The Pelicans were able to survive for a while with Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson both injured, but their current 3-8 stretch is raising concerns, writes William Guillory of The Athletic. New Orleans has fallen into fourth place in the West amid a prolonged January slump. The team ranks 22nd in the league in offensive rating and 24th in defensive rating during the month and is coming off three straight double-digit losses.
“We have to find our defensive identity. Right now, we’re not guarding the way we’re capable of,” coach Willie Green said. “Those are things that we can control. We can make a decision as a team that we want to guard better. We just haven’t been doing it.”
Green is hoping to see his team respond better without Ingram and Williamson because there’s no timetable for either of them to return. Ingram hasn’t played since November 25 because of a left big toe contusion, and a report this week suggested some members of the organization are becoming impatient with his long absence. Williamson has a strained right hamstring, and Guillory doubts that he’ll be back before February or possibly even the All-Star break.
“We have a ‘next man up’ mentality, but it’s always nice to have two All-Stars in the rotation,” Trey Murphy said. “That’s just the bottom line. You’re missing about 40 points on a very low night. You’re getting at least 40 from those two.”
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Grizzlies power forward Xavier Tillman talks to Spencer Davies of Basketball News about how he tries to stay sharp despite limited playing time. Tillman is averaging 11.3 minutes in 27 games and usually isn’t part of the rotation unless somebody is hurt, so he’s been doing extra work in practice and asked the coaching staff to let him play in the G League. “Being in a (Memphis) Hustle game allowed me to just play and play in a real game,” Tillman said. “So when I got my opportunity called — like now due to injury — I was ready to go and ready to help the team in all ways.”
- The Rockets are misusing second-year center Alperen Sengun on offense, which makes it difficult to judge his long-term value, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic states in a discussion with fellow Athletic writer Kelly Iko. Vecenie sees Sengun as an exceptional ball-handler and passer, but says the team’s guards frequently don’t get the ball to him when they should. That combined with his shortcomings on defense are limiting his effectiveness.
- Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. missed his fifth straight game tonight with a left foot contusion. His condition will be reevaluated in about a week, tweets Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle.
This is going to be the yearly thing in New Orleans for the foreseeable future…
Thing is we cannot be sure if it’s an organisational problem, given the history with AD, or just an issue with these players…
Hence I can’t say that they should of taken Ja… Could of been the same end result…
You must be joking? 2019 was literally the Zion sweepstakes. No way the Pelicans were picking Ja. They also already had Lonzo Ball.
The Zion hype sweeps. Anyone could see that he was going to be a hiuuuuuge injury risk and Ja was going to be a prime Russ Westbrook.
Clearly the Pels weren’t that high on Alonzo bc they moved him before they had a PG to replace him with. The Pels got gifted the ping longs after AD bolted and are getting constant gifts from Lebron trying to be GM when he’s terrible at it, and they still are blowing it.
They had the 1 overall with TWO franchise altering players available…and the 4 or maybe it was z5th overall in that draft and came out with Zion, Jaxson Hayes and NAW. hahahaha what a missed opportunity. The also got gifted CJ who the Blazers gave away for nothing during their terrible transformation they tried to pull last year. Talk about two laughable rebuilds, at least one helped the other. POR didn’t rebuild but they should’ve.
2019 was similar to this years draft. It was the Zion show, with Ja being an “every other year #1” consolation prize.
But we all knew Zions injury risk. But he was worth the risk. No disrespect to Ja at the time but Zion hype was the same as Wembanyama now. With Scoot being the casualty. No one in their right mind at the time would have taken Ja over Zion.
Agreed,
Sengun is the Rockets best player. He can score, rebound and pass.
Sengun is not a rim protector or defender.
Jalen Green tonight’s game vs Wolves
33 minutes
10 points
2 assists
0 rebound
0 block
0 steal
6 turnovers
Edwards tonight’s game vs Rockets
44 points
4 assists
6 rebounds
3 blocks
3 steals
Ceiling
In 2026, Edwards is a top 20 player and Green is a top 50 player
Either way, it’s up to the coach to have them run their offense through Sengun. If Green has been given the green light, and is controlling the offense, there isn’t much of anything anyone can do..
