Lesson learned? New Orleans Pelicans have to make adjustments to beat the Los Angeles Lakers

It's a disappointing end to the regular season for Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans as they lose to the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James. Jake Madison looks at how their fall to the 7th seed and the NBA's Play-In Tournament is emblematic of their season as a whole. Plus, what are the biggest adjustments the Pels need to make to win and make it to the NBA Playoffs?
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[@Alexnewwin88]

All year you play JV and I see him with 2 minutes logged and Zeller checks in during the third quarter… I lost my shit

[@lavatrathomas3472]

Sorry...Zion shrinks when he faces Lebron! He has to force the issue...out physical him. And sadly our team proves me right time after time. We lack in the area of basketball IQ. Trey still tripping over himself trying to penetrate. CJ dribbled the air out of the ball into clogged lanes and turns it over. Also blame lies at the feet of the coaches! You have to coach these guys up to avoid this.

[@tomascruz2210]

💯%

[@Crysco.mp3]

Zion gotta get over being starstruck of Lebron.

[@MuV_Music]

Simple

[@jessesmith2428]

Exactly! You can tell he’s playing his idol he turns to mush

[@markwoods212]

I agree 100%

[@terrymccain2039]

I totally agree

[@reniedowell9992]

You are 💯 % correct

[@johndaniel4891]

Guy is a master of talking for 30 minutes without ever pinpointing what the solution is.

[@larizzlemusic6054]

😂

[@7thWard_Sempre]

🤣🤣

[@papsvanbagsyo]

Yeah this guy has no clue what he's talking about LOL

[@-hs1fz]

He has a media credential to cover games for the team. He's worried that if he critizices the team they will take the credential away.

[@Officialhommie]

Damn I thought I was trippin 😂

[@rickypronia2494]

The Pelicans are a one point favorite against the Lakers for Tuesday night. A head scratcher for sure.

[@1of1fr]

Don’t wait ur time. Lakers are gonna win

[@HectorLopez-kc2sp]

No answers for LBJ or AD

[@TheHubeef]

Willie Green," Just let Lebron dribble up court w no pressure nd leave AD alone for every rebound

[@christopherlammons8448]

AD setting illegal picks and over until the game was out of reach...

[@TheHubeef]

@@christopherlammons8448 THey were letting AD BEAT UP whoever was near him in a screen. I SAW THAT TOO!

[@TheHubeef]

@@christopherlammons8448 how about the offensive rebound foul call and the the late foul shots after 1st period. BY RULE, those shots should not hva ebeen shot. In basketball, by rule, if the ball goes back in play and then once the next whistle comes in, it is too late to adjust anything. WYF

[@Jerry-rg8mx]

Expect better competitive but anothet loss.

[@smh8824]

Griff need a reality check for jeopardizing the chance to make a decent rebuilt. Assets from AD, Jrue Holiday for basically Bledsoe and useless picks, a first pick, top 10 picks, trading Hart and Ball to get McBallhog, satoranski, temple. Trading for Val when we needed a rim protaction. Not trading for a rim runner when was clear already vs the suns in playoff, never sign a true pg, throwing 100mln for McCollum… Extend griff contract looks like the perfect recipe to make this franchise relocate, another time. Nola deserve better than this circus franchise.

[@flightmizzarc]

Griffin got more wrong than right u forgot graham traded first to get him the 4 2nds to get rid of him only for him to cook us lol

[@aydenparis9466]

Zion scared 😪

[@victorious5048]

2 days ago Memphis g league took the lakers to the wire, just sayin team a reflection of coach,toooo mild mannered and soft

[@EJOBizZNesSGame]

You can smash the Kings but not beat the Lakers smh

[@kassburr5581]

Your big 3. Zion, CJ, Ingram. Our big 3. Dlo, Lebron, AD. We are no the same.

[@KevD720]

@@kassburr5581my brother in Christ the lakers are the 8 seed

[@qj6982]

@@kassburr5581 yeah sounds good. Don’t complain when DLo and reaves get cooked by Murray next week

[@jayjames4629]

my brother in christ the Lakers have been unhealthy all season,and a stretch in December when 8 players were available is what caused this..

