April 4, 2025 • 47 mins
On the latest New Orleans Pelicans Podcast for Friday, April 4, 2025, Pelicans.com’s Jim Eichenhofer and Gus Kattengell are joined by Pelicans Radio Play-by-Play Announcer Todd Graffagnini who's on the west coast with the Pels as they wrap up their trip to Los Angeles with tonight's game against the Lakers.
They'll discuss which young Pelicans are standing out as Graff breaks down what he wants to see in the final six games.
Plus it's Friday, so Jim gives us his trending number and weekend showdown.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome in to the New Orleans Pelicans Podcast, the official
podcast of your New Orleans Pelicans, a podcast dedicated to
everything you need to know about the squad here from players, coaches, broadcasters,
and those who cover the NBA on a daily basis.
It's time to flock up. The New Orleans Pelicans Podcast
(00:29):
starts right now.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Hello and welcome to the New Orleans Pelicans Podcast. Official
podcasts of your New Orleans Pelicans. As always, it's a
pleasure to have in this Jim I can offer out
of town, but that doesn't mean he's still not willing
to hang out with us a little bit. Jim how
are you today, sir?
Speaker 3 (00:48):
I'm doing well, Gus. Yeah, Unfortunately I'm in New York
for a funeral. I won't be on the Monday show
as a result. But yeah, we're going to have a
three time zone podcast here today with mister d Grafanie
coming up from the West Coast.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
That is true East Coast Central Time where I'm at,
and then graf out there in La Uh. Jimmy got
a lot to get into. I can't wait to hear
what he has to say, including the graphees his time
over catching a Dodger game in between games here as well.
But we do have to touch on that first game
on Wednesday, and it was the Clippers, and it was
a fun game. And look, I think it's if you're
(01:22):
a Pels fan, it's kind of what you you want
at this point of the season. This is what it
sounded like on the Pelicans radio network.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
In bound to MEC.
Speaker 5 (01:29):
He takes two steps and jams right before the shot
clock buzzer.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Jose lob it up for me see in a two
hand flush.
Speaker 5 (01:38):
No call. Now, Alvarado trying to go coast to coast,
puts up the floater in the lane and he does
go coast to coast so quick five, oh run, you've
cut it back to eight again. Reeves, listening to the broadcast,
left angle pop a three, make a three root was
fifteen out of his last twenty one from three fifteen
of that's seventy one percent, folks. Now even the lane
(02:01):
bounce feed to Brown. Another great pass by Mesi and Brown.
The lay in it's fifty six forty five.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
How about Mesi with three dimes. He's showing a little
passing skills, especially on the interior.
Speaker 5 (02:13):
Here, Tose doing a Curly Neil in the lane gets
it to Antonio Reeves and the shot foot from the
dotted line is down.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Reeds continues to produce He's got nine points.
Speaker 5 (02:24):
Now. Reeves tries to answer again off the mark, but
even Mesey comes in and absolutely throws it down with
the follow up with two hands.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
I would turn that of stuff. I would agree, sir.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
One fourteen ninety eight was the final. After the game,
head coach Willie Green had this to say, you know, there's.
Speaker 6 (02:43):
Some improvements that we got to make, even in a
losing effort. But I thought overall, the guys collectively went
out and they really competed, played hard. There were some
key moments in there where they made a couple more
plays than we did.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Jim.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
When you take a look at that game, thirty one
second quarter points by the Pels, they were right there
in that game. It was competitive all the way around.
If you listen to JOSEL. Verado and others in the
postgame locker room, they were like, look that it's a
good team. I know, graph and JD said it in
the broadcast. They're playoff all star caliber players on that
team there as well. And you went back and forth
with them. You made them have to earn that win
(03:18):
there in the fourth quarter. Just overall thoughts and what
you saw on Wednesday.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Yeah, I mean, if you think about the last four
games that the Pelicans have played, where they went to
and one on the home stand in between the middle
game they lost to Golden State on that Friday night
a week ago. The game against the Clippers was very
similar to that to me of what happened against the Warriors.
Where you're playing against a really good team, you're playing
against guys that are going to be in the Hall
of Fame. You're very undermanned, you're shorthanded, you have a
(03:45):
bunch of rookies that are playing. But for the first
three quarters or so, you're in the game and you
have a chance to, you know, maybe win or at
least be competitive.
Speaker 7 (03:53):
But then in the fourth.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Quarter, some of the experience that the Clippers had just
kind of like Golden State and the Warriors took over
in the fourth quarter and you end up losing by
double figures. But I mean, we said this in the
postgame show Friday night in the Smithie King Center, I mean,
we were okay with the effort that they.
