Crazy Details Revealed About Pelicans Predictions...

Crazy details revealed on how the local media feels about the Pelicans' upcoming season. It seems like everybody is split right down the middle on how the Pelicans are going to perform this season with a new head coach, with some of the same players, but also a deeper roster. Well, I'm going to give you my prediction and my three reasons on why I think my prediction is going to work out inside this edition of Pelicans Digest. What's good with it, my people? It's Mel. So there's my feedback once again inside Pelicans Digest. Thank you so much for tapping in with us on this Monday. We are just hours away now from the return of Pelicans basketball inside the Smoothie King Center. I'm going to be in the building, super excited about it for another season of Pelicans basketball. And depending on how you feel about it, you're either feeling kind of good about it, you're feeling encouraged. I want to know how you feel about it. Do you feel encouraged or do you feel like, oh man, it's about to be another bad season? Let me know your thoughts at the end of this episode. But today, I'm going to give you my prediction on the season, what I think their record is going to be, and also my reasons why. And I'll also share with you what some of the local media had to say about the Pelicans in their upcoming season, all right? But first, this video and this episode is brought to you by Kalshi. Well, right now, Kalshi has some very interesting contracts on deck. But you got to remember that on Kalshi, you're trading directly against other users, not the house like traditional sportsbooks. You're buying yes or no contracts on the outcome of events across sports, politics, or even the weather. For example, Kalshi users are holding the Pelicans to just 30-plus wins this season, which is actually up compared to during the offseason. A $25 trade can make you about $44 if you had the Pelicans winning 40 or more games. That $25 could turn into over $110. So if you are interested in trying out Kalshi, use the link in the description in the pinned comments. Use the code DIGESTNBA and you'll get $55 added to your account instantly when you trade your first $25. Once again, use the link in the description in the pinned comments and code DIGESTNBA to get $55 added to your account instantly when you trade your first $25. And we got to thank Kalshi once again for sponsoring today's video. Let's get into the news today here on Pelican's Digest as we get it cracking with the local media. They have predicted the Pelicans' regular season record, and listen, it's split down the middle. NOLA.com, Rod Walker did an article where he's basically asking credentialed members of the media, surveyed 18 credentialed media members, as a matter of fact, on their prediction. Their average was 35.7 wins. That was their average, was 35.7 wins. And we're going to get into some of their comments here inside this episode. It starts with Madeline Adams, who works with WVUE and co-hosts the Pelicans with them. She says that this team can surprise a lot of people. And she has the Pelicans predicted to go 40 and 42, according to her. All right. She's working again. This is Madeline Adams with WVUE, a credentialed media member for the Pelicans. Also, Shamit Dua, who I rely on a lot. He does a lot of database information, a lot of analytics, big analytics guy. He's not a big believer. He says there's still a lack of shooting, center depth and guard play. And he's predicting the Pelicans to win just twenty nine games, going twenty nine and fifty three overall. Rod Walker for NOLA.com who originally asked this question and started this survey says that it's going to take the Pelicans winning close games. And this is why he believes that the Pelicans are going to finish 39-43. 39-43. So as you can see, it's sort of split right down the middle. Everybody's got about the 35-win average. And there's a reason to buy into that. and but i'm and one of the reasons why is because of how they look during the preseason okay now the preseason isn't a fair gauge of how they're going to do but they finished the preseason three and one they finished second in the NBA in steals which shows improved defense they finished seventh in overall in the NBA on offensive rebounding so the rebounding is better which is which is something that we've been trying to get them to fix even though in a couple of games they got beat on rebounding but they finished eighth in rebounds as well but like Shannon says the field goal percentage is still atrocious the three pointers are still atrocious and their assists are still down so you can see where it's still sitting at about 35 and listen and let me say this four preseason games two of them technically you didn't get the best of the best out there talking about the Oklahoma City Thunder game and the Dallas Mavericks games they held out their starters so you couldn't get a good gauge on those games okay or how this team is going to look the best the two best games that you could gauge was the Miami Heat game in the Washington Wizards game because both of those games they had their full starting rotations out there and we went one on one of those games okay when one on one so when i look at it i'm thinking they're going to hover around the 500 mark when based off of that but you know i'll we go get into more of that inside this episode uh but the question is how is this roster going to come together now and that depends on the lineups because we've seen on the final game against Washington Jamal Mosley says that more than likely your starting lineup may look like Jeremiah Fears Herb Jones Trey Murphy Zion Williamson and he missed with the second unit if the being possibly the Jante Murray if he is coming back off an injury he's going to be available going with the ball halls of Poole, Murray, Bay