[@IM-st2yo]

@@kassburr5581BI and Ingram the same guy lol

[@og-up4rt]

I feel for all the fans that were there and paid their hard earned money to support them!

[@cnm8152]

Ppl be hating on jonas, always saying his defense is bad... but yall forget.. larry also has bad defense! So at that point might as well just play jonas full minutes!

[@patricklewis2199]

If you feed him the ball in the paint he will take a good shot he is literally a bail out in half court situations or late shot clock. Hes not the quickest of movers but he is definitely mobile and if they funnel people to him like they were when we were top 10 in defense before BI went down he showed he can be an effective rim protector.

[@popunkid]

What they need to do is stop making excuses. What they need to do is hire a coach that can scheme. What they need to do is get a GM that doesn't blow an entire treasure trove of picks. What they need to do is stop settling for "exciting young team that, ultimately, isn't a contender". I DGAF who it is: We should not be getting embarrassed this way, with this talent, by a 40 year old man. 10K subs...18 likes for the video. That's an issue. That's a problem.

[@MikeSlimm504]

💯

[@44thelegendary]

Period!!

[@faustogonzalez8397]

yep Zion plays scared against Lebron, as does the rest of the Team and coach, Period

[@lawrencerussell630]

Z looked like he wasn't ready for the moment in this one

[@lacaiopaez4810]

The only reason stuff worked the last week larry wasnt there aint nobway in hell larry should be playing 31 minutes what has he done to deserve that

[@TheHubeef]

WIllie Green is a disgrace. 0-22 in 4th quarter comebacks. Worst adjustment coach ever. Last night, Zion would get the ball and the other Pelicans were all looking for a 3 point shot leaving ZION alone to create all his own shots w a mob waiting for him and no rebounding in position. I suggest putting 2 Pelicans on the blocks of the key, that way, ZION can pass r miss a shot that actually gets rebounded. I NVER SAW A WORSE EXAMPLE A COACH THEN LAST NIGHT! I mean WTF. ley Lebron do wahtever he wants with 15 dribbles, let AD just have every rebound. WTF was WILLIE DOING. The numbers do not lie about how bad WIllie Green is was on DISPLAY last night!

[@kevinjohnson6262]

Pelicans are SOFT !!! The entire NBA say's that about the Pels in postgame comments ! Also they say their willing to live with Larry and Dyson shooting.

[@9thwardslim2105]

The Pels looked like a clueless basketball team which I will attribute to coaching. Larry Nance cold have plates for the Lakers today. Only he was in a Pels uniform.

[@amnesh]

He trash and been trash. Just getting a check. No defensive skills whatsoever. Traded.

[@TheHubeef]

The refs call evry aggressive move ZION makes and lets Lebron and AD maul The Pelicans

[@Halfricanmj24]

@@TheHubeefrefs had nothing to to do with yesterday’s game bud

[@TheHubeef]

@@Halfricanmj24 we can be scared about WILLIE GREENS terrible coaching stats. 0-22 in 4th quarter comebacks. I'm sure he leads in lost leads too. WHAT A SHITTY COACH

[@daddyappletv1967]

Pelicans has a seven footer in Cody zeller why insist on Nance against the Lakers

[@amnesh]

Nance is trash, been garbage all season. Trade him and Valen. Both don’t have what is needed to stop anyone.