Speaker 7 (04:08):
Put forth in the performance overall.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
It was one of those things where you know, you know,
people say there's no moral victories in the NBA, but
I mean it was a commendable performance they it wasn't
It was not a bad night overall. They just didn't
have quite enough to hang when it when it came down.
Speaker 7 (04:25):
To it at the end. Yeah, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
And I think that's definitely something that you look at.
But at the same time, some of these guys stepping
up and making some plays, Jim. Six players in double
figures for the Pelicans not bad, and that means, you know,
guys are getting shots, balls being distributed.
Speaker 7 (04:40):
A lot's going to be.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Talked about here and has already about the job hose
Elvarado's been doing as a starter. You can't have six
players in double figures if your point guard isn't distributing,
you know, huh.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Right, Yeah, I mean I think he and Alfred Payton
are doing a nice job. It was only for us
this game for Elfred Payton, where I mean my standards
for him are already so high, then I'm just like
backup point guard. I still won't look for like eight
to ten assists from him in every game, but yeah.
I mean, those guys are doing a nice job of
getting people of the ball. And I'm also very impressed
(05:12):
with in both cases Jose and Alfred, where it's not
like they've been on the court a ton relative to
the season with some of these other players, but yet
they seem to be developing very good chemistry where you know,
Elfred with Carlo Makovic and Jose with a bunch of
different guys where they've already learned okay, this is where
(05:32):
I can get this guy to the ball.
Speaker 7 (05:34):
And some of the trust that they have with some
of the.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Big guys and some of the younger big bigs has
been something that is really encouraging and something that you
don't necessarily expect to happen in a short amount of time.
But I think a lot of that speaks to the
basketball IQ that both Elfred and Jose have and they
bring to the court.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
No Doubtlet's see what takes place tonight is to take
on the Lakers. We're gonna get a little bit into
that here in a quick sec but Jim, the Lakers
playing last night, and look, I'm.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
Just be honest with you.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
I'm sitting on the couch and watching it, I felt,
smelt and sure like looked like a playoff game. It
was incredible in the last couple of minutes. You see
why still after all these years, Lebron James, Steph Curry, Mandy,
they moved the needle and it was so good to see.
I guess there as well. I'm wondering what kind of
energy what the Lakers have because Jim, I look at
(06:22):
the standings. Man, every game matters right to these teams
other than the Pelicans right now. And you said early
in the week that got a Monday spoiler scale.
Speaker 7 (06:31):
You already had this out of ten.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Can you amp it up now?
Speaker 7 (06:37):
The scale does not go to eleven. I guess we're
kind of maxed out with this one. But yeah, no,
I think this is a huge game for the Lakers.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
And by the way, too, I mean, I think if
the standing, if I'm correct when I look at the standings,
that we could see Warriors versus Lakers in the first
round of the playoffs.
Speaker 7 (06:54):
So yeah, that's what it is right now, four and five.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
I mean, obviously that could change a bunch with how
close all these teams are, but that would be epic
if we could see a Warriors Lakers playoff series in
the first round.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yeah, well, let's see what takes place, because the guy
is going to be calling it. He and JD that
is is joining us. Next TI graph for me, some
graphies and some thoughts as to maybe watching one of
the best who ever played on a baseball diamond? How
does that maybe correlate to basketball? You'll hear now on
the Pelicans podcast all right ton to welcome in the
radio voice of here New Orleans Pelicans Tigraphanini. I guess,
(07:28):
first thing, that most important thing almost been there like
a week in LA time, you're adjusted to the time
zone change.
Speaker 5 (07:36):
I love Pacific time. That's just me personally. I mean,
what better way to wake up on a Friday morning
out here in another fool, crisp, perfect Southern calimorning morning
than to wake up and do a zoom with you guys.
I mean, it's just it's fantastic.
Speaker 7 (07:57):
Jim, Jim, do you hear the enthusiasm out of that?
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Probably because he knows it's hot and humid and it's
breezy out here and I'm already sweating walking in here.
Speaker 7 (08:05):
Yeah, I mean, the the enthusiasm is coming through the screen.
It's amazing.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
I figured'd be happy, I mean from you because I
care because we were right behind home plate for the
Dodgers game.
Speaker 7 (08:15):
Weren't you How how cool was that?
Speaker 5 (08:17):
Actually I was over the first base dugout. It was.
