NewOrleans.Basketball - A New Orleans Pelicans Podcast
Garrick Rattler & Raphael Rattler provide coverage, analysis, and insights on the New Orleans Pelicans basketball.
NewOrleans.Basketball - A New Orleans Pelicans Podcast
The Pelicans' Rocky Road: Navigating the 2024-25 Schedule
The Pelicans' 2024-25 schedule has arrived, and hosts Raphael and Garrick Rattler dig into what might be the NBA's toughest slate of games this season. With brutal honesty and sharp analysis, they break down how New Orleans cleverly embraced their challenging circumstances by while signaling their determination to control their own destiny.
The conversation centers on the murderer's row of opponents the Pelicans face in their first ten games, including matchups against Memphis, Wembanyama's Spurs, the champion Celtics, Denver, the Clippers, and OKC.
Only two nationally televised games all season reflects how the NBA views the Pelicans' relevance, but this could serve as powerful motivation for a roster featuring Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, and newcomers Jordan Poole and Sadiq Bey. The brothers highlight key schedule stretches, including emotional homecomings when Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum return to New Orleans in March.
The discussion underscores a critical message for the Pelicans' success: start strong and establish position early rather than relying on late-season heroics. With 15 back-to-backs and constant questions about Zion's availability, this team's playoff hopes hinge on consistent health and performance from the opening tip.
Make sure you're locked in with us. Follow us on Twitter/X, IG, and TikTok at NO_basketball (no E). Like the episode below and if you're not already, subscribe to the channel.
Welcome. What up, what up, what up? Welcome to another episode of New Orleans Basketball and New Orleans Network podcast. As always, I'm your host, Raphael Rattler, Joining me my fellow middle brother, Gary G Monroe Rattler. What's poppin' with you, bro?
Speaker 1:What up, what up, bro. Things all good on this side. Man Relaxing and enjoying a little off time before we get into the hecticness of the sports season. Listen, I said last episode.
Speaker 1:I said you know, whenever you start seeing like kids go back to school and stuff like you know that your life is about to get a lot better because, like the, the sports are, come the sports. You know, college football, nfl, nba is coming back, uh, but it's the pelicans, uh, so, uh, so wondrously uh and so humorously reminded us, uh, new orleans. New orleans, sports is, uh, it's a, it's a, it's a finicky place, man, and you know it's a finicky place, man, and you know it's already starting. Saints players are getting hurt, obviously, derrick Queen is out until you know whenever, and you know it's just. You look at their schedule and you're like man got some teams on that schedule.
Speaker 1:So life is about to get a lot better as far as the things you watch, but it's probably about to get a lot more stressful as well. So I've been enjoying it, man. I've been enjoying that. Outside of that, man, the W is obviously keeping me up to bar.
Speaker 1:I think it's crazy how the W is kind of experiencing some of the things that the NBA experienced where, like, they got these rashes of injuries, of injuries where, like, star players are missing ginormous amounts of times Kaitlyn Clark, angel Reese, like Fee has been out, breonna Stewart is out Just a lot of like injuries, man, and it sucks because it takes away from the you know, from the beauty of these, you know of these athletes and the time that they put into the game and everything. But it's just interesting to see that it's not really just the NBA issue. It's starting to kind of trickle down into the W, whereas, like last season, they had no injuries. Kaitlyn Clark played all the games, angel Reese played all the games, asia played all the games, all the stars played all the games. So it's something that's crossing the sports. So just's, it's, it's it's you know, it's something that that's, that's crossed, you know, cross in the crossing, the, the, the sports, and so just some super interesting things to see.
Speaker 1:But outside of that, man, I'm, I'm good, I'm, I'm enjoying. You know, august is a tough time for the city. I don't even want to get into it. But yeah, man, everything's all good on this. How is everything with you?
Speaker 2:Yeah, everything's blessed. I mean you're right. And look, it's not just the NBA, wnba, like high school kids, aau kids are seeing injuries at an unprecedented rate, which makes you think, like in the world that we're in, where kids are specializing, getting training at five, six, seven years old, like is it starting to catch up to it.
Speaker 2:where, like, people are doing too much prior to when they're out so early yeah right and their limbs and all the everything that's being pulled and pushed so long, so early. So it'll be interesting to see, like, how sport is really not just basketball, it's sports in general, how they evolve Right To. To try to over-correct this, but yes, you are right, like the Pelican schedule did release and everything's good on my end and till I saw the first like 30 games my eyes put up and I'm like, well, here we go. But before we get into that, make sure you guys are locked in with us. Uh, follow us on twitter, on x, that's on ig, on tiktok that's no underscore, basketball, no. E. Make sure you're liking the episode below and if you're not already, make sure you're liking the episode below and if you're not already, make sure you subscribe to the channel. So, garrick, let's just jump into it.
Speaker 1:Let's get into it. Yeah, let's talk about it.