[@jonaskristutis7403]

No center will be good enough for Pels.. we have a 7 foot named Cody😂😂😂😂 JV is better than Nance and Cody combined… Cody is terrible Nance is a offensive liability. JVs defense is better than Larrys offence. But Jv is scape goat even when he dont play😂😂

[@girodcoats5140]

Dude they feast on JV in the pick and roll

[@reniedowell9992]

I agree

[@jonaskristutis7403]

@@girodcoats5140 The same thing is happening on Larrys pick and rolls did you see last game vs lakers they use and abuse.. thing is that when they pick and roll JV stutters back and is stuck in the middle as he ends up defending both and then he's called a bad defender because he's trying to pick up the slack of other people. Larry steps up but then better offensive players just pass the ball to his man (eg AD) and get free dunk. My point is that JV is not a terrible defender but by no means good.. but his offense makes up for it but WG just subs him out after 3 mistakes ... and Larry is in my opinion much more of a liability. But in any case which ever way you look at it - WG has to start playing around JV better .. same issue was with Jaxson Hays they used him as a wing 3 point shooter thats just bad and then people trash talk saying they are liabilities they wont be if coach will play them right. Im surprised how JV hasnt stood up and walked out its such disrespect. Same thing last year Willy Hernangomez - MVP of World cup sits on the bench.... just looks like WG does not understand centers and that they are useful.. you cant try and repeat GSW small ball it dont work for everyone or only 3 point shooting - Lakers who beat Pels just proved it they dont shoot a lot of 3 its mainly inside drives and lobs they destroyed Pels - I want either JV to move on in summer time sign with someone that appreciates him or WG to go..

[@charliewartelle6720]

Devastating loss. The rest of the West showed up for the home stretch, first Pels didn’t, then they did, then they didn’t in the biggest game of all. I don’t think this team has a single win this season when they are behind at the end of the third quarter. They’ve had some wins against good teams, but if they don’t start a game strong they re in big trouble, and they’ve blown some big leads in situations that are just inexcusable, like the two losses to the pitiful Grizzlies in December where the blew 24 and 15 point leads in the third and fourth quarters. Maybe they’ll come out strong against the Lakers at home on Tuesday , but I have my doubts that they’ll even be competitive. The Lakers seem to have their number, and Lebron James appears to be on a mission .

[@calvinwashington492]

New coach

[@charliewartelle6720]

@@calvinwashington492 That's the easy answer. While it's not a coaches league, the NBA is full of journeyman coaches who keep getting jobs but never won anything anywhere, hard nosed coaches who can alienate young millionaires leading to a blowup, and coaching gurus who can live off their past success but usually stay with one team. We need give Willie Green at least another year.

[@christopherlammons8448]

@@charliewartelle6720 He will be good eventually after he waists what should be a 4 or 5 year championship window.

[@AJ-pc5ln]

Willie Green is not a good coach. I've seen enough of him on this team, and this is the conclusion that I've come to. The Pels are going to have to get a new coach if they want to be a championship contender because Willie Green ain't it.

[@ksquareshow4480]

Willie’s got an unhealthy fetish for small ball

[@user-jc2xy1xh5c]

Hey, Jake, we shot more threes. How did that work out? Meanwhile the Lakers lived in the paint. How did we lose?

[@amnesh]

Having No center helps with that.

[@McEvanderFrago-demigod]

Still growing pains. Lessons should be learned and make improvements.

[@pelicanosbrasil]

Willie Green didn't improve, he just got more wins, but thake a deeper look on the roster: Season 1 - Satoransky, Temple, NAW, Gary Clark, Devonte.... No Zion at all, 55 games of BI, CJ just after ASB and even with all this, 36 wins, play-in, and 2 wins on playoffs Season 2 - 29 games of Zion, 45 games of BI, CJ playing injured, 42 wins, but disappointing performance in last games against Minnesota and OKC, and no playoffs at all. Season 3 - Everybody health all long the year, Ingram 64 games, most since rookie season, Zion 70 games, career high, CJ 66 games with no injury reported... with all this, just 7 more wins is not improvement from head coach, just look at Wolves, OKC and Mavs, that achieved almost the same of us in last season, made no huge changes and performed way better this year... So I can't buy Willie improvement, when you have a way better roster, healthy players and just win 6/7 more games

[@MrSimba27]

"ITS A WRAP, THE LEGEND OF PLAY-IN WILLIE LIVES ON"...Once again, the Pelicans failed to accomplish their 1st five-game winning streak of the season. Currently, "The Birds" are rolling with a five-game home losing streak and have blown away an opportunity for a 50-win season. Now, all they have to do is win one home game, and they're in the postseason? Brauh...that ain't happening!!! Whenever the lights get bright, the Pels always pull out the ole "scared turtle" routine...

