Jake Madison here, the host of the daily Locked On Pelicans podcast, with your daily Locked On Pelicans newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Pelicans and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Pelicans Fight Hard but Fall Short Against Trail Blazers
Nov 4, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) goes to steal the ball from Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) during the second half at Smoothie King Center.|Photo by Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
The New Orleans Pelicans’ hopes of a win against the Portland Trail Blazers took a hit on Wednesday night, as the team was severely shorthanded due to a list of injuries that sidelined several key players. Despite the odds stacked against them, the Pelicans put up a competitive effort, showing resilience and heart throughout the game. However, without over 90 points of scoring power missing from their lineup, there simply wasn’t enough to secure the victory, and the Blazers ultimately came out on top.
The absence of key players such as Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy, Jordan Hawkins, and Herb Jones left the Pelicans with a depleted roster. The loss of such a high volume of scoring and playmaking—collectively representing a significant chunk of the team’s offense—was always going to be a tough hurdle to overcome. When you’re missing over 90 points, the margin for error shrinks considerably, and the Pelicans felt that impact throughout the game. However, credit must be given to the team’s remaining players, who refused to let the game slip away easily.
Given the circumstances, the Pelicans played about as well as could be expected. Despite the missing firepower, the team stayed competitive for the majority of the contest. New Orleans’ effort was especially evident in the first half, where they battled Portland step for step. Brandon Ingram carried the load offensively, scoring 27 points and dishing out 7 assists, while the Pelicans received key contributions from several others, including two-way player Brandon Boston Jr., who scored 20 points in his first career start. The game was neck and neck, and it wasn’t until the final five minutes that the Trail Blazers were able to pull away, using a late run to seal the win. The Pelicans just didn’t have enough depth to hang on down the stretch, and Portland took full advantage of the opportunity.
That’s just how it’s going to be until the team get’s healthy. Head Coach Willie Green said Zion would be listed as day to day with right leg injuries to him hamstring and thigh. If he can get back on the court Wednesday, even with an undefeated Cavaliers team heading to town, the Pelicans can start picking up wins once again.
Here’s something I love: The Detroit Pistons with a win record of 3-5, better than the combined record of the Bucks and the Sixers. Given Detroit’s slow start to the season, and that lopsided match against the Knicks last Friday, I thought we were in for another season where the best the Pistons could hope for was besting their last season record of 14-68.
Yes, there could still be a slump; yes, the play-in still feels like an aspirational goal for this team, but neither of those outcomes takes away from the truth of the matter which is, the league is better when the Pistons are competitive.
This is a franchise with a proud, hard-fought history, a winning history, and one that’s been hard to see these last few seasons under the tarnish of poor decision making and ill-timed coaching fits. Going back to Cade Cunningham’s rookie season, coached by Dwane Casey, that team and the iterations that followed were too good to be as bad as they appeared. Casey — who transitioned into a front office role with the team last season —is a great coach, if a touch old fashioned. Admittedly, I miss being more proximal to him for the Casey-isms alone he’d offer, e.g. More than one way to skin a cat. A front office, mentorship-driven fit was always the goal of Casey even as head coach, given the rebuilding stage the team was in and how in two years its median age of players dipped to one of the youngest in the league.
Skip to last season, Monty Williams’ brief tenure and that dismal aforementioned season record, and rather than treat it as an unfortunate blip, the Pistons young talent took it as a lesson. Cade is in his fourth season and has lost more than any of his five draft contemporaries he was in the running for Rookie of the Year with. Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Franz Wagner — these guys have certainly seen slumps, the nature of the Draft dictates likely being drafted to a struggling or rebuilding team, but they’ve also had their share of successes. Enough to keep them growing and developing. Cade has, in almost every way, had to take it upon himself to sift the lessons from the seasonal wreckage and keep his hope alive. That takes an incredible amount of discipline and fortitude.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Injury Pelicans coach provides an updated injury status for Zion Williamson, influencing game strategy and team dynamics. (Sports Illustrated)
Injury Multiple stars including Zion Williamson appear on the Pelicans’ injury report, affecting their lineup against the Trail Blazers. (Sports Illustrated)
Injury Zion Williamson’s injury status confirmed for the game against the Trail Blazers, prompting tactical adjustments. (Sports Illustrated)
Signing The Knicks sign a former Pelicans player, possibly impacting New Orleans’ roster depth and future signings. (Sports Illustrated)
Analysis Will the NBA pinpoint its 3 point problem? (TSA, Substack)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Is It Truly A Zach Edey Fantasy Basketball Breakout?
Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) and forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) and guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center.|Photo by Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Monday’s NBA action was packed with thrilling games and standout performances, offering plenty of insights for fantasy basketball enthusiasts. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key matchups and player performances that could impact your fantasy strategy.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Bucks faced off against the Cavaliers in a closely contested game, with Cleveland edging out Milwaukee 116-114. Giannis Antetokounmpo was sidelined with an adductor issue, which opened the door for Bobby Portis to shine. Portis delivered an impressive 21 points, 18 rebounds, and three blocks, showcasing his potential when given extended minutes. Damian Lillard also had a strong outing with 36 points and seven assists, while Brook Lopez contributed defensively with four steals and two blocks.
Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards
The Warriors secured a road victory against the Wizards, 125-112. Stephen Curry returned to action, scoring 24 points in limited minutes. Buddy Hield continued his hot streak with 20 points, but his current shooting efficiency may not be sustainable. For the Wizards, Jordan Poole put up 24 points, but his high block and steal numbers suggest a potential sell-high opportunity.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons pulled off a win against the Lakers, 115-103. LeBron James and Anthony Davis both had strong performances, with Davis scoring 37 points despite an ankle injury scare. Jaden Ivey impressed for Detroit, solidifying his status as a must-roster player with his improved play this season.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Pelicans podcasts.
How Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Willie Green got the New Orleans Pelicans back on track Can the New Orleans Pelicans sustain their recent surge in performance? With strong games against the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks, the Pelicans seem back on track. Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram are leading the charge, showcasing their star power with impressive stats and teamwork.
Willie Green’s critical moment: Can the New Orleans Pelicans turn it around? The New Orleans Pelicans face a critical stretch as they navigate a challenging four-game homestand. With key players like Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram on the court, the team has yet to meet expectations.
Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans fail to show up AGAIN Pelicans’ Struggles: Can They Bounce Back? The New Orleans Pelicans face a challenging period after two disappointing losses to the Warriors, even without Steph Curry. Zion Williamson’s unexpected poor performance, scoring just 12 points on 5 of 20 shooting, raises questions about the team’s current form.