Speaker 2:First of all, shout out to the Pelicans and the social media team and the organization for you and I talked about this off the pod, being aware of the situation that is a behold the pelicans for basically the entire zion tenure right. They went full head when we saw the black cat with the schedule release preview and everybody's like why would you do that? And then they dropped the video where herb jones and with trey murphy basically just buying into the fact that, hey man, it's not been great as of late, so we're gonna control our own there. Control our own. Look what. Let's get your thoughts on that first. What are your thoughts on that? How they literally just jumped in two feet head first and say, hey man, we understand, things ain't been great.
Speaker 1:If you've been following this podcast or if you've known me at all in your life and have talked to me at all. My favorite thing about a human being is self-awareness. Why is that? Because it is very, very loud when you don't have it. It is very, very loud when you don't have self-awareness. And I like it, bro, and I'll be the first to tell you, I was the one when they posted the preview hey, the schedule release is coming and you had the black cat on it. I was like listen, I don't know if I would put a black cat anywhere near any marketing of the pelicans at all, especially this season, coming up with what's out the door and what could potentially, which the national media loves to remind everyone of what could happen. You know, and the following draft, I, that was just something. I did not. I would not. There's still an element to me that's like I understand and I love the self-awareness, but tempting or playing with the sports guys in the city of New Orleans, louisiana, in the big 2025, 2026.
Speaker 1:It's bold, I like it Very risky, very risky, very risky, we do not know.
Speaker 2:It goes along with the theme of the offseason.
Speaker 1:Exactly. We do not know when. The least. What a bird talk. We do not know when. The least agreement of that agreement that Sean Payton made with Dormammu and Mephisto for that, for that Superbowl, we don't know when that lease in. So I but listen.
Speaker 1:I love what they did, I love leaning into it, I love the self-awareness. I think if you, if you ask anyone, you know, if you ask a hundred people, who do you think the cornerstones players of the of the Pelicans franchise are right now, today, at this moment, you'll probably get 90 or 80 to 90 Zions. But I would venture to bet that you would get 100. Trey Murphys and Herb Jones, especially with the contract extensions and things like that. And so I love having Trey and Herb kind of be the spokesmen. They both have, you know, charismatic personalities. I told you Herb Jones reminds me a lot of like Kawhi and Peyton Manning and Arch Manning, where they kind of have that genuine hilariousness to them where they're not even trying to be funny. So I enjoyed it until they actually showed the actual games and I was like oh, oh, okay no, you're absolutely right.
Speaker 2:And look the first thing people gonna say well, where's zion? They sent zion out to to do the draft lottery. Now, obviously they dropped in the lottery and things like that zion's at summer league, like everything that the pelicans have done this offseason is pointing toward. We believe in zion, so I just wouldn't overthink it from that perspective. But yeah, I agree, I thought her was hilarious. I just thought they did a really good job of just jumping in and and again following the theme of this offseason. So the schedule drop, the schedule dropped. The Pelicans are nationally televised two times. I'm dense stutter two times.
Speaker 2:I'm 82, two times. What are your thoughts on that? Right, obviously the Pelicans have a horrible year. Everyone thinks the Pelicans is going to have a horrible year because they've already declared that Atlanta Hawks as winners of the trade, even though the draft is a year away from that. What are your thoughts on that? Coming off a bad year, fair or not fair?
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, like we've been saying all offseason, your reputation is your reputation until it's not, and the only way to change it is on the court.
Speaker 1:And so, you know, with Zion and his availability being questioned, and you know Trey and Herb coming off of injuries and Pelicans having a terrible season last season, you know you're kind of lucky you got two, to be honest with you, but you know that should be even more motivation for this organization with a new voice in there, and Joe Dumas and Troy, you know, and Troy Weaver, and you know the young rookies who are brash and let you know, you know that they're coming, and Zion and all of these guys should have a chip on their shoulder and you know, and they should, they should want to go out and be the the this year's Detroit Pistons.
Speaker 1:Right, the Pistons didn't have any national TV games last year either, but they worked quietly to the side and before you know it, they were in the playoffs and now they're rewarded with, I think, 20 or 25 national television games. Same thing with the Orlando Magic right, they didn't have a lot of games last season. They got on TV a lot and now they're rewarded. Right, they worked on the side, made the playoffs, made some meaningful strides, and now they're rewarded with more national television games. So you know, the Pelicans find themselves in a very similar path, and so now it's on them to work to the side and work quietly and do what they need to do and not worry about playing on national TV and not worry about playing on national TV.
Speaker 2:I agree, and if you're watching the Pelicans at home, that just means more games of AD and Joel, which I think are top five broadcasters in the NBA, so I don't think it's that bad of a deal.
Speaker 2:So let's just jump into it. Before we get to the different parts of the season and the different road trips and all that, let's just start with the first 10 games. Carrick, the Pelicans historically have not gotten off to a hot start. We talked about it last year at this same time how it'd been 10 seasons since they had a winning record in their first 10 games. To echo last podcast, the NBA said oh yeah, let's look at what your first 30 games are going to be. So when you look at the first 10, the first 30, there are only six of the first 30 games, garrett, that's damn near half the season that are versus eastern conference opponent and typically you would say, okay, what that just means you have more easy games on the back half of the of the season.