[@STUDENTOFSCRIPTUREMANOFGOD]

The problem is Willie Green keeps panicking and going small ball. Small ball against AD and the Lakers size ?? JONAS needs more playing time. He causes match-up problems 🤷

[@derpjones3736]

Could green be replaced this summer?

[@raymondsmith8027]

If they miss playoffs for the second year in a row, I think it's inevitable

[@willscottmurray4883]

Who would we rather see 1st round? I think we have more of a chance against OKC than Denver. Let Fakers get the 7 seed and swept again by Jokic.

[@wavydavon770]

I don’t think we slow at making adjustments, bi came back wasn’t his normal self and messed up the momentum we had, but we always bounce back, start trey next to Zion, bring bi off the bench

[@deonsmith37]

BI should have never started

[@Spl4shy89]

BI should not have started and jv should not have gotten 3 minutes while Larry got 30.

[@patricklewis2199]

Bruh Zion had had the ball in his hands to start the game and was putting up bad shots and turnovers. How is that BI starting fault? Cj still had 25,4, 7 on just 47% (9-19), Herb went 6-13 46% and 57% on 3s, Trey 32 mins (starter minutes) only shot 8 times but 3/ 6 from three how is it BI fault nance shot as many shots as TM3 ? By the way BI scored 9 straight points to end the first 4/4 shooting to keep us in the game shot 5 shots 1stQ and only shot 4 more shots and hit two of em and sat down.

[@rome8180]

The season is over. There's no lesson to learn. You really think they're beating the Lakers or Warriors in a single-elimination scenario?

[@johnpark7873]

Despicable defeatist attitude...

[@garrettanthony6008]

@@johnpark7873 hes right tho

[@VinceDemp]

@@johnpark7873I would feel better if the games weren’t at home since this team is world beaters on the road. 😅

[@christopherlammons8448]

Quit posting Willie

[@patricklewis2199]

Warriors not bearing the kings.

[@Spl4shy89]

You had three wins with lineups that were working then you went away from that for a must win game. Again Willie green should be fired

[@patricklewis2199]

4 but against other play in bound or worse teams. Phx was 7 seed, portland might get the #1 pick😂, kings who we own and is the 9th seed, golden state who we beat all season and is the 10 seed.

[@patricklewis2199]

When we played competition without BI we lost except against Milwaukee. But okc, orlando, boston, phoenix the game before we won when book had 50 again, and the spurs loss which is why we are in the 7th seed.

[@user-jc2xy1xh5c]

POINT GUARD!!! POINT GUARD!!! POINT GUARD!!!

[@andpkwy]

I don't get it. We play like we scared of Lakers...and Teams like Jazz..i see Lakers beating us again and Warriors wave us goodbye....That lost to the Spurs came in to play Also.... At the end of the day I hope I'm wrong

[@azraelbellard6846]

How they can't beat the Lakers. Pissed off 😠

[@kassburr5581]

Yall have a losing record against us since the AD trade.

[@rollspikegaming7459]

@@kassburr5581 wrong, there was a season when the Pels are 3-0 againts the lakers that's when they still have westbrook I think

[@kassburr5581]

@@rollspikegaming7459 Yall are 6-18 since the AD trade. Like I said. Losing record.

[@user-jz4wy5ph5o]

If lakeks win they meet denver😂 as a pelicans fan i just wanna meet okc in first round

[@victorvic4659]

Tanking 1st game to avoid Denver? Yes, dangerous game but if gou draw Denver,its over in 5 at best. What you prefer:just to make 1st round or all-in,make as far as possible?

[@tomascruz2210]

You have to put a lot of this on WG because he knows what the Lakers are doing so your game plan was horrible. You didn't learn from the in game tournament. Players are to blame as well for getting punked but WG job to motivate and move the pieces. Straight flat.

