CLOSERS: Zion Williamson, Jordan Poole FUEL Pelicans’ Winning STREAK With Powerful FINISH
New Orleans Pelicans rally for a fifth straight win as Zion Williamson takes over in crunch time, capping a dramatic 11-point comeback against the Dallas Mavericks. Is a turning point underway for the Pelicans’ playoff hopes? Jake Madison spotlights Zion’s dominant fourth quarter, Jordan Poole’s redemption as a catalyst off the bench, and key tactical adjustments from interim head coach James Borrego that kept Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson in check.
Pivotal team chemistry shines as rookies Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears step up alongside veterans, while Sadiq Bay and Jose Alvarado provide crucial depth. Discussion covers the evolving partnership between Queen and Williamson, defensive rebounding improvements, and the vibrancy in the Smoothie King Center. Can the Pelicans ride this momentum to seize a play-in spot? Explore how Borrego’s leadership and the team’s mindset might redefine New Orleans basketball this season.
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47 Comments
Pels Up ✋straight
Everyday!!🎉
Every day now
Hit the like button
Flocking up all day it's a Christmas miracle
Another great show Jake! Hmmm..break the 7 game streak? So nice to see defensive rebounding improve with DQ! Wishing you a happy holiday 🎄
Joe Dumars said we need more than one player to close a game. We are witnessing it now in this five game win streak.
Yaaaaay!!!!! The real Pelicans team has arrived!
The most stressful team ever…losing and now winning…🎢
Lets not forget we started the season again decimated by injuries and right now we are finally playing with the majority of our players, finally having a bench. How many times did our starting 5 simply ran out of gas early on?
The NBA season doesn't kick off until Christmas… But right now, the Pelicans are heating up at just the right moment. This season started off intense, and now it's looking downright exciting! Fly Bird Gang, fly high!
I hope this game proves that the Pelicans definitely need all their players especially Zion to be competitive. This team needed physicality against Davis and Gafford. We don’t win unless we have a team that can adapt which was what we did. Dumars was right, you need a deep team to compete night in and night out in this league. I hope Pelicans fans can appreciate the beautiful ball being played and stop making nonsense statements about trading Zion. It makes little sense to go into battle without the best talent available.
JB should have played some of his centers. They were all sitting down.
You still can start Zion. Just have him come off the bench after halftime He doesn’t have to start the 3rd quarter 🤷🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️
Hi Jake, as i said lets trade Z
They'll trade Williamson asap if they're smart
I think it's safe to say that Karlo has trumped Yves. Is it a reach to say that this current mini run coincides with Matkovic's return from injury? If he can establish himself as a true three-point threat, everything changes. Think what Brook Lopez meant to Giannis.
The Pels are currently sitting at 34.1% on three-point shooting, that needs to be five points higher if they want to consistently sustain this.
man this would be insane if saints and the pelcain can go to the playoffs next year we can finaly rest good
Never ever came back with Green. Two nice late comebacks this week! JB making a big difference. The decision to insert Zion at exactly the right time to close it out was clutch.
Bey baby. What a pickup.
Zion showed “I’m STILL that guy!” Queen is used to looking for Bey or Trey BUT I hope last night showed him he better keep his eyes on Zion.
What is the better nickname for DQ? The Dancing Bear or the Dancing Queen? Its nice to finally see this team play like they are being PAID. You are a pro. Play with effort every night.
Anthony Davis always shows up against us
Personally. I’m not interested in trading Z. I will ride on that take until the wheels come off. Interested in a unit with Z, Poole, DJ, McGowens, and Karlo or DQ. I understand peoples frustration, but I’m not giving up Z.
Every dayer comment
I remember seeing the graphic on the TV last night the Pels were shooting 3-20 from three, just like our record earlier this year, but we kept shooting, and guess what, we made them, just like how we are winning games
Chemistry is important and the team is building it
Funny how jakes opinion on zion williamson changed after a few games this team is trash without him it's time to put him back in the starting lineup now if not I think that he should request a trade i think that he needs to get away from this cursed franchise i think that his career would have taken a different turn if he had signed with another team
If we can remain healthy, don't be surprised if wr can make the play in. This is a completely different team when healthy.
A win at home against a below-average team is good. (ESPN pre-game analytics had the Mavs win likelihood at just 53%.) A road win, when starting two rookies, against an average team is going to be much harder. (ESPN pre-game analytics has the Cavs win likelihood at 75%.)
People: can you get me tickets
Jake: no I can’t but you can go get a great price on game time
🤣🤣
Hey if Kevin watch the show where can I get the 0 fears chains lol it’s fire
Da Blenda was soo LIT! 🔥
Joe Dumars said we don't wanna be zion-reliant not zion-less…..Jake's takes change game to game, we should trade jake!!!
I hate the term role player…. even superstars play a role so wtf are we saying lol
Don't be shy man, you can say it, DQ is baby jokic.
Everyday
Positivity!!!!!! I watch from California every night and have had my 2 year old chanting defense and giving standing ovations. Go Pels!
Let’s not forget you said Zion was getting traded BECAUSE he sat the 4th and OT against rockets
I really don’t care who they beat. Record wise, they were quite literally the worse team in the NBA. Lol Every win is a big win when you dig yourself a hole like that.
We will need Peavy to step it up on the 3 point shooting . Now that herb is hurt 🤕, borego will use Peavy a lot in these next 3 games guarding Devin booker and Donovan Mitchell . But he needs to shoot the ball better from 3
JB has figured out how to close games with this group of guys. Saving Z's minutes for the 4th was brilliant.
Flocking Pels! Shoughing Saints! 😳😁🤓💪⚜️
Jake – for a future episode… would like to know if you would trade Queen to get back our #1 2026 pick (+ a protected 2027) basically undoing the highly unpopular draft day trade this year. My thought is no because of the Queen ceiling.
I always said you people were wrong about wanting to get rid of Zion, even you Jake, he`s a key piece of a puzzle it wasn`t just the Maverick`s game it was the Chicago game coming back hurt he had 18pts new coach and weight lost give him another chance. As far as one guy calling Coach JB brilliant about saving Z for the 4th quarter I had made a comment while you were gone, Put Zion in the 1st qtr. take him out put him back in the 4th while the other team is worn out and have a fresh Z. No don`t have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out.
Before Zs injury, him and Queen were part of their best lineups, what are you even talking about