Sengun has shown to be a very skilled, versatile big, and an excellent pickup. If the Head Coach doesn’t start feeding him the ball more, and running the offense through him it won’t be long before either the coach is gone or Sengun asks out..
Dude I got news for ya Anthony Edwards is already a top 20 player. By 2026 it will be G Freak, Tatum, A1. Since Luka and Ja don’t play D, and are heavily reliant on a star whistle that holds them back.
Greens 2nd year is actually slightly better than Edwards 2nd year(last year). But Edwards isn’t on a dumpster fire hence the poor efficiency. Your comparing one game.
Edwards is an all star this year, and is arguably top 4 SG in league.
Green is on the same trajectory, but again on a terrible team that only makes him look worse. I can’t remember a 2nd year guard posing nearly 22-4-4 getting so much hate. Both these guys will be all NBA level.
Rockets need to use Sengun in a similar way to Sabonis, Jokic and Draymond as the main ball ah flee and facilitator. He’s is great passing the ball, can handle the rock and can shoot the thing well. KPJ I think projects better as an off ball shooter and Jalen Green as more of a mismatch/cutter and secondary ball handler. The fact JaeSean Tate has just as many assists per game as Sengun shows how poorly they are using him.
Around these 3 I’d have good 3 and D players who make up for Senguns por defence and to provide the necessary spacing. Jabari Smith has been really really poor, below 40% FG, scratch above 30% 3P%. Tari Eason has been great tho.
Eric Gordon clearly wants out, Kenyan Martin Jr has been heavily linked to leaving.
Not sure exactly what deals to make but 1 I would try is
Sixers: Boban Marjanovic and Daishen Nix
Rockets: Mattise Thybulle and Paul Reed
Sixers bring back Boban, they’ve been looking for a centre to play behind Embiid. Harrells done well filling in as a starter but hasn’t been great coming off the bench. Boban is solid for 15 minutes of impact with just rebounds, blocks and second chance points. Not to mention he’s a great locker room piece and best friends with Tobias.
Nix doesn’t offer much, he’s a bigger guard, more of a defender and playmaker than a shooter or scorer but he’s cheap and has potential.
Gets them out of paying Thybulle and Reed in FA.
Rockets get Thybulle who is an elite defender but doesn’t offer much on offence. However I feel if he were to play in an offence built around a big name facilitating, he thrive working hard getting to the rim and finishing inside. Cause he is really smart and works really hard he’s just not a shooter or doesn’t have the bag of a scorer. Reed also comes over he competes with Garuba and Fernando for back up PF/C minutes. However I also like Reeds upside, was G League MVP not so long ago, great all round athlete, I think with the right opportunities he could put up numbers.
Ultimately tho I think it might be time for a new coach. One that’ll play through Sengun and use the guards playing off him.
Houston rockets trade proposals? You have entirely too much time on your hands.
Sadly, Green is giving off Kyrie vibes. Super talented, but his first coach is giving him free reign. I’m not sure that genie will go back in the bottle. Houston needs a coach that can hold the kids accountable.
I half agree with this. Silas and Lucas are looking at green and saying “do what you want kid you’re good enough”. Then he’s trying to rim run on 4 guys and 1 in 5 will go because he’s that good, but the other 4 look wild. But I also think the plays don’t suit the way he plays.
But with the Kyrie comp as a poss attitude growing I think you must have meant KPJ. Green is too timid to develop an Kyrie complex. He just needs a good coach that can write to plays for him and Sengun. If they get good plays both will get 30 a night. But KPJ is a worry, it’s always “open teammates? Nah imma just iso and heave”.
Houston need a good coach asap, getting one now won’t change where they are this season but it’ll lay the foundation for next year. Hopefully.