[@smh8824]

It’s totally ok if we don’t go to the playoff if in exchange we don’t have griff next season

[@amnesh]

Or Green.

[@smh8824]

@amnesh yea definitely, green too. But we both know what gonna happen. Griff will stay here many more years, Green a bit less...griff will keep not taking actions or when has to take one then ways prioritizing in trade for (as he often says in press conferences) "amazing human beings" rather than good fit for this roster ...and after 10 years we gonna be remember when we almost pass the first PO round. Awesome. Great job!

[@hammeraffe]

@@smh8824 why benson dont want fire griffin... i dont understand this 4 years playin team..

[@smh8824]

@@hammeraffe I somehow prefer we get eliminated in the playin ...griff don't deserve any hint of excuses to claim we had a good season. Just face the failure and restart from zero.

[@calvinwashington492]

WILLIE GREEN NOT A GOOD COACH.

[@Darkhawk9587]

This team needs a reboot, be it with the Front Office, coaching, and/or players.

[@TheJuice-to3td]

You’ve seen Willie Green’s ceiling as a coach…play-in or no playoffs at all…last game of the season and there are still issues with Willie’s rotations, can’t make adjustments, can’t keep the team focused on the task, etc. Willie may be a good individual but he’s a horrible coach (that includes the entire staff). Pels offensive scheme is trash. Every important game, Pels come out flat…Willie Green is the Dennis Allen of the NBA.

[@shouldaboughtahonda1442]

I know it sounds crazy, but this could low-key be a blessing in disguise. If we win the second match of the play in, we avoid every team that has our number and probably make it to conference finals. We would be on the opposite side of the bracket from the Lakers, Suns, and defending champ nuggets.

[@d-nicetuhmeetchu850]

Hey jake it’s safe to talk about the center position but what about the elephant in the room which is the small forward position smart guy 🤔

[@lucky8367]

Very disappointing season

[@HouseNote8489]

Don't overlook that Memphis snatched Trey Jemison off of our G-League team.

[@7thWard_Sempre]

Jake, We do not match up well versus the Lakers, Warriors, Celtics, or Bucs. We can beat them sometimes, but I’ll take my chances versus every other team in the NBA.

[@StarMakingPlays]

Defensively u need to start Z on Bron and Herb on Ad. Z needs to get down hill early and often. Bi needs to help keep the offense a float.

[@christopherlammons8448]

Herb on AD.... smh... BI comming of injury keeping O a float...smh

[@smh8824]

Pathetic 4 season : 1 playoff appearance (thanks the fact PG couldn’t play in the tournament) Season 5 let’s see. Worst scenario we get out at the first round. Best scenario we don’t get into the post season and maybe they finally understand management has to go.

[@jbraud3327]

I have wondered about Hawkins and his relationship with Green. Is is obvious how bullish Coach is on Jose, but Coach even kept Jose in and Hawkins out in thrash minutes at the end of the lakers. What is that all about?

[@DHW448]

We don't play well against physical teams. Starting BI was a mistake. Some of the rotations are still puzzling. We still can't find our way in the 4th quarter. There is a lot of stuff that we need to improve on by Tuesday if we want to win.

[@IM-st2yo]

I thought bring BI off the bench would’ve been the move but considering it was a 4 point game going into the 2 qtr that wasn’t what decided the game

[@williamboatner7689]

Fools gold, the Pelicans are just not what we thought they were

[@wavydavon770]

Zion have to attack like bron was, put pressure on the rim, get AD in foul trouble, Cj and trey shoot 10 3 Threes a piece

[@VinceDemp]

LeBron is 6’8-6’9. Zion is a short 6’6. This is something else that people need to understand too. Zion is a short PF. Athletic length will be a problem for him if all he has in his bag is bulling his way to left side of the rim.

[@ndashenyendwa2961]

Something is just not right with Willie Green. You don't change a winning team.

[@reacophillips2078]

Zion playing like he is scared of Labron! Somebody needs to tell him!