Speaker 2:But the problem with the pelicans historically has been that they get themselves in big holes, whether zion's available, whether brennan inger's available or not, and then have to miraculously climb themselves out of them toward the end of the season, which again depending on who's available, who's healthy. That's a tough task to be putting yourself in in a situation where you have to make the playoff. You have to to have success in this season. So when you open the season with Memphis, let's talk about that right, like that's a game in itself. You're in Memphis, of course, your first job, of course who seems to have every spectacular game possible versus the Pelicans? Hopefully you have Herb Jones back for that game, fully healthy. What are your thoughts on open the season on the road versus arrival in a situation where you need to build some momentum to early to start this season?
Speaker 1:yeah man, what up, how to grow steve what up, michael morgan? Um, yeah man, I, I listen that the memphis, the memphis new orleans kind of it's not even like a rivalry, it's just like, hey, that team is like very close to to new orleans and zion and jock kind of know each other and kind of like each other and uh, so, hey, you know, let's, let's have a little, you know, a connection. Um, you know I think the nba was trying to make this a rivalry. You know at some point, and you know let's have a little, you know, a connection. You know I think the NBA was trying to make this a rivalry. You know, at some point, and you know those guys are still young, there's still time for their careers to turn around, and it becomes some kind of down south rivalry. Whatever the case is, but to open the season in Memphis listen, that Memphis team, you know they have a lot of belief in their young players Jalen Wells, they let Desmond Bain go.
Speaker 1:I think this is an opportunity for the Pelicans to make a statement Again that the Memphis team is not the same Memphis team that you've known. And so you know it's going to be tough, but you have to play these road games eventually to get to wherever you need to go, and so this is a good opportunity for the Pelicans to start off on the road. You know that you're going to be starting off on the road, and so this gives you an opportunity for training camp and the beginning practices, to kind of all focus on being on the road, doing the road bonding, because there's a lot of new faces on the roster. And so I do think that Memphis game is going to be that opening game, is going to be a difficult game to play, but I don't think it's a. You know, the Pelicans are for sure going to lose that game. It's not one of those type of deals.
Speaker 1:I do think the Pelicans, they're not considered at the top of the West, obviously. I do think that they're in like that third tier where, like, a lot of teams could be, and so that third tier where, like, a lot of teams could be, um and so, and I think memphis is closer to that level than like closer to the first, you know, at the top. So I do think that that that's a game that they could go in and kind of try to hit the ground running. Um, especially zion, like this is a good opportunity game one. Which better way to announce your presence and announce your? What did he say last season? Out for revenge? What a better way to show it, uh, than game one against jock?
Speaker 2:right, um again, and this is a team that's plagued the pelicans in the last couple seasons um, just with their their size in the front court. And so to open the season, especially with derrick queen like projected to be healthy right around that time. Like I'm really interested to see how the Pelicans come out, because not only one do. I want to see how the style of the Pelican looks different. Do they play more uptempo? Do they try to outrun Memphis for one way? Do they try to hunt guards on the perimeter? What does the offense look like? This is that game for you to kind of see some of those things. But also, how do you answer? What's your response to hey, we got Zach Eady, we got Jaron Jackson Jr, we've got a bunch of big guys in the front court. What are you going to do versus that? Is that a double big lineup? Do you see Carlo and Ease play? Do you see Zion bump down or bump up, right in terms of playing guard and things like that? So that's a game that that really sticks out from that perspective. The home opener, I think to your point, because I think the Memphis game is to your point.
Speaker 2:I think a lot of people are down on Memphis because of the trade and because of their own team saying we're not good enough and because of the controversy around John, things like that, and what's going to happen next? I think people are down on them. People are super up on the Spurs, right, and rightfully so. Right, wimby coming off his injury or illness of his own, them coming off back-to-back rookie of the years, them having the number two pick in the draft. Everyone is projecting the Spurs to take that leap and to push for the top six to be in the playoffs.
Speaker 2:This is the game, I think is a for, an opportunity, especially at home. For, with a season where your fans just watched hell go through, for you to make your statement versus the team that everyone is saying this is the team we expect to explode. This is the opportunity, I think, for the pelicans to really make their their start to the season. Because, look, it don't get no easier after that. Yeah, boston is beat up and you know they've got a bunch of changes on their roster who knows what they're going to be? But then you got Denver and you got the Clippers, you got okay, see, like that, that is a murderer's road just to start the season Right. And so what are your? Again, facing up versus Wimby, who everyone's projected potentially to be an MVP-like season in terms of his expedition. Where is Zion at in this factor, when you were the number one pick and you've been passed by? What are your?
