Fully Healthy New Orleans Pelicans Unleash BOLD Starting Lineup, Immediate Drama Erupts!
New Orleans Pelicans roll out a bold small-ball lineup with Zion Williamson and Herb Jones at the 5, but a brutal fourth-quarter collapse against the Los Angeles Lakers exposes key complications. Can this revamped starting five become playoff-ready, or did their offensive confusion and lack of shooting spell bigger problems moving forward?
Jake Madison breaks down the highs and lows of the Pelicans’ first fully healthy game since early 2024, spotlighting Zion Williamson’s dominance, Trey Murphy’s scoring, and defensive flashes from Dejounte Murray and Herb Jones. Key topics include the lineup’s struggles with offensive hierarchy, late-game execution, poor long-range shooting, and crucial turnovers. Plus, Jake Madison discusses rookie contributions from Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, rotation tweaks that must be made, and what’s needed for New Orleans to build momentum into next season. Are the Pelicans laying the foundation for a successful future, or do these issues demand urgent fixes?
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28 Comments
When healthy…..and when they have gelled, which takes time, this team could be a beast, but lets see what happens in the off season as they may need to 'gel' again. 🇬🇧
I love this team and watching them,but bro they have no basketball iq
Zion keep getting jacked?they keep throwing passes they don't practice,nobody takes charge with skills
Everyday
If u are gonna lose LOSE WITN QUEEN and FEARS LEARNING……cmon Joe
No center? 🤡
Fears and Queen SHOULD START PERIOT ….thats SUPER VALUABLE
Trey needs to improve his shooting efficiency for a 1 or 2 option on offence. Herb need to be way way better on offence. If not pels need to upgrade those 2.
Jaxson Hayes and Ayton were feasting but the refs didn’t help us, never call nothing for Zion
So frustrated with Zion in this one. Will he ever learn to take what the defense gives him? He's the best in the league at getting to the left side of the rim but he needs more than that. Lakers packed the lane and he still forced it.
Played well defensively against the lakers . But it felt like we had 100 turnovers!!! Borego needs to figure out how to get more ball movement with the players on offense. THE ISO BALL NOT WORKING
Not playing Jordan Poole for an entire game is malpractice. SO BRYCE MGOWENS IS A BETTER BASKETBALL PLAYER THAN JORDAN POOLE ? Weaver and Joe How are you going to convince another team to trade for Poole if he can't even play for you on a bad team. Borego needs to find minutes for Poole please , so you can get something back for him in the Summer.
When fully healthy they start Herb at center? That can't be the plan. He held his own but……
You can put this lost on the coach .with a 8pt lead in the fourth quarter slipping away why is Murray on the bench then bring him when the lead disappeared and goes fown by four. Queen has no defense in him his D is standing flat footed with his hand in the air as players jumps over him or goes by him. Stu Lantz commented that Zion has small hands that's why the ball keeps getting strip from him and surely he gets it strip 4 times in a row. Murphy is so inconsistent
Jordan Poole 0 minutes again lol
Every dayer comment
Hi jake
Serious question: Has Zion added anything to his game in seven years? I would bet my children on the fact that every NBA player with a brain knows exactly what our undersized, one-trick pony is going to do every time he gets the ball 20-25 feet away from the basket. He might have been able to get away with his nonsense in college against NCAA talent, but this is the NBA. Hell. frickin' Austin Reeves and Jake LaRavia owned Williamsson defensively. He's done nothing…zilch…nada…nyet to expand his game.
Further, if he doesn't lead the league in having his shot blocked per game, I'd love to know who does. It seems every time he's blocked (which is often) it leads to a run-out by the opposition, especially while he whines (his rendition of the "Luka Complaint") and lags behinds the play.
Now for a positive about Zion's game from me (of all people): Zion's defensive game showed some promise. He seemed engaged which is a vast improvement from what I've seen for seven years. I'll be interested to see if this is a one-off or if he's really going to consistently play on the defensive end,
James, kindly can the ISO-Zion part of your game plan (if it is a part of it at all). It simply doesn't work at this level of competition.
Sidenote: If the Lakers cut Dalton Knecht loose, I want him.
James Borrego got out coached by JJ Redick
James Borrego gave too many minutes to Derek Queen and Jeremiah fears who got destroyed defensively and offensively Messi should have gotten more minutes the reason we lost that game is because I started didn't play together but for maybe 5 minutes the entire game the Lakers kept their starters in and in rotation we got out coached
Feels like this team is always experimenting.
Herb jones beings forth the same size disadvantages in the frontcourt. Missi isn’t the starting answer, but it’s been proven that with more size at center Leeds to wins. Play Queen to pad his stats and trade him for picks Murray& pool can get traded too. Missi makes for a great backup. What if you trade Queen & Murray for Gobert. Get what you can for pool for salary dump and maybe he can garner a second. Rudy Gobert for Murray & Queen should be the trade, with Missi as backup. Fears, Bey, Murphy iii, Zion, Gobert. It’s at least a playoff team, definitely a playin.
Pelicans
The team can put out whatever line up they want, still trash.
fans need to wake up and realize that the NBA and NFL are all rigged for certain teams to win so they can steal your hard earn money. i havent listened to Jake for a lil while now but tuning back today i still hear the same shit.
Way too many mental turnovers. You will always have turnovers, but we are making stupid decisions. If we play smarter, we can win these games.
Zion Williamson should be surrounded by 3 and D guys. Why were there no minutes for Jordan Poole? They need shooters!!!!
Having Murray back has lifted the defence imo
Ja Morant IS thee closer in the NBA and in any team in the NBA! So your comment you made about bringing him to the Pels won’t elevate or make a difference on this roster, just bcuz highlighted.
And 3pt chucking teams do not take a high volume of free throws in games on any level bcuz taking outside shots /3s doe not show aggressive offense play! Mostly it’s a live by the three die by the three and when it’s crunch time the refs will not give you a foul call due to your lack out aggressive play and forcing the action on offense! Shai takes a lot of free throws, his gas game is mid-game play and forcing the action pressuring the defense by acting the paint and elbows of the paint!