[@reniedowell9992]

I wouldn't say scared.I would say he star struck

[@TheHubeef]

Now we have to HOPE. ANd bringing back INGRAM and benching Big V was absolutely DUMB. Let BI come back in a series, not the most important game of the year. YOU DONT MAKE CHANGES LIKE THAT at the end of seasons. Players need to adjust, and there was NO TIME For adjustments.

[@MrHennessyROB]

Jake has known about Willie’s secret extension all season I bet. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Officialhommie]

Z played passive AD scoring / rebounding can’t be stopped & bron just looked like magic johnson out there tn

[@nuafrica2929]

How about playing defense and rebounding..... That takes effort and desire which is foreign to most of today's players....

[@lll99981]

Offense needs to be more motion than isolation. Make LeBron, Reeves and DLo chase around screens, exploit their mistakes. Or Jonas or BI against mismatches in the post. D has to be about limiting points in the paint, just live with 3 from LeBron, AD or Hachimura. Zone could help, contain LeBron but swarm everyone else when they have the ball.

[@patricklewis2199]

Yal realize that we were a top 4 seed with BI and dropped to a play-in team With Zion in full control? Where all those people who said BI doesnt play winning basketball and cant lead a team anywhere but the play in? Guess the same goes for Zion too huh?

[@willscottmurray4883]

Jake- JV got cooked every second he guarded AD. I understand the desperation of using Zeller as he actually has more speed than JV and almost enough strength to at least make it a little difficult for AD to score 30. Nance also has no chance against him. JV was and is worst case option against AD.

[@HouseNote8489]

Jonas is a hard cover for AD as well

[@nozini]

WG has no idea wtf he is doing. it matters who is on the floor, he still hasn't figured this out and puts his players in impossible positions to win at times. yes it is also on the players BUT it's a top down situation

[@qj6982]

Keep Zion away from lebron. He so scared of him it’s crazy man. If you scared don’t show up.

[@mont-doggBeats]

Scared to death. But he a superstar..yeah right how tf ingram first game back from injury, BI only plays 20 minutes but he has more points than Zion

[@qj6982]

@@mont-doggBeats zion has too much respect for him that the respect turns to fear. He went at draymond more than lebron and draymond a way better defender

[@mont-doggBeats]

@@diegochavez6203 we know this but let his stans and local media tell it Zion is the better player

[@virginmax]

listen, lebron is one of the greatest players of all time. He's actually top 3 greatest easily. Because of that fact, you need Zion and this team at their best. The team was playing at a high and had chemistry. You don't bring Brandon Ingram back after 12 missed games for a game like this. It's not fair to him, or the team. It completely screwed the offense because everything was thrown off. Trey should have started today. then you can get brandon ready come playoff time. Once brandon was green lit to play i knew they had no shot to win. You gotta be sharp and in rhythm as a TEAM to win a game like this. The Rhythm was with the team that played without Brandon. Doesn't mean you can't work him back in, but not tonight.

[@christopherlammons8448]

Lebron is a civic.. last forever nice car but not a luxry car (top 5) in any unbiased view.

[@virginmax]

@@diegochavez6203 yall get the point that I'm tryna make. The pelicans needed to be on point to beat them lakers.

[@lesterjeanpierre4343]

The Lakers kept running that baseline play over and over the pels coaching staff couldn't come up with a solution maybe they will figure it out for the next game.why was Zeller put on this team and you use a power forward as your backup center don't blame Larry he is doing his best playing out of his position. Should have made that move to get a center at mid season

[@Jerry-rg8mx]

How hard is it to bring ingram off the bench? I guarantee others have done that.

[@rollspikegaming7459]

even of they bring BI off the bench they losing anyways. Zion still afraid of Lebron.

[@retjazz1018]

The Pelicans are soft. On defense you have a seven foot three hundred pound feather in the middle. It seems like every game he gets two or three touch fouls and the team loses a possession or two because of illegal screens and Zion is getting hammered and there are no calls. If you are going to get called for a foul make sure that the opponent feels it. First chance you get knock someone on their butt and accidentally step on them while they’re down. Bring back the no layup rule. Apologies to the center position. He has plenty of company. A lot of players need to borrow some HEART from Herb and Jose.