Speaker 1:thoughts on the home opener. Yeah, that game's going to be rocking because you know Wimby brings out a crowd just because of who he is, regardless. But you throw in there, you knowtonio is not that far from new orleans. Uh, you throw in there that. That's like kind of sort of um, you know a, a quick trip that people can make. People could come to new orleans and make a, make a thing out of it and then you know it being the home opener in the city. You know, know, with you know guys who you are excited to see in Zion and Trey and Herb and guys like that that you're excited to see. And then the new guys right, this will be the first look for you know, jeremiah Fares in front of the home crowd and in front of if I don't think he'll be playing, but Derrick Queen, if he's available around that time, you know. And Sadiq Bey, it got Jordan Poole like in front of the crowd and I think you know the Pelicans have a lot of guys that can play off of energy when you think about, like Jeremiah Fares and Zion and Trey, and Jordan Poole is electric when that flow goes. And Jose Alvarado, jordan Hawkins, a lot of guys that play. You know a lot of energetic basketball and when the crowd feeds into them it can be energetic.
Speaker 1:And I think that that, to your point, I think that that's going to be a wild game and you know that'll be a test because, again, the Spurs are going to be well coached and they have a lot of, like, young talent, but they also have, you know who we've known to be a Pelicans killer, obviously outside of the last two seasons, but De'Aaron Fox, right, like he has been a Pelicans killer for a while, and so you know he's there and you have Wimby and they just have a lot of guards and big, you know, talented guys. So the Pelicans are going to be able to go in there and test themselves early against them and if Zion is available again, I keep saying it over and over again we remember the game against the Spurs where Zion got the game-winning block to silly game. This is the kind of game that you need to raise your level up when you step on the floor with Jai and Wimby. These are your peers, jai and wimby, these are your peers, jai and wimby.
Speaker 1:And and luca and shea and tatum, like. These are the guys. And anthony edwards these are the guys that are looking you in the face and saying we're better than you and and things like that. These are the opportunities for you to to go out and make statements.
Speaker 2:So I agree, I think that that home open is going to be electric right, and so again, we talked about the rest of the week I can't even say the rest of the month, the west of the week for the pelican. And the fact of the matter is, no matter what the schedule is going to look like when you play people, it's going to be a battle in the nba. I know there's some east games sprinkled in there, but night in the night out you just talked about hey, these are your peers. You could do that for almost every team in the west and be like damn, and this was just monday, right, like that. That's the situation that that teams are walking into this season. Uh, denver is another game that they have laid on. That's a, that's a litmus test because of denver's. If anyone's gonna push okc, that tends to be the name that people gravitate to, and rightfully so. They have the best player in the world.
Speaker 2:Now, historically, the Pelicans have matched up pretty well versus the Nuggets. The Nuggets made some additions, added some depth. I'm excited to see what that looks like. But that next game versus the Clippers, who people have crowned the winners of the offseason, is going to be the tale of youth versus experience. Season is going to be the tale of youth versus experience. Because if the Pelicans are to again to Joe Dumars, credited into what he said and the moves they've made and the players that you just mentioned they acquired are going to lean into this high up-tempo, frenetic run and gun type offense seven seconds or less. What a better test than the Clippers to see how well that works.
Speaker 2:Right, because they're going to be a team that tries to slow you down, beat you up in the half court and and beat and get to certain spots. Can you outrun them early in the season and see what that looks like. Like? So, part of this again, the Pelicans starting with such a hard slate of games, both in the first 10 games and the first 30 games, it's two things. The Pelicans have to get off to a good start just because we've seen what it looks like, what they don't. Some of these other teams, like the Clippers, they may not be looking at it like, hey, we need to start the season strong. They may be looking at it, hey, we just need to fit in the top six by the end and we'll work our way to the season. That's an opportunity for a team like the Pelicans to say, hey, no, we need to grab these earlier on in the season. So what are you looking at in that matchup in LA to pop off the first week?
Speaker 1:I'm glad you say that. I have something to say after we get through these first 10 games. About these 10 games I have something to say after we get through these first 10 games. About these 10 games. I have something to say. The Clippers I think the Clippers are going to be a very, very interesting test because again they play a should be a very different style of basketball than the Pelicans. Again, they don't. They went and got John Collins, who is like a poor man's version of Aaron Gordon, who we've talked about as being one of the better matchups for Zion in the league as far as speed, athleticism and size, because that's one of the more important points. But I don't think John Collins is as good defensively as Aaron Gordon, and so it's going to be a very interesting time.
Speaker 1:We saw the Clippers. We've seen all the Pelicans players have great games against the Clippers at some point. You see Brandon Ingram, when he was here, have a great game against the Clippers. We all remember Trey Murphy's games against the Clippers. Zion was causing all kind of havoc against the Clippers last season, um, and even we saw it. That's when we kind of started asking the question of why would you show it to us without you know, if we can't have it, and zion stepping up and saying I got kawaii, like I, I got it and and so like that's when we started saying, okay, that's what you're gonna do, that needs to be something that you do. And so there's just a a lot of like good matchups and and good, you know good storylines in between the Clippers and the Pelicans.