and Makovick now you see I got Queen down there in the third and I'll get to that later on I'll get to that even though more than likely you'll probably see a lineup where Queen is in that second unit and not the third but I'm going to explain to you in a matter of minutes why I I think that's a strong possibility at some point during this season. You could see Derrick Queen messing around with that third unit, especially if Carlos McIntyre continues to play well. And then you see the rest of the two-way guys and Bryce McCallum and everybody else. So with this core, you know, still a lot of questions about it. Still a lot to try to figure out. And I don't think it's going to be so Zion heavy and centric this season. Yeah, they're still going to rely on Zion, But I don't think they're going to rely or going to be looking for Zion to be their leading scorer this year. That responsibility is more than likely going to fall to Trey Murphy. But my reasons, and this is my prediction, I am in the 40 and 42 camp. All right? I already know what some of y'all are going to say, Mel, that's insane. That's a lot of games. But this is what I was saying about them playing and hovering around a 500 mark because their defense has gotten better. Their defense is going to be better this season. I think it's going to take some time at the start of this season for it to be established. But I still think that overall with the steals and everything else we've been seeing, I'm encouraged. Also, a couple of contract stakes can sharpen the guard play. And I'll get into that in a minute. And also, better closing possession swings type games. I've talked about this ad nauseum that if Jamal Mosley can fix the clutch minutes problem, the Pelicans can get at least into the playoffs or in the play-in. I say the playoffs, and I'll get into that as well inside this episode. First off, Jamal Mosley can improve the Pelicans' defense. It's already showing that these guys have bought in for the most part on defense, especially Jordan Poole. We have been shocked. I have been seeing on social media rants and raves all across the board about Jordan Poole and his defense in this preseason. And, of course, the source of all that defensive play is going to come from Herb Jones, who hopefully can shoot better this season, But as you see here, when Herb Jones is on the floor, the Pelicans' defense has a better net rating, better offensive rating as well. So Herb Jones is going to be the starting key to this, which is why I got Herb Jones in the starting lineup, so he can help establish that tone, despite the fact that he gets, these referees call a ton of fouls on Herb Jones. So I'm buying into that. And the Pelicans have done a better job as far as containing the first drive, They've done better with communicating switches and help. They've been finishing stops with rebounds in certain cases. They got beat on some offensive rebounds in a couple of games, but they have done better rebounding. And as long as their effort remains consistent across all the rotations, I think they're going to be just fine. So the other part, of course, is rim protection. Can we stop guys from getting in the paint? Over these four preseason games, we've seen them be effective in stopping guys from getting in the paint, Especially if they keep E. Missy hovering around the paint Hopefully that is something they continue to do all season long Is keeping them hovering in that paint area But like M. Simmons left this comment on the video a couple of days ago He'd like to see Poole improve on his steals and his assists But I'm glad to see him improve on his work last year But I haven't seen a big team difference in the defense from last year They've got to feel and apply the coaching lessons being provided by Mosley and staff. And I agree with that, but I think I have seen that. I have seen them apply a lot of what Jamal Mosley has got them to buy in on. So number one, I think, is defense. Their defense has improved massively since last season. I think that continues in this season. I think it's going to take at least the first 10 to 20 games for it to really show itself and for it to really stick. But after that, if they can get that established and get it rolling, i think that's going to lead to more wins in more the dog days part of the season especially around december and january so that's the first reason why i think the pelicans are going 40 and 42 all right next reason jordan pool benedict mathurin they got money on the line and we being honest here these two got money on the line and that and this is what i said in all season when you picked them up these two have a reason they have every reason in the world millions of dollars and reasons in the world to uh to play well especially jordan poole jordan poole has his 34 million dollar contract is coming up at the end of the season he's gonna if he's looking for another team to sign him he's got to perform efficiently this season and he's done this before in washington that's how he ended up over here with us because we bought into him having a great season and doing and well because he was shooting for his next destination which happened to be new orleans so with him having a contract contract on the line yeah his expiring contract i think it's gonna lead to him playing much more better basketball and we've seen it already much more efficient shooting not too many yolo threes that contract if he wants another one he knows he's got to play well this season to be efficient and smart the other person has been Mathurin as well then Mathurin has despite having a two-year deal worth about seven to eight million dollars this season and next season there's an option on that and if he picks up that option that means things did not go well if he did if he declines that option then we talking then we might be in business