[@dr.j1draftpick433]

I’m starting to feel like the Pelicans have some type of bad luck playing at home this year!!

[@gregoryguidry4958]

where is Hawkins he`s a 31 point man, and Paul Ryan a 3 point man get rid of green give us Ham, Green needs to go

[@liteymin3815]

From a strategic standpoint, I wouldn't mind so much if the Pelicans lose to the Lakers in the first round of the play-in, just to avoid playing against the 2nd seed Denver Nuggets in the 1st round of the playoffs. I'd rather the Pels play against OKC than Denver.

[@Montas19]

The Pelicans aren't going to win the 2nd play-in game against Warriors. They played the perfect game against them the other night and they barely got the win. They were one Curry missed 3pt shot away from going to OT.

[@frederickhyde9574]

Close to everydayer here. I have watched 90 % of the games this year. Both on TV and in person. This my 1st commitment I've written. Anyway I've been saying this all season. THE PELS ARE SOFT. That's why they struggle with east coast teams. Teams start to beat them up and push them around and they fold. Sorry to say Pels got 2 games left. Disappointing season.

[@kevinjohnson6262]

SOFT SOFT

[@Y.A.504]

Man start JV, and let him post up AD, you have to keep him honest but JV, have to go at him and don't look for calls play through the contact. and they have to pick LeBron, up get up in him blitz them with the pick and roll trap him even AD, make them think and i would go with Cody Zeller, of the bench for my back up center instead of Larry, for this game because he sets some good hard screens and not too mention dude is 7ft .ok plus he try and fight to get over the screens on defense he picked up a foul from holding AD,so he couldn't set a screen i like that because he was a lil physical.and i would let Larry, or Robertson Earl, play PF of the bench to put some size on LeBron, because he can't back those two down so easily and next year our center of the future is gonna be Karlo Matkovic, i wish we can use him now real talk!!

[@MW_13]

Not the “answers” per se but Pels easily coulda added Gafford or Drummond at the deadline for post help but didn’t… give JV more minutes and shoulda deployed JRE for that length. Ppl gotta Stop hating on Cody, he def was a better play than Larry against a team like LAL but yea of course Jonas shoulda been in over both of them

[@griff2791]

JV had 4 TOs in 7 min, im good if we dont see him again

[@TheHubeef]

FAILURES! NO GOOD! WILLIE LOST AND GAVE AWAY ALMOST EVERY CLOSE GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF

[@TravisDaisy-jr3re]

CJ Ingram Murphy Zion JV 🤔❓

[@Jerry-rg8mx]

Pels love being first at all the wrong things.

[@Officialhommie]

Oh yeah I seen zeller get more min than JV

[@flightmizzarc]

Holy shit

[@jessesmith2428]

You ship Willie out you better send the whole FO with him. OKC coach isn’t better than WG their front office is killing ours though.

[@christopherlammons8448]

Willie should be developing dogs and taking responsibility.. HE doesn't EVER.

[@deebee1022]

Griffin will not approve of the type of coach this young team needs. Griffin wants to prove Lebron wrong yet keeps showing LeBron right

[@tommyjones7234]

I didn't watch the whole game because it was pitiful. No defense, Zion was intimidated by LeBron and Willie got out-coached again. I don't care for JV's game but he should have played more than Larry. It looked like to me that Willie has given up on Naji. Thank God we have one more game (a home game at that) I feel sorry for the fans who pay good money to come to Smoothie King games and then watch the Pels play better on the road! Zion is my favorite player on this team but he would not go at LeBron. He's 23 while LeBron is 39 and LeBron may be strong and fast but he was gassed and Zion didnt take advantage. Willie Green let this team down because the Pels were not prepared defensively. The Lakers got nothing but easy baskets all day long. CJ scored but be was horrible on defense, his shot selection was poor and he can not run the point better than Jose. I would have sat BI because Zion has been better at running the team in his absence. they can't be on the floor together. Pels have to move, CJ, BI, Larry and JV this summer. The Pels plays scared and while the Pels played hard in the prior 2 games the Suns got all the breaks and they may get swept! It would not bother me at all to see Willie be moved as well because this is a good team in search of a good coach.