Speaker 1:But again, this is a good opportunity for the Pelicans to look some of the NBA's greats talking about Kawhi and James Harden, and now you know Chris Paul is there and Brooke Lopez and just a lot of NBA greats to look those guys in the eyes and say, like you know, not this season it won't be like that. So I'll be very interested to see. That is one of the games and it's a cup game, and so I'm super interested to see, you know, if the Pelicans can find a little bit of additional motivation because, like, that is usually something that teams can rally around and try to launch themselves into a better second half of the season. It starts with that first cup game against the Clippers and that's something that the Pelicans should be looking to win. They should be looking to win as many small things as possible in this season. That's going to be mirrored with questions from the day you made this draft entry.
Speaker 2:I absolutely agree, and lucky them they get to go from that game to verse the champs in OKC. Look, every game is going to be. I'm interested to see the thunder this year. Obviously, they proved they could do it last season With the target on their back. Now I'm interested to see what the second season looks like, because every night people are going to be giving you their best right.
Speaker 2:But for the pelicans specifically, for zion specifically, remember that 360 dunk that he had versus phoenix. That was unnecessary the season after his team got eliminated. Now the pelicans didn't make the playoffs last season, but they got embarrassed versus OKC the season before. And so this is really Zion's opportunity, versus the champs, to again make your statement and Trey Murphy together, make your statement of where you match up. Whether you win the game or not, do you hold the court? Because last season, every time you played versus OKC it got ugly quick right. What does it look like this season with a healthy roster? You get to play Charlotte, congratulations.
Speaker 2:This is the most fun game, I think, of the first 10 game of the season, and not just because that at Dallas versus the Mavs and I go to every single one of those, but it's the rookie showcase because it's Cooper Flagg again who, again the Mavs should have a really good team, a really big team.
Speaker 2:That again I'm curious to see what the Pelicans look like and how they match up versus bigger teams, especially if Derrick Queen's not available. But they have Cooper Flagg. But the Pelicans have two players who look, think and play like they think they're the best player in the draft. And so in games like this, where you get a rookie showcase of some high lottery picks, guys tend to go at each other or go at it period to show I'm better than that guy. And for a guy like Jeremiah Fears and if Derrick Queen is available, this was his high school teammate at Mount Averton Like I just think this is going to be an exciting game for a lot of reasons, not just because it's Masvers, pelicans, but I just think there are a lot of rookies on the court who are looking that they got something to prove. What do you think about it in this particular matchup of the two combined states?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think that's a very, you know, astute point about the rookie showcase. I think this one is. I would like for this to be a big Trey Murphy game, because the Mavs have a lot of front court depth but their back court is not. You know that backcourt is not as good, especially with Kyrie being out, not a lot of names. And then Clay, obviously he is who he is in the NBA Pantheon, but he's older, right, and we're gonna see that. I kinda want this to look at this game and again, this is a cop-out. I'm looking at Zion once again, because you're looking at the Pelicans past and Anthony Davis and you are very, very quickly looking at the next Duke superstar without you getting anything in between when those two guys came into the league. When those two guys came into the league and I, you know, with, with with Cooper flag being who he is, where he's from, it is it is.
Speaker 1:I think this is one of those things where someone needs to get the Zion and say you need to make sure they, they know not, not quite yet, not not yet, because you know Coop is going to be really good and he his his rocket to stardom. It can be very quickly, just like victim with the Nama and in between both of those guys. You know, vic, vic is still super young in this third year in the league. This is cool, he is super, duper young. Mm-hmm, there's, there's, there's, there's your next two, there's your next two fandoms and so the. You know, if zion wants to be one of the ones, you have to make sure that you know when you get your opportunity to play this new number one. It reminds me of, of the, the, the clips from from, uh, from toy story, where you know woody was woody was just not buzzing.
Speaker 1:Woody had the nightmare of let me tell you about this and I don't want to play with you anymore. Zion needs to be. This is where Zion needs to look, and not yet Not quite yet. I'm super interested to see how Zion approaches the Cooper flag Anthony Davis, Derek Lively, kind of front court but super interested to see how Zion deals with the Zion Cooper flag. Of it all, I want to see how that works because Zion still has the opportunity to be the superstar that he wants to be. But there's a lot of talent coming in and people are starting to, you know, starting to look past and see what's coming up next on the pipeline. We haven't even talked about the guy who everybody says the Pelicans just ramrodded the entire draft pick, AJ Devine, who's going to BYU. He's going to be coming in, and so you got to start gripping the league at some point in time, man.
Speaker 2:I couldn't agree more. So you finish out the first 10 at San Antonio, at Phoenix, which I think is going to have to be a must win, because out of all those 10 games, that's the easiest one on paper. What are some of the more intriguing stretches? Like you look through the schedule and there's a couple of long road games and a couple of home stands. Nothing that like stands out crazy.