It was fantastic because you know, I went with the
three guys on our staff, Chris Treyhant and Henry Valeer,
who both are are PR guys, along with Jordan Maguire
who was a player development coach, and they'd never been
(08:37):
to Dodger Stadium, so it was it was pretty awesome
for me. And little did I know that Chris Treyhant
is a professional heckler, so I just sat back and
watched him annihilate pretty much every brave who struck out.
I mean, I was just sitting back and joined the show.
(08:59):
And then of course Mookie Betts went deep against current
nl CY Young winner Chris Sale and the Dodgers won
the game. And now getting to the stadium and leaving
the stadium, that are two different, two different animals all together.
But I fully enjoyed the experience.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
I do ask you because obviously going to get into
I think Gym's calling it the graphies. Essentially, some thoughts
of you, what it's like to be a broadcast and
where you go since you just got the CD multi
billion dollar arena into its center or into a dome,
but just something with the Dodgers they want to bring
up to you. Look, obviously you get the call games,
and you will tonight. I'm assuming based on last night's
(09:41):
game that Lebron will play maybe in Luca. But those
two are some of the best players in the league
and you've gotten to actually call, you know, future Hall
of famers. We were doing the game when shoe a
Artani hit a game winning walk off home run. But
there's so much talk about that guy could to be
the best baseball player ever.
Speaker 7 (10:02):
Have you ever seen him in person? What was it
like to see him in person?
Speaker 5 (10:05):
That was the first time. Look, you look at him
on television and he just appears to be larger than life,
and then when you see him in person, he is
truly that big. I mean it's like he was sculpted
out of granite. I mean, just unbelievable. What a player.
(10:26):
And then the thing about him and you go into
the stadium and every time he walks out of the
dugout and you know he's on deck and then they
announce his name and you just feel the electricity in
the stadium. But the thing about the other night, and
obviously we were on the air when that happened. He
(10:47):
rises to the occasion. It's bottom of the ninth game,
tide one out. He comes out, they introduce him, everybody
gets on their feet and they're going, he's going to
hit a home run and win the game. And that's
exactly what he did. I mean, you can't you know,
we are not far from Hollywood, but you know, you
(11:09):
write a script and that's how movies and television shows end,
and then he does it. Yeah, it's uh, it's a
great time to be a Dodger fan. And by the way,
I just want to say, I am not a bandwagon
Dodger fan. Okay, I'm not. I've been a Dodger fan
since I've been eleven years old. So this is you know,
(11:31):
I didn't.
Speaker 7 (11:31):
Know Jersey you have a Fernando Dingles.
Speaker 5 (11:36):
No, No, it's not the same is a country?
Speaker 8 (11:42):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (11:42):
Same thing? Is there is there an NBA comp to
what you just said.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
I'm watching the game last night and that there there
was a sequence Jim and I don't know if you
were watching it because it was East Coast time.
Speaker 7 (11:54):
Man, But Lebron hits a three, Curry hits a three.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
I will say that. Look, and I did watch the
game last night pretty much, and entire of course it
wasn't it wasn't midnight back home. It was still a
relatively decent hour, which again why I love Pacific Oa's time.
But that sequence at the end when Golden State was
trying to put the game away and the Lakers would
(12:20):
not allow them to put the game away, I have
to say, being a full blown Laker hater, that was
pretty impressive what the Lakers did to hang in there.
But you know, Lebron's one of those types of players.
Steph Curry is one of those types of players where
(12:41):
if you need a bucket, they're gonna get it. I
don't think Luke. I don't think Lebron was that way
early in his career, but he has certainly evolved into that.
And again it pains me to say it, but it's true,
but Steph Curry probably might be number one in that
list because if you need a big shot to be
(13:01):
knocked down, no matter how many guys are on him,
he's gonna do it and uh, it's it's. It's never
good when you're on the other side of that, but
it's certainly a lot of fun to watch.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
You know, Graf as a Phillies fan, this is as
much Dodger talk as I can possibly take. It's okay,
Jim or anyone, but with you, I will say though,
I'm very pleased with the start that the Atlanta Braves
are off to You've.
Speaker 5 (13:26):
Got And I did text our former colleague Daniel Sallerson
countless times excellent.
Speaker 7 (13:34):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (13:35):
By the way, Daniels in Ireland right now, So it's it's.
It was pretty cool, but uh, I couldn't text him
enough about uh, you know, having watched the Braves in person, now,
they really are that bad.
Speaker 7 (13:50):
I like to hear that.
