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.
Yves Missi: A Beacon of Hope for the New Orleans Pelicans
Photo by Brett Davis-Imagn Images
In the recent matchup against the Atlanta Hawks, Yves Missi emerged as a promising figure for the New Orleans Pelicans. Despite the team’s 124-112 loss, Missi’s performance was a silver lining, showcasing his potential as a future starting center. His impressive stats—23 points on 11 of 14 shooting, 12 rebounds, a steal, and a block—highlighted his capability to be a pivotal player in the Pelicans’ lineup.
Missi’s effectiveness in the pick-and-roll was particularly noteworthy. The Pelicans have long needed a dynamic big man who can excel in this area, and Missi seems to fit the bill. His ability to set screens, roll to the rim, and finish plays adds a new dimension to the team’s offensive strategy. With players like Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, and Trey Murphy on the court, Missi’s presence could significantly enhance the Pelicans’ offensive threats.
The Pelicans’ inability to get to the free-throw line is another area of concern. Ranked among the worst in the league for free throws attempted, the team misses out on easy scoring opportunities. However, Missi’s role in the pick-and-roll could help address this issue, as he draws fouls and gets to the line more frequently than other players.
Transition Defense: A Persistent Challenge
While Missi’s performance was encouraging, the Pelicans’ ongoing struggles with transition defense remain a critical issue. The game against Atlanta underscored this weakness, as the Hawks capitalized on fast-break opportunities, scoring 33 points in transition. This aspect of the game has been a thorn in the Pelicans’ side all season, often turning potential victories into losses.
The team’s transition defense woes are compounded by turnovers, which frequently lead to easy points for opponents. New Orleans ranks poorly in turnover percentage, and these mistakes often result in swift counterattacks that the team struggles to defend. Improving transition defense is essential for the Pelicans to turn their season around and start securing wins.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Pelicans’ strategies and challenges, tune into the Locked On Pelicans podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Pelicans Podcast:
- The impact of turnovers on the Pelicans’ defense
- Strategies to improve transition defense
- The role of offensive rebounding in the Pelicans’ game plan
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) is helped up by center Jay Huff (30) and forward Jaylen Wells (0) during the second quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at FedExForum. | Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
In mid-November, when the Lakers beat the Grizzlies at home in L.A., it was in large part to the efforts of Dalton Knecht. The rookie was upset that a week before that game the Grizzlies very tidily (to the tune of 131-114) put the Lakers away in Memphis, but more specifically, that Ja Morant challenged LeBron James. Knecht told ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin that Morant said “he was pretty much the new king around here when Bron’s still in the league.”
This is about the Grizzlies, it is, but Knecht’s umbrage was directed at the crucial element that’s powered Memphis for so long, and what’s put them back on top after last year’s wash of a season: outsized confidence.
It’s been called disrespect, showboating, ego, but whatever the Grizzlies are being called is less important than the baseline quality of confidence the labels all spring from and the team embodies. I’ve also found these other monikers telling— like a league temperature check — depending on who is levelling them and as a result of what. In Knecht’s case, he felt it disrespectful that Morant would make such a claim but Morant’s been saying it for seasons now. What started as general agitation and prowess for his own team seasons ago, a means to get an underdog Grizzlies team fired up, worked. It also turned into something greater: Morant hasn’t replaced James yet but the weight of expectation is there, so is the pathway. The side-effect, this time, was giving a rookie like Knecht his “Welcome to the NBA” moment.
The Grizzlies are sitting third in a densely competitive Western Conference, ranked fifth overall in offence and fourth in defence, and they’ve secured these spots despite largely being without Morant, their diamond-in-the-rough of Desmond Bane, and big man Zach Edey. Jaren Jackson Jr. sits comfortably on over a dozen league leaderboards, including points per 36 minutes, field goals per 100 possessions, block percentage and defensive win shares. Scottie Pippen Jr. Is an assist machine with the kind of court vision that usually takes seasons to sharpen; Jay Huff can sharp-shoot the three and the next possession take the ball up for a reverse dunk right in front of LeBron James.
And there’s no slouch in them. All down the roster, despite the injury gaps, Memphis counts seven players who average at least and typically more than 10 points a game. Of those seven, all split their minutes, with Jackson Jr. averaging the most at 29:20 a game. The result is an early depth that not many other teams can rival...
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
Recap The Pelicans’ losing streak extended to nine games after falling to the Hawks. The team struggled to keep pace with Atlanta’s dynamic offense. (NOLA)
Opponent The New Orleans Pelicans extended their losing streak to eight games after a defeat by the New York Knicks. The team faces mounting pressure to turn things around. (NOLA)
Preview Breaking down the NBA Cup: Here’s a primer for the final night of group-stage games. (The Athletic)
Dec 2, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (5) dribbles against the Atlanta Hawks in the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis/Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Injury Updates and Player Returns
As we navigate the NBA season, keeping an eye on player injuries and returns is crucial for fantasy basketball success. Jeremy Sochan is potentially making a comeback, and I recommend adding him in all league formats. Mark Williams is another player to watch, as he’s been upgraded to questionable. While his return isn’t guaranteed, it’s worth considering adding him to your roster. Meanwhile, Draymond Green is listed as questionable, but Steve Kerr has expressed doubts about his availability. This opens up opportunities for Jonathan Kuminga, Kevon Looney, and Trace Jackson-Davis to step up in his absence.
Waiver Wire Trends
The waiver wire is buzzing with activity, and it’s essential to stay ahead of the curve. Vasa Micic is the most added player, filling in for the injured LaMelo Ball and Tre Mann. While this isn’t a long-term solution, Micic is a solid pickup until one of them returns. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is another player to consider, especially with the Magic’s favourable schedule. He’s a great streaming option, but don’t expect consistent season-long value. Marcus Smart is also gaining traction, and his recent performances make him a worthy addition.
On the flip side, Isaiah Stewart, Moussa Diabate, and Naji Marshall are among the most dropped players. Stewart’s value is inconsistent, making him an easy drop. Diabate’s minutes are dwindling, and Marshall’s role is uncertain. Scotty Pippen Jr. and Ty Jerome have also seen significant drops, with Jerome’s value plummeting due to Caris LeVert’s return.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Pelicans podcasts.
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