Speaker 2:Yes, the pelicans have 15 back-to-backs, which is top 10, go figure, in the nba for most back-to-backs. My only question is how many of those design on play right? Like again, there's a, there's a balance of how do we keep zion available through the the course of the season and into the playoffs. But also, at some point you got to play like this ain't the Joel and B where you've already had all these knee injuries and this and that and the other. A lot of Zion injuries have been like hamstrings and and and ankle, like things that are not long-term. So from that standpoint, like at some point the team is going to need you to play back, back and things like that. But what are your thoughts on? You know, some of the more intriguing instructions or things that pop out to you in the schedule yeah, so.
Speaker 1:so first of all, let me let me let me talk about what I what I mentioned earlier about the the first 10 games of the season, and I'm gonna say this I'm looking. The Pelicans should be able to go at least six and four on that as Zion plays. I think this is what I have in the first 10, okay, I have them winning in Memphis. I have them winning in Memphis. I think that's a winnable game.
Speaker 2:Well, depending who's available, game one Exactly. This is contingent on Zion and Trey being available.
Speaker 1:Exactly, this is contingent on Zion and Trey being available. At least Zion and Trey being available, I think that they can win in Memphis. Okay, I think that they can win the home opener. I think they need to win the home opener Against San Antonio. I think they can beat Boston. I think so need to win the home boat Against San Antonio. I think they could beat Boston. I think so too. I look at that Boston roster. Yeah, jalen Brown is there. Yeah, you know, derek White is there. They got Drew Holiday walking in that door. Jason Tatum ain't walking in that door, chris D'Asprazingas ain't walking in that door, al Hoffman ain't walking in that door. You got like, got guys like Luka Garza getting minutes and like Anthony Simons. Listen, I give all respect to Boston and what they will be when they're healthy, but I watched that Boston game that DeJounte hurt himself. That game wasn't a runaway game.
Speaker 1:The Pelicans was there yeah, so I think they can start off 3-0. That game wasn't a runaway game. Jerry was hooping, the Pelicans was there. Yeah, so I think they can start off 3-0. Now I think they lose against Denver. Again, tough game, but I think they lose against Denver. I watched the Pelicans back top. They were trippers up a bunch of times. You're just going to have to show me. But that's fine, you give him a loss there.
Speaker 1:That's fine, I have a win there, but I will be okay giving him a loss there. I have a loss in OKC, that's fine. I will say I'm very happy if Zion is healthy, we finally get to see OKC versus healthy Zion and like healthy team, Like partially healthy team, Like early in the season, like early where guys should still be hopefully available. But that's a loss. Okc is a loss, I think they beat Charlotte.
Speaker 1:The Dallas game I'm interested to see because, again, if you look at it, yeah it's going to be a tough one, but I think that's a toss-up and I'd give them a loss there, that's fine. I'd give them a loss in San Antonio and I think that's a toss up and I give them a loss there, that's fine. I give them a loss in San Antonio and then I think they can win the next two. I think they can beat Phoenix and Portland and I, I think that that's not, that's not like out of the realm of possibility for the first 10 games. So I'm I think that they can. They can do six and four. You know, and and and come out of there and you know and, and and have some positive momentum.
Speaker 1:I do think you know, I think a lot of these teams you know, you look at their names, like the name of the team, and you start to think about, you know what they've done. But if you kind of look at them like that, like Boston is not the same Boston, the Clippers, as many names as they are they had nothing for Zion and they didn't add anything for Zion, and so I just, I just I think that that's, that's my hot take. I think that they could go 74 and maybe even 73. If you consider, like the Dallas game being a you know potential coin toss. So that's my, my, hot take, so I'm not mad at it. I'm not mad at it.
Speaker 2:This is what I'll say. I think that there's been a lot of change in the roster, but in terms of, like the actual rotation outside of, like Jordan Poole, sadiq Bae, jeremiah Fierce question mark who knows if he's in the rotation to start the season? Derrick Queen, who knows if he's available to start the season, and then maybe Kavon Looney the rotation is the same people. And so for me, I think training camp will be very important to see how much did you keep from last season, right, like when Zion was playing with something before Trey went down and and they sat Zion out. Like how much did you retain in terms of giving Zion the ball and knowing how to play off that and building from that, so that you're not starting from zero, right? Because I think Jordan Poole in some, in a lot of ways, can fit the CJ role and I think it'll, it'll be natural for him. And I don't think anyone's being put Maybe Jeremiah Fears and Derek Queen, but like those are rookies anyway. Maybe Jeremiah fears and Derek queen, but like those are rookies anyway. So like I don't think anyone's being put in a situation where you got to change your game to to fit around other players, and so in that situation I'm like the Pelican should start with a little bit of chemistry and cohesiveness.
