Pelicans new starting (and closing) group goes +4 and pull out a clutch time win. Worth continuing to see what Queen + perimeter size looks like

Just quick thoughts on the starting lineup change - benching Fears is a delicate situation where you have to navigate his confidence and front office desires - Pels could not have done it for Jose or Poole, nor should they have - Herb allows them to both on equity and basketball

Pelicans starting Zion, Jones, Murphy, Bey and Queen. Borrego has mentioned potentially looking in another direction

Herb Jones is active tonight

The Grizzlies list Ja Morant as OUT against the Pelicans tomorrow. Morant, who has not played more than 6 consecutive games since 2023, ends his current streak at 2.

25 students just received a signed basketball, signed jerseys and a surface pro tablet from Herb Jones

Pelicans within 5 with 5 to go, officially back in a clutch situation

Zion Williamson headed to the locker room, not sure why

What a quarter for Micah Peavy who had 8 points and has been everywhere defensively

This Pelicans starting lineup always spots teams 10-13 points in the first quarter

Pistons have ruled Cade Cunningham and Caris LeVert out

Zion Williamson will give it a go tonight per the Pelicans

Cade Cunningham (illness) and Caris LeVert (illness) are both questionable tonight in New Orleans.

Herb Jones will be presenting the 2026 Herb Jones Excellence Award to one graduating senior from a New Orleans Public School who has demonstrated high academic achievement and served as a leader in their community after tonight's game

I wonder what the additional draft compensation would have to be for this. Saves MEM $6.8M this year, and $54.6M in future money. Puts two massive expirings on their books next season to be flipped. The main sell is how quickly Memphis cleans up their books and gets flexible.

Going LIVE to talk all things Ja Morant and the Pelicans! youtube.com/live/NUntM5u...

The Pelicans have the 28th ranked defense in the league with a DRTG of 119.2. But when you remove the rookie minutes, you see that they are capable of defending at a high level. The results are consistent across the board.

Trey Murphy received 22 player votes for All-star, ranking him 15th among players. This is above players like Harden, Davis, Lauri, Fox, Sengun and many other stars

The two timeline approach didn't work for the Warriors and is failing for the Pelicans. How should the Pelicans navigate having untouchable vets but rookies who need development? They can't do both. So what can they? My latest: intheno.substack.com/p/should-the...

For the season the Pelicans have a DRTG of 123.7 when Fears and Queen are on the court. The 30th ranked Jazz have a 122.3 DRTG. When Fears and Queen are OFF the court, the Pels have a 111.4 DRTG. This would be good for 3rd overall in the league!!!

-33 in the Queen minutes and +22 in the Missi minutes tells you all you need to know about this game. That's a 55 point swing

Pelicans are -13 in the Fears and Queen minutes this first half giving up a 176.9 defensive rating They are +11 when they are off the court. With a much more manageable 111.8 DRTG

Borrego goes with a huge lineup after the Pels small starting group starts down 11

Ja and Zion are the exact same temptation. They can shine so unbelievably bright that it's difficult to give up the allure. But it's also dangerous to ignore multiple seasons worth of issues. Ja has 20-4-10 at half time. Just a few days ago he was ready to fight a teammate.

Since Christmas, Pelicans net rating: Fears and DQ both on: -8.31 Fears and DQ both off: +6.69 It's incredibly difficult to win in the NBA with rookies.

Zion Williamson has 21 points on 8/8 shooting at half time

Jeremiah Fears's game management tonight has been really good. He's getting better and better at that aspect

Again Yves Missi has become a nightly factor with his athleticsm and motor

In the last 10 games, the Pelicans are -15.8 per 100 in the Derik Queen minutes and that's a team worst mark. Borrego is often left searching which big is going to impact any given night, and lately Yves Missi has answered the call.

Pelicans starting lineup of Fears, Trey, Bey, Zion, Queen is -16 per 100 possessions. They get blown out and it's largely due to the rookies. It's why you see JB make quick substitutions when the game starts slowly or start Yves out of half.

I prefer looking into Garland or Quickley (especially if you can be compensated for him) but I don't think there's reason to complain if the Pels get Ja at a super low price while offloading Dejounte or Poole.

Per Mike, the Pelicans have inquired about Ja Morant

Part of the source of this is just possession math. Yves' effort as a rim protector & rebounder ensures more poss for the Pels, those poss tend to be higher leverage & more efficient looks. That plus being able to hang on the perimeter when he's out there adds to the lineup versatility, so more mins

Over the last 10 games, the Pelicans most impactful player has been Yves Missi. +4.2 on court rating +20.5 on/off net rating Pelicans have been better on both ends when he's on the court.

The world's biggest surprise: a highly paid player getting DNPS requesting a trade. The last month of Warriors propaganda was unbearable.

Hard to overstate the improvement Yves Missi has shown over the past couple months

Day 7 in the "Garland for DeJounte and Kevon Looney" push from me.

In this clip, Windhorst reports that he is not aware of Zion being on the market in the same way Ja Morant or Anthony Davis are. He doesn't believe the Pelicans are looking to move Zion. And that is consistent with what I have heard for over a month www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4xo...

Fun fact: The Bulls have been 18-21 4 years in a row.

If the Pelicans have any designs on being competitive next year (which there is ample reason to believe they do not want to rebuild), then Morant, Garland, and Quickley all need to be on their radar at the trade deadline.

Jamal Murray: 35-2-9ast, 3stls, 1blk Pelicans "PGs" tonight: 26-4-5ast, 1stl, 0blks Guard play wins games in the NBA

So much about end game situations is being able to get into your sets and then execute them. The Pels have been searching for that player (guard) for years and it just hasn't happened yet. Poole, Zion, Fears all tried initiating, all had 4q turnovers.

Trey Murphy 360 alleyoop layup NBA top 10 @nbabeau.bsky.social

Trey Murphy 22 points on 11 shots.... It's only half time

The absolute funniest thing about the Miami and Ja links is that Morant hated the Noah LaRoche system lol.

I often think about how a young Joker had Paul Milsap before he ever had Aaron Gordon

The Anthony Davis saga is so confusing. To me it sounds like Rich Paul threatening AD will get surgery unless he is moved.

Don't think there's ever been a more GO GET THAT GUY for all teams looking to win than JJJ

Picks will have to be involved in some fashion. But Memphis saves about ~$50M in net salary obligations. Rockets get a guy who is ready to go sooner than FVV. Pels take on a ton of salary but get Ja.

Pelicans had a 149 DRTG in the DQ minutes last night, which is absurd to think about. But it also tells you very loudly that team construction around him needs to be biased towards size and defense.