so those two have all the reason that's why i kept saying you need to put them two on the line together and sometimes somewhere in the second unit those two need to be together so they can play off each other and work with each other and help each other out to get that next man to the next deal wherever that may be because at the end of the day if Mathurin plays well he could get Jordan Poole's money it's just that simple he can get that 30 million dollars that Jordan Poole is getting right now or something close to it should I say I wouldn't give Mathurin 30 million dollars unless he unless he really really goes crazy unless he really goes crazy but we already know the scouting report on these two uh with pool and his play style but we've seen his defense go up in his usage rate and his assist rate so we've seen that with with him and his pool and his play style same with Mathurin Mathurin does well in a pick and roll which is which is something the pelicans like to work with and also his defense has shown improvement as well as just in these four preseason games he looks to be a better defender than we all anticipated so it's going to take it's going to take these guys scoring within the offense whatever the offense calls for they got to move the ball before the defense resets and compete for minutes on both ends and we got to judge their efficiency alongside the production those are just a couple of things and a couple of ways that these two Poole and Mathurin can turn opportunities into wins so that's my second reason first defensive improvement second Poole and Mathurin they got money to play for they're gonna play better because they won't make that money and the final reason of course is because the Pelicans must fix their clutch minutes this is something i've been talking about all all season long you had 42 games last season half of your games last season came down to the final five minutes and the final five points this you can't you really couldn't get a gauge on that this in the preseason right now because they went with the third unit a lot of the times you do have some clutch guys like Jordan Poole on this team, like Dejounte Murray, like Sadeq Bay so if they can fix these things, and Jamal Mosley has proven in his time in Orlando that clutch minutes can be something that they can fix, it's going to come down to the final possessions and how to fix those. you got to find who's going to be the primary initiator. who's going to be the man when it calls on the clutch minutes time? is it going to be Murray? is it going to be Fear? is it going to be Zion? Who's it going to be? Is it going to be Trey Murphy? Smart actions before the clock traps you, which means they can't be relying on waiting on the shot clock to bleed down. They have got to get in there and make a decision immediately. Keep shooting around the creator. Meaning whoever gets the last shot is going to be the guy that gets the last shot every time. All right? Instead of this, who wants to play the hero? And a lot of times that can be a problem, too, because sometimes Murray wants to play a hero ball. Use defensive substitutions when available. I think Jamal Murray is going to do well with that. Protect the ball and finish at the line. That's the other thing we got to fix is shooting at the free throw line. Got to make these free throw shots. But I truly believe that if they fix this clutch minutes problem, they went 12-30 last year in the clutch minutes game. 12-30. If you can fix that and pick up 10, maybe even half that. Let's say you even go 15-15 in those games. let's say you even go 15 and 15 in those games you add it on with the 26 they had last the 26 wins they had last season you're looking at 30 close to 30 to 40 wins which is why i had the pelicans having a 14 game win improvement over the season because of that that statistic as well so my final call is this the pelicans will finish the season 40 and 42 that's with a more dependable defensive identity productive guards with contract stakes in Poole and maturing and a more disciplined execution late if they can execute those three things we're going 40 and 42 on the season which is good enough to get you in the play-in that gets you at least and uh the the somewhere around between 7 and 10 somewhere between 7 and 10 seed which is good enough to get you in the play-in And, dare I say, they will win a play-in game. Dare I say, they will win their play-in and get into the playoffs, but I think they're going to get dropped in the first round. Depending on who they see, but they will get dropped in the first round. Am I crazy? Am I going crazy? Am I going crazy? Let me know in the comments. Am I insane for taking this? Where do you think the Pelicans will finish? A, below 40 wins. B, 40 and 42. I got it right. or C, above 40 wins. You're feeling super optimistic that they're going to win more than 40 games. Clap back with your thoughts in the comments as we wrap up this episode of Pelicans Digest. Thank you so much for tapping in with us. Be in the Smoothie King Center Wednesday night, but we'll have another episode tomorrow. Kind of keep an eye on some things, but there are some things I want to cover about Zion and Cedric Bailey. But we might talk about that tomorrow. But let me know your thoughts, once again, on the final question that I had on there. Where do you think the Pelicans are going to finish? Below 40 wins? Right at the 500 mark with 40 and 42? Or above 40 wins? Love to know your thoughts, man. Clap back with them in the comments, and thank you so much for tapping in with us. Hit that subscribe button if you haven't done it yet. This is where you get the best analysis, opinions, and more about the New Orleans Pelicans right here on Pelicans Digest. You can also follow us on X as well at Pelicans Digest. This is Mel talking about those Pels. I'll holla at you.