Speaker 2:But I think that's going to impact how these first thing go. Like is everyone feeling each other on the court? Like even that game versus the or the season over last year versus Chicago? Dejounte wasn't really DeJounte, he was just. I know he had been dealing with a lot, you know, right before that with his mom and things. But like on the court, like he was just kind of like trying to fit in and not trying to mess up, and you've seen that through different players at different times. But like the majority of the team should kind of know how to play off each other anyway. And so I'm just really curious to see how much cohesiveness comes out in that first 10 games where you can say, oh, it looks like they've been playing together for some time.
Speaker 2:That's my only question on the first 10.
Speaker 1:No, that that's that's. That's that's fair. And again, this is contingent upon Zion being available, Zion being, you know, the Zion that we saw at the end of last season going into this season. It's a contingent on Trey being available and Herb being available. But I just think that, like you know, if Zion is there, I've seen Zion give all these outside of OKC, like all these teams, problems, and so I just want to see you know that, like that, you know, especially with guys like Jordan Poooole can get their own shots and you know, and Jeremiah Fares, who can play and trade, taking his leap from last season, I just think that the Pelicans have a lot more talent than, like, they're given credit for, and so I just think that they can, they can get in, you know, get into the season and start off strong. So that is my hot take for the first 10 games that I am readily ready to go on the 11th game of the season, saying I don't know what the hell I was thinking.
Speaker 1:I'm sticking with it and it's fine. So some other stretches for me, obviously, wednesday, march 11th. Well, you know, we'll talk about that. That is one of the games I'm looking for. The home game against Toronto BI's first game back, I'll be looking forward to that. There's an early homestand, november 12th through the 19th. That has the Blazers, the Lakers, the Thunders and the Nuggets.
Speaker 1:I'm looking forward to that murderer's rope. I think that's going to be important. And then the six-game road trip that's in February, I think February to March 6th. That's going to be a tough one because you got Utah twice and again Utah. We don't know what Utah is going to be thinking of, but you know we've seen the Pelicans go up to Utah and guys play and they don't play and the Pelicans still lose. So that is a tough place for the Pelicans to play. You then have the Clippers, the Lakers, the Kings and then the Suns. Again, you will see where some of those teams are at that point in time.
Speaker 1:But that particular road trip, I think that's going to be super important. It might be dependent on some standards at that point in time, and so I think that's going to be super-duper important for them to take advantage of if they can, important for them to take advantage of if they can, and according to Positive Residual, who does a lot of the rankings of the scoring and everything I mean rankings of the schedule how difficult the schedule is. Apparently the Pelicans have the hardest schedule this season, according to that website. And so the entire schedule as it is, schedule as it is, is going to be, you know, a murderer's role, because again you're in the Western Conference, so you're going to be playing all the Western Conference teams more than the Eastern Conference, and so you're going to have, like, some difficult nights, some difficult stretches, but again, this is life in the NBA and nobody cares. And so I think the Pelicans have to go into this season thinking, looking at it like that, no matter who's available, and unfortunately and luckily, they have a lot of practice dealing with that.
Speaker 2:So I have the November 12th through 19th early homestand and February 26th through March 6th uh, six game road trip on the west coast okay, uh, this is the one that stands out to me, so I don't know if it's true or not, but I just feel like it's true. I feel like january's have had been like very important months for the pelicans, like last. This past january it basically was like all right, this season's a wrap and we're gonna go ahead and punt on the season. Even though zion came back the season or a couple seasons before, it was like the pelicans were number one in the in the west.
Speaker 2:And then the hamstring happens in january and so like I feel like jerry's important march, so they in january at home versus the mavs and the celtics again, I think those could be winnable games. But then they start February at Nuggets, at Nuggets, at Kings, at Thunder. I think that is a pivotal stretch because, like, if you go 500 right there or you start the week strong, I think that gives you some grace the back half of the week, because playing in Denver and playing at okc, like in consecutive road, like that is, that is a tough stretch to overcome.
Speaker 2:You brought it up already um, the brandon ingram returns to new orleans march 11th. Cj mccullum returns to new orleans march 8th. So literally back-to-back games. You're seeing two of the cornerstones of the franchise in previous years make their returns. The Pelicans got to hope that the Smoothie King Center it doesn't become like the Staples Center or Crypto Arena for Brandon Ingram. When he was playing with the Pelicans, every time he went there, no matter who played for the Lakers, bi was putting up numbers because he wanted to hoop there. Hopefully that's not the case for against the pelicans. But I think those are gonna be two emotional returns again for what it was worth.
Speaker 2:Cj had a rough go and not to his own volition, just the situation that it played again. But I think he meant a lot to this organization, to this roster in particular and really to the city in terms of impact that he made. And again, say what you want about Brandon Ingram, whether you love him, whether you hate him, whether you think he's this, whether you think he's that. He revitalized his career in a lot of ways in New Orleans and it became something that BI belongs to the Pelicans. So you don't talk bad about BI. Even though we may know some of his flaws, things like that I think he really wanted to stay here. It's just feelings were involved, I think. When rubber hit the road and this is what we have and this is the best we could do, I think a lot of feelings were involved there. I think he really did want to be here, but he wanted to show that he's worth at a different price and so I think again he'll be received well in the Smoothie King Center.
