MELTDOWN: Saddiq Bey and Zion Williamson Deliver BIG but Pelicans Still Can’t WIN Close Games
New Orleans Pelicans collapse late as veteran core falters again—can youth shake up a stagnant finish? Jake Madison challenges the team’s decision to stick with established players after a 130-125 loss to the New York Knicks, spotlighting the recurring inability to close winnable games even with standout performances from Zion Williamson, Saddiq Bey, and Jordan Poole. Despite strong offense, defensive breakdowns and questionable late-game execution exposed unresolved roster flaws and a lack of answers at the center position.
Key analysis includes the Pelicans’ ongoing struggles to defend the three-point line, the inconsistent impact from vets, and what it means for the futures of Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. Jake Madison raises the pivotal question: if the current core can’t win now, when will change come—and should rookies get more developmental minutes to shape the next era? Don’t miss this honest look at the Pelicans’ path forward in a shrinking Western Conference window.
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22 Comments
This team is maddening to watch. No closers.
The Pels big problem is their dfense. They are 28th in defensive rating.
Just a reminder Knicks were also without mitch hart and shamet .. most definitely would’ve won the rebound battle with them available
Wait, so it’s not fair to James Borrego for the issues BUT we should fire and blame Willie Green for the exact same issues ? Make it make sense Jerry Springer, I mean *Jake Madison ! Tune in tomorrow to Locked on Pelicans , “should Pelicans build around Zion. He’s healthy and playing back to backs seemingly out of nowhere !
This team is not a good three point shooting tea.
Taking more threes only works.if you make the threes.
We never replaced Val and Naj. Toughness and rebounding and reliability
Did this team really didnt need 32 minutes from Looney and Hawkins who combined for 4 points. Borrego wtf are u doing? Bey had 23 in the first quarter and finished the game with 26 points in 37 minutes😂😂😂. WTF is this team doing!??! Borrego, teach this team how to fkn play defense or we dont need u here next season. U had Towns in foul trouble and still lose!!! Stop letting absolutely NOBODYS beat u!!! Who tf is Miles Mcbride, Yubasele, Miawara?! This Pelicans team cant be serious!!!!!
We need to make moves at the deadline get picks
Zion get that trade value up
Pels fans need to wake up and realize this roster is flawed and will never win anything
The Pelicans desperately need a point guard. They have the pieces to trade for a point guard. Herb Jones or Trey Murphy should get them a very good Point guard in return. What will it take to get Harper from the Spurs? Trey Murphy for Dylan Harper.
The coaching sucks. He takes players out when they’re hot. Bey had 20 something points in the first quarter and this man didn’t put him back in the lineup after that hot start. He consistently does this.
We're all wasting our breath until Mrs. Gail sells the team to someone who actually cares about winning. I've never seen an organization so content with this level of play and lack of effort in all my life. It's engrained in the culture from the top down. The fans deserve better.
Never saw a team that runs away from the rebound the way this team does. There isn’t an aggressor on the defensive end, other than Herb and Jose. Defense is about attitude, willingness, and effort. Other teams get to the rim way too easy.
Still ready to take the interim title off Barego? To be fair, the lack of effort to get rebounds is troubling.
Poole is awful… he pulls up way too early in the shot clock! Someone needs to let him know he is not Curry or Clay… if he just plays fundamentally sound basketball, we can win some games! Referring is another problem… we do not get the same calls. ..we could not touch anyone and get a foul called on us. I have witness this many times just like last night. We can’t defend …if they won’t let we us…
We lost by 5 but we need to shoot more 3s stop 🛑 if Poole takes 3 less 3 pointers… maybe we win! One he pulled up on late in the game…with about 20 seconds left on the shot clock… if all the terrible 3s we took…are quality looks in the paint we win easily… we have very good deep team… James is a better coach than Willie looks like…but still may not be the one… looks like Detroit two years ago to me… yes we are a play in team… someone just has to tie up the loose ends.. the only two players we need to let go is Poole or Murray maybe both… people haven’t learned the lesson about trading players who want to be here… and helped us win… like Jonas,CJ,and Dyson ..we couldn’t find any more money for Marshall… but have three 30 million dollar a year players ..two who are not even close to worth it.. leave the team alone… let them build chemistry!
It is time to consider trading Murphy
Everydayer here. Went to listen to today's episode on Spotify and it's locked. I pay 22 a month for their sub and now we need to pay additional money to hear your pod. Then what, more money to hear Ross too??
Not a good idea and an easy way to lose listeners.
What`s with this Zion bandwagon you get rid of Zion you really have problems, this man scored 32 points I believe and probably would have won the game if it weren`t for Poole I`m no coach, but to me you take long 3`s if you are behind non of the coaches know how to utilize Zion in the last quarter you rest him real good in the beginning of the game 4th quarter he comes out fresh. They should have kept feeding the ball to Zion they would have won the game.
Jake you forget about Murray not having him really make a difference, hope this Coach plays him when he comes back, the guy plays good defense good assist not selfish and can shoot, we really need Thibs to be the Coach
STOP TRYING TO TRADE ZION
I THINK HE IS READY TO PLAY
THE LIGHT IS ON
FOR ANOTHER FRANCHISE
EVERY TIME HE COMES INTO THE ARENA ITS