep. 40 minutes. Expect That’s why you make the big bucks. [ __ ] No, I didn’t expect that. Shout out to Payton Watson though, man. Shout out to Payton Watson. Payton [ __ ] uh prospect. I dog. What up, Pro Pills fam? Tough loss, but at least it wasn’t by 30 points tonight. Yeah, got us there, man. Pelicans a strong fourth quarter team. I say that they’re a strong four I I give them that they’re a strong fourth quarter team. That’s about all that’s about all the strut lines in the second and fourth quarter. Hey, they only lost the third quarter by 10 points this time. Hey, only smaller victories. I’m weighing you down. The last third quarter against Denver was like record set. Oh man. Yeah. God awful. And we’ll close here, man. Uhhuh. With Henya. Gotta give Joe some time to build his team. Yep. What does that mean, yo? He inherited he inherited some [ __ ] I ain’t gonna lie, boy. Now, look, you know, to be hon you you you begged for the job. You you played the politics. Sometimes you get elected and you got you got elected. Now it’s all on you. Um, but when I look at what these Pistons doing, man, the P like I’mma say like because Trey Lane helped build this shitty ass roster. That roster that Troy Weaver put together for us, those picks with Durant, I thought Durant was on his way out the league like with Durant and Stewart and Kade is consensus number one, but uh, all these [ __ ] guys, Jaden Ivy, once they got a good coach, they like, “Oh, that’s how you do it, huh?” Once they got bigger staff, everything changed. So, I I think I I tr I I kind of trust them with talent acquisition from that standpoint. I’m a little worried about the trades, but you inherited Hawkins, Jose, and a couple I call them the haha crew. Herb Hawkins, Jose. Haha. Uh you inherited that and now now you got to figure out how to correct it. We got a we got a super chat here at the buzzer and we’re out of here, man. Rand appreciate you, dog. Zent Zion for Hakez and Wiggins. We gotta Yep. We gotta destroy this team and get rid of everything from the past era. That’s kind of piggybacking with what you were saying, huh? A little bit. I don’t know if I like that trade, but I don’t know if that’s the ride I go. That’s I wouldn’t do that one. I’m not going to reward that [ __ ] sending him to Miami. I’m saying I’m saying you somewhat crazy. I gotta get better better than Jamei Hakez and uh you know come on man but might make Pat Riley retire from basketball. Um [Music] be uh Don and Jerry Sloan all over again. Jerry said I’m I quit. All right y had 12 five seven and two bro. I mean, I’m just saying like you want to you want to you want to make trade Leo? No. No, no, no. Dog said, “Might I interest you in haimey hawk?” No. Oh, no. Oh, we should have got Josh Giddy. Josh Giddy [ __ ] balling right now. Oh, man. Well, all right, guys. Well, that’s pretty that’s the end of the show here, man. Appreciate all y’all pulling up, man. 300, 400, 500 at one time, man. Y’all know where to find us postgame as always. right after the game live. Um, for my dog Ross, for my dog Chash, for five, for Leo, um, for LA on the ones and twos, Justin, we will holl at y’all. Friday, Saturday, y’all might be on your own, but Sunday for sure. The game Friday, they got a Friday and a Saturday. Yeah, right. Friday, Yeah. Friday at Dallas, home versus the Hawks. Monday Bulls. They got like a nice other little home stretch coming, so it’s not too bad. All right, y’all. All right. Peace.
0:30- Intro
2:30- Lineups
4:03- Derik Queen
30:00- Trey Murphy
35:30- Jeremiah Fears
50:26- Micah Peavy
1:08:25- Zion Criticism
1:16:14- Fan Comments
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16 comments
Nice game by Queen, not so much for Fears.
If I’m the pels I’m not trading Herb
I think we got talent I think it’s just bad fits and coaching
Gotta find a way to stager the lineups
Could also try more shooting and defensive oriented lineups as well i.e fears/poole hawk Trey Z Queen lacking some defense but they’d score
Hands down fellas y’all are the best Pelicans pod in the city !! Every last one of you guys have great commentary & you flow perfectly together 💪🏾💪🏾
Somehow dumars lucked into finding queen to save him for the worst move ever lol.
When Zion took the court in the first quarter he was CLEARLY the most dominant player on the court. It’s a damn shame his career is a mess and worthless at this point because the dude is legitimately NEXT LEVEL when he’s healthy. A team with him Trey and Queen healthy for 60+ games would be nice.
Poole, Hawkins, Tre are supposed to be the support pieces for DQ and Zion
All fine and dandy until Z has a sore toenail , out for 15 games and we flinging shit at the wall to see what sticks with lineups again
Lowkey feel like the pelicans need to go to anytime fitness and grab a good defensive player are a shooter
Zion should be at point like Ben Simmons was, it’s time for him to stop playing the 4
The first segment absolutely aligns with what I’ve been saying about the Jose lineups as much as I have respect for him it simply is a equal negative each time he enters the court teams attack his size because he’s small and if he’s not giving you shooting why is he playing
I am begging you to post these sooner on spotify please
Murray, Zion, Tre, DQ Missi; Fears, Poole, Herb, Rotations of Sadiq, Karlo, Hawkins and Kevon. Zion can only be stopped by not playing. DQ would have been the No. 2 pick if he were from some foreign Republic. Zion and DQ want to win.
PLEASE bring EP back! He should always have a job in New Orleans.
Sun is a damn good passer and creating for others at elite levels