Speaker 8 (13:51):
My Uh.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
One of my favorite expressions to use when I'm calling
baseball games, had called baseball games in the past, was
the old bingo average. Who I talked to my friends
who I took to the game the other night. If
you have an average that starts with a zero, like
sixty five seventy two eighty one, that's a bingo average,
(14:17):
like you're bingo numbers. Yeah, Well, the Braves had three
of them. In their lineup, which I never saw before.
So that's a great man, Daniel, your team is really bad.
Speaker 7 (14:30):
That's great news. I love to hear that.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Gre I know you are so glad. Either way, you
can smile.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Before we get into Pelicans Lakers two, I have seen
Chris Treyhant at work with his heckling. I think it's
been at hockey games, and I don't think he actually
knew who any of the players were, but the guy
has such a master craftsman that that didn't matter.
Speaker 7 (14:50):
So guy's elite, absolutely elite.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
I mean, look, I think I can heckle with the
best of them, even though I've kind of toned that
down over the years. I was impressed, I mean really impressed.
So that's about the highest compliment I can give him.
There you go.
Speaker 7 (15:09):
We might have to have him on some time, and
I think you need to heckling.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Turning to the Lakers Pelicans game, which I believe is
the reason we're here today.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
It's true, is uh.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
You know, our friend Joe Myers likes to say when
a team loses a game, or loses several games before
the Pelicans play them, they're going to be very angry.
Speaker 7 (15:30):
That was my best.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Joel Myers that the person wasn't very good. But so
my question is how angry are the Lakers going to
be tonight?
Speaker 7 (15:39):
And Part B?
Speaker 3 (15:40):
I mean, how big of a game is this for
them in terms of the race, and obviously the situation
of the Pelicans are in well, I.
Speaker 5 (15:48):
Don't think they're going to come in angry. I just
think that they need wins. The race in the Western
Conference top six is ridiculous. I mean we had a
really good taste of that a year ago when we
were fighting to get that six seed. I mean, if
you look at the jumble between two and even seven
(16:08):
and eight right now, it is the standings change nightly.
And you know, I was listening I like to sync
up radio broadcast while watching TV. I was listening to
Tim Roy last night, who was the fine voice of
the Golden State Warriors, and I mean he kept saying constantly,
(16:31):
how much of them must win. This was for Golden
State last night because of Memphis winning in Miami last
night and Minnesota winning their game. I mean, those are
the guys they are fighting with, or the teams we're
fighting with to try to stay where they are in
(16:51):
the standings. Right now the Lakers are fourth, even with
their loss last night, they're one game up on Golden State,
the game on the Lakers last night. Golden State right
now sitting in fifth. So the standings are changing every
single night in those positions, and of course, you know
how important it is to be top six. That just
(17:14):
takes so much stress off of you not having to
win one or two play in games. But I don't
think the Lakers care about you know, we're gonna come
in angry or anything. They just need wins. And I'm
curious as to who's going to play for them tonight. Now,
I'm assuming everybody else's There was nobody on their injury
(17:38):
report yesterday, nobody of consequence, they only had two players
on their injury report. But would you sit out Lebron
James tonight or Luka Doncic tonight If you're the Lakers thinking,
all right, well, the Pelicans are coming in, they've got
eleven available players, all their frontline guys are not playing,
(17:58):
and we can just roll the ball out out there
and win. I don't know if I would play it
that way, because if you saw the other night, you know,
even though the Pelicans do have their shortcomings, specifically offensively
and turning the ball over. With the new group that's
playing right now, they're still going to give you a
great effort. I mean, the Clippers didn't put the game
(18:20):
away the other night till basically the end of the
third quarter, and then they were kind of able to
coast the rest of the way, just because the Clippers
are just such an experienced team. But I don't know
if you can play it that way if you're the Lakers,
because the Pells are going to play hard. That's one
thing that we do know.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Yeah, that's a really interesting question, and I guess we'll
probably find out. I mean, I'm not sure what time
this will be posted the podcast, but they have until
three o'clock Central to submit their injury list, so this
will be probably up I'm sure before then, but I mean,
we'll find out today.
Speaker 7 (18:58):
It really is an interesting question.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
I mean, are you concerned about playing some of these
veteran guys in a back to back when they haven't
been playing back to backs. I think Luca's been sitting
out back to backs. You're seventy something games into the season.
But on the other hand, do you think, okay, it's
worth the quote unquote risk that we can. Maybe we'll say,
Austin Reeves, go get forty five points tonight and we'll
(19:19):
sit our guys.