[@angiejeanjacques4239]

Yes play your Game man lets Go

[@shooterridge]

We just let the lakers outsmart us every time. & we make no adjustments to them. We just take their first punch & give up after that

[@d.j.primetime6736]

Didn’t the Lakers advance out in the play in last year as the 7th seed and knock off Memphis?

[@The_English_Pels_Fan]

Pels choked as usual...nothing to see here folks...🏀🇬🇧

[@TizzyT9393]

I think the lakers are a very bad matchup for us they are one of the only teams in the league that has the size and athleticism to match us

[@shooterridge]

We need to bring Mitchell Robinson home. Knicks like Hartenstein more anyway

[@kevinmcdonald3563]

The script is set NBA at it's finest don't be surprised if the Lakers lose Tuesday the NBA don't want the Lakers to play Denver in the first round so don't be surprised if the Pelicans win Tuesday they don't want the Lakers to play OKC playing Denver this early wouldn't make them money this early

[@joshdarby96]

I was hoping to dodge the play in but double fuk us we have to play the Lakers again

[@plids59]

Hi Jake

[@Hazel23367]

Pels need changes.goes for players and coaching

[@MATTAVELLIE]

Boooo sactown will stomp you when we meet next week my prediction

[@McEvanderFrago-demigod]

Every dayer!! 🇵🇭🇵🇭

[@franciscopomar2942]

They need to trade Larry Nance and Dyson Daniels ain't doing nothing either we need more then just def. Def is good but we have to score too

[@kswwhodat]

This young team seem too star struck by Lebron, i cant figure any other reason for this.

[@jkpilet]

Come on Jake, I know you get the calls from the Pels so you're trying to tap dance, but it's all on coaching, ALL. Any idiot out there saw what was going to happen if they brought BI back then, it destroyed all chemistry, we all saw it, know it, but you know who else did? The PLAYERS! If Willie had any balls, he would put BI in a sixth man position, you absolutely need to let Z, Trey, and CJ roll together at this point, and they won't. Willie doesn't want to hurt feelings or violate some kind of ignorant players code, which is why he's not a REAL COACH. He's a former player and worries about their fragile little ego. This team is completely doomed with Green as coach, period.

[@Alexnewwin88]

This game was abysmal ….

[@mont-doggBeats]

How the offense struggled with BI he only played 20 minutes and he scored 9 points at the end of the first to get the team within 4? Stop making excuses for zion and CJ

[@LALAAmador-rd4ve]

Fr he did good for his 1st game back but Larry 🤦‍♀️🙄

[@mont-doggBeats]

@@LALAAmador-rd4ve larry was azz

[@rollspikegaming7459]

​@@mont-doggBeats I don't understand this people blaming BI for the loss when he barely had the ball in his hands. 😂 Zion stans being blind their boy got intimidated by Lebron again.

[@amnesh]

He should have came off the bench!!! No way a seasoned coach starts a player that hasn’t played and his team has chemistry in a game this big, never, except Willie Green. Bad coaching all season, he doesn’t have the skills to coach this much talent. Great guy but not here. One player shouldn’t drop you from 5th to play in.

[@LALAAmador-rd4ve]

@@amnesh man I was just saying that, he needs to go this offseason he acting like a middle school coach or something

[@siapnotsiap3992]

LBJ and AD always find a way to kill us. We will need to be the more physical team and win the mental game. Force turnovers and knock down our 3s, and not play scared. Clearly this was a repeat of the IST. Team got demoralized very early and there was no coming back. Wonder if we'd need more Cody or JRE for this one, someone heavier to wear LBJ out.

[@TrevorSnaith-xl8fz]

Start Valanciunas.stop shooting so many threes if the pelicans have a chance of beating the Lakers and beyond.