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’ Alarming Loss to Rockets Raises Serious Concerns
Photo by Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
The New Orleans Pelicans suffered a devastating 128-111 loss to the Houston Rockets, potentially hitting rock bottom for the season. This defeat goes beyond just tanking for a high draft pick – it exposes deeper issues within the organization.
As a Pelicans insider, I’ve watched this team struggle all season, but this loss was particularly concerning. The team looked directionless, lacking effort, and completely lost on both ends of the court. What’s most alarming is that 30 games into the season, we’re seeing no growth or improvement.
The Competent Starting Lineup Conundrum
Even with a competent starting lineup of Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, C.J. McCollum, Dejounte Murray, and Yves Missi, the Pelicans were blown out by 30 points at home. This raises serious questions about the team’s direction and the effectiveness of the current roster construction.
Looking Ahead: Zion’s Return and Shooting Woes
The upcoming return of Zion Williamson in about two weeks presents an opportunity to evaluate a potential future starting lineup. However, this game highlighted concerns about shooting, particularly with a lineup featuring Williamson, Jones, and Missi– three non-shooters.
The Pelicans’ inability to space the floor effectively could severely limit Williamson’s impact and the team’s overall offensive potential. This game served as a stark reminder of the front office’s failure to surround Williamson with adequate shooting throughout his tenure.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Pelicans’ struggles and potential solutions, tune into the Locked On Pelicans podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Pelicans Podcast:
• Brandon Ingram’s trade value implications
• Evaluating Willie Green’s future as head coach
• Potential roster changes and rebuilding strategies
Dec 25, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (left) and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (right) talk before the game at Chase Center. | Darren Yamashita/Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
The ‘Things NBA fans get themselves worked up about’ category got a new entry this month, and it reached a fever pitch over the Christmas Day slate of games —ratings. Specifically, broadcast ratings.
It’s a subject Commissioner Adam Silver is often asked about in his pressers, especially those that precede the NBA’s tent-pole events like the In-Season Tournament, All-Star Weekend, the Finals, and Summer League. It also comes up around the annual Board of Governors meeting in early September. It makes sense for Silver to talk about it, given that he’s the league Commissioner, and because he’s been at the helm for broadcast contract negotiations and renegotiations. If this is all making your eyes cross, good, that helps to prove my point.
Silver, team owners, and broadcast executives are the only people who should care about the NBA’s broadcast ratings. It’s their job. Whether numbers are up or down should be of no concern to fans, casual or die-hard, because they ultimately have no bearing on the viewing experience, nor is it up to fans to “fix” anything.
Traditionally, this would’ve been self-evident, but in the contemporary era of fandom — especially NBA fandom — there’s a desire to critique and cosplay as team or league executives. Everything from down to the decimal point salary analysis in trade machinations, on-court performance and ways to improve athlete “production”, concerns for whether front offices are over-spending (they’re billionaires, they can afford it), and now, worries over marketing of the league.
Broadcast ratings are just one metric. The decline in “traditional” television ratings has more to do with how younger fans find and interact with basketball than with some phantom threat of malaise or disinterest. Cable is expensive, and younger audiences almost exclusively stream their sports. Case in point ESPN’s announcement on Christmas Day of an 84% spike in viewership, a day when many, many people head to their family home and have cable television to watch and plenty of free time on their hands.
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.
Injury The New Orleans Pelicans are facing a tough stretch as they are now on an eight-game losing streak after being throttled by the Rockets. The team is struggling with injuries impacting their performance. (NOLA.com)
Analysis Pelicans rookie Yves Missi is making waves, leaping to the head of the NBA’s rookie class with impressive performances. This analysis dives into his early success and potential future impact. (NOLA.com)
Rumor There is speculation around whether the Pelicans should consider shopping Dejounte Murray ahead of the trade deadline. This rumor explores the strategic implications of such a move. (Pelican Debrief)
Preview The Grizzlies will face off against the Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center at 8:00 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
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Grizzlies @ Pelicans
Friday, Dec. 27 | 7:00PM | Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA | Get Tickets
Clippers @ Pelicans
Monday, Dec. 30 | 7:00PM | Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA | Get Tickets
Pelicans @ Heat
Wednesday, Jan. 1 | 7:30PM | Kaseya Center, Miami, FL | Get Tickets
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Christmas Day Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Spectacular: Must-Adds and Droppable Players
Dec 25, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (32) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (right) during the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita/Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
As we celebrate Christmas Day, it’s time for a fantasy basketball waiver wire spectacular. Let’s dive into the most added players, must-roster options, and those you can consider dropping.
The most added player over the last 48 hours is Trayce Jackson-Davis. With two solid games in a row and increased minutes, he’s a no-brainer add for now. Keep an eye on his playing time, as anything over 22 minutes makes him worth rostering.
Noah Clowney is another intriguing addition. His shooting has improved from his college days, and he’s getting significant minutes due to injuries. While I’m not sure he’ll provide top-70 value, he’s worth a look in most leagues.
When it comes to must-roster players (under 50% rostered on Yahoo), consider these options:
1. Goga Bitadze: Despite a recent ankle sprain and ejection, his floor has risen significantly.
2. Ben Simmons: Roster him now and worry about potential issues later.
3. Yves Missi: While I’m skeptical about his role when the Pelicans are fully healthy, he should be rostered for now.
4. Bilal Coulibaly: After a cold streak, he’s regained his form and confidence.
5. Ayo Dosunmu: Although I have limited faith in his long-term upside, he’s a must-roster player for the time being.
On the flip side, there are some players you can consider dropping. Remember, “droppable” doesn’t mean you must drop them, but rather that it’s acceptable to do so if needed. These include Gradey Dick, Dennis Schröder, Onyeka Okongwu, Rui Hachimura, Jaden McDaniels, and Jaden Ivey.
Looking at hot players, Larry Nance Jr. has been impressive lately, ranking 40th over the last week. While I don’t expect this to hold long-term, he’s worth rostering for now. Other notable hot players include Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jake LaRavia, and Dean Wade.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Pelicans podcasts.
Zion Williamson being in trade rumors says something BIG about New Orleans Pelicans’ future Are the New Orleans Pelicans ready to shake up their roster? Trade rumors swirl around star players Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum, sparking speculation about the team’s future in the NBA.
Why CJ McCollum’s Final Shot Strategy Needs a Rethink The New Orleans Pelicans face challenges in recent games against the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets, raising questions about their late-game decision-making and defensive consistency.
Defensive Meltdown: New Orleans Pelicans Crumble Against Rockets The New Orleans Pelicans face scrutiny after a staggering 133-113 loss to the Houston Rockets, raising questions about their defensive identity and team morale.