Speaker 2:I don't think there'll be any bad blood with him or CJ, but I think those are going to be two really emotional nights for the players involved, the fans and things like that as well. Those are really the stretches that stand out to me. I look at the very end of the season in April and again, who's available at this point makes a whole lot difference and where teams are slated. But I look at April and I see at Portland, at Sacramento versus Orlando versus Utah, at Boston, at Minnesota, if the Pelicans are in a situation where either they're fighting for the play-in or they're in the playoffs, right, and they are fighting for the top six or whatever that may be, I think that's a favorable April to close out with, like winnable games. Yeah, you got some road games, but I think again. I think Minnesota is going to be a playoff team, so they're probably not playing anyone the last game of the season. Like I don't think.
Speaker 2:My expectations for the kings are super low, so anything I say, moving forward is just with the anticipation of the kings not being very good because I just don't know how they're going to guard anyone and so like. If you had those type of teams, toward the end I think you could finish strong, whether, again, you're fighting to get in or you're fighting for seeding. From that standpoint, what do you think about the close of the season in terms of how the Pelicans again depending on who's available could potentially wrap up?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think you know you don't have to question. You know you don't have to question what are the Pelicans playing for at the end of the season? Because they don't have any reason to not be playing, regardless of what the record is, because they don't have their pick next season and so, um, and so I think the pelicans will be motivated. Uh, again, you think about all those other teams ahead of you. Uh, that I mean that you were talking about. Uh, all those teams might have varying agendas at that point in time, uh, but I think the best thing for the Pelicans to do is very reminiscent of what we talked about the season before last, when we said the best way to not get it when they were terrible in close games it could not win in a close game. What did we? What did we say on this podcast? The best way to not get into a close game, to not lose a close game, is to not get into a close game, right, just don't let it get close. Play hard and you know, and win off your talent and don't mess around and have turnovers in games and stuff like that. I think that is the same exact advice I would give to the Pelicans this season, how you worry about how, what's happening, how you not worry about what's happening in April and what's this team doing and what's the standards looking. Place yourself firmly in the top six, and that way you won't have to worry about is this team resting? Is this team resting? Get in, make the run.
Speaker 1:The Pacers did, the Pistons did when they switched over to the next season, decided to hell with it. We all going for it. Start early, start winning games early. Again, it starts with Zion now getting into shape, getting training camp ready, coming into the season ready to go game one. And that way you won't have to worry about who's playing who in April, because you'll take care of your business early. And so I think you know the end of the season is going to be the end of the season. It's going to be some ugly basketball. People are going to be resting. People are going to be, you know, getting ready to get into this all-encompassing, incredible, mind-blowing, mind-bending draft lottery. You know where the next incredible LeBron James will be drafted. You know, I think, that either they'll be getting ready for that or they'll be resting to get ready for the playoffs. And you won't have to worry about that if you take care of your business early.
Speaker 2:Right. I think it's one of those things where, again the Pelicans again to their own volition and their own video, they can control their own luck. I think a lot of teams probably are not looking at the Pelicans as a playoff team, and so, if you can come out of the gates like Gangbusters to your point, some of those other teams nobody's looking at the Pistons last year to be a playoff team either, and I would say that the Pelicans have more talent to start the year than the Pistons did last season, and so I think it's important to see how it works together. Does it come together? I think the West is going to be a battle of attrition who can get through the season with their best players available at the end, and then how do you match up once you get to the playoffs?
Speaker 2:I think it's going to be very similar to the last couple of years, where two through seven and two through eight is separated by three or four games, five games, whatever it may be. So, as all these the injuries happen, and they're going to happen around the league, who has the deepest roster to withstand those things Right, and whose stars are staying on the court, which historically has been a problem for the Pelicans. So the schedule is upon us. You know the dates, you know the games. At this point you're waiting for training camp to get this thing going. What you got left for the people is re-wrap up and get to the third week in August before we get some more basketball.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, as always, you never know what people are going through. So give someone a smile today. Yeah, man, as always, you never know what people are going through. So give someone a smile today. Yeah, man, the schedule's upon us. Make your plans, make your travel arrangements. I want to make sure I go catch. I've already talked about going to New York to see the Pells play the Knicks. I'm excited to go there, but we'll be at most of the games and you'll be seeing a lot more of us let's just put it like that coming into the season.
Speaker 1:So appreciate everybody hopping on with us early. You know it's Friday. You know I know people got things to do they at work as soon as you get off work. You got Friday weekend plans. Tgif. Welcome to the weekend. Everybody, appreciate y'all hopping in and coming to show love, as always. Follow me at Garrett underscore Rattler. Follow my brother at Raphael underscore Rattler. Follow the page at N-O underscore basketball no E. That's on Twitter, x, instagram, tiktok, wherever you get your socials. Most importantly, subscribe to New OrleansBasketball and we'll see you guys in the next one. We'll see you guys in the next one.