Speaker 7 (19:20):
So that'll be something that will have to monitor throughout
the day of what they.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
Yeah, Jim, and if you look at the box score
and you watch the game last night, the Lakers are
basically into their playoff rotation. I mean they played nine
guys and that was it, and Jonathan Goodwin played about
eight ten minutes. I mean, it's the starting five with
(19:44):
Dorian Finney, Smith, Gabe Vincent and s Murra and no,
well they put Ruie back into the starting lineup now, yeah, yeah,
but that's it. I mean they are playing eight guys.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
I mean.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
So that's one of the things about the play in
tournament that I think is great in terms of the
back the front end of the playing tournament where you're trying.
Speaker 7 (20:09):
To avoid being out of the top six.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
It makes some of these games a lot more important,
and it is one of those things I think in
the old format, maybe we wouldn't see that game treated
as such an important game because you know, you didn't
have that the penalty of if you drop out of
the top six, you're having to deal with, you know,
playing tournament.
Speaker 5 (20:29):
By the way, it's Jared Vanderbilt istaking up.
Speaker 7 (20:33):
Yeah, you know you mentioned how competitive and.
Speaker 5 (20:35):
The Jordan Goodwe not Jonathan Jordan Goodwe. I'm thinking of
the Saints Center.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
It's okay, it's very early out there, and it is
my kid is well, we'll let that one slide. You
mentioned how competitive the Pelicans were for really three plus
quarters against the Clippers on Wednesday. I mean, just in general,
I mean for fans out there, what do you want
to see over these last six games? And is there
a player that you're the most interested in over these
(21:04):
last this last week and a half.
Speaker 7 (21:05):
Of the season, to see how they play.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
I mean, I just want to see more of the same,
more the same energy, determination. And it's really right now,
Jim and Gus, it's it's about the young guys. I mean,
that is our storyline pretty much every night. That's what
John and I are talking about. We know what Kelly
olin It can do. We know what Bruce Brown can do.
(21:30):
You know, I'm going to ask Willie Green before the
game tonight about how he thinks Jose Alvarado's running the team,
because now Jose's been starting a lot, and he's running
that first unit, and he picked up his second double
double the season against the Clippers in his third career,
So Jose's doing things that he really hasn't done before.
(21:53):
But make no mistake about it, right now, it's all
about Eve mecI and Carlo Mackovic and Antonio Reeves and
Keon Brooks Junior. I mean, those are the guys we've
really been focusing on in the last few games, and
those are the guys we're really going to look at
the rest of the way because these minutes are invaluable
for these guys. You know, I'm going to talk to
(22:14):
Keon Brooks after shoot around today for our penultimate Pelicans
Weekly which is going to air next week. And look,
he's playing twenty minutes a game now. I mean, I
don't know if he would have even dreamed that he
was going to be doing that when he was in
Birmingham for all those games. So he's getting invaluable experience,
(22:36):
and for the most part, especially in the last week
week and a half, he's produced. He had three straight
career highs, three straight back to back games, culminating that
seventeen point effort against Charlotte and then the other night,
you know, he he's going to have a memory that
he's going to remember for the rest of his life.
You know, he's got Kawhi Leonard on the right baseline,
(22:58):
sizing them up, ready to take him to the hole,
and he picked Kawhi Leonard's pocket. I mean, he clawed
the claw. It was. It was awesome, like a moment
like that. You know, John and I we that's fricking
fantastic because he'll never forget that moment as long as
he lived, no matter what happens for the rest of
his career. So it's all about those young guys right now,
(23:21):
Jim and I can't believe if forgot Carlo mckovic Carlo
as well. I mean he I mean you can almost
pencil in now, guys. I mean, Carlo Magovic is going
to score double figures every game. And that's one guy
who I'm real I've really been impressed with in the
(23:43):
last two months. That guy can play. And John de
Chazer is a huge Carlo fan, and I don't think
it's very hard to see that. I think the more
he plays, a lot of people are going to become
Carlo fans because of what he can do. You just
you didn't see the athleticism early on in training camp,
(24:08):
even though he always had it. I just think that
he's kind of broken out of his shell a little
bit and realizes that he can play at this level
on a night in a night out basis. And my
favorite thing about Carlo is he is a finisher. I mean, yeah,
he is a reciditure. And you know Al for Peyton
w of course is now in a second ten day contract.
(24:29):
I mean, is there a better combo than el for
Peyton lobbing it up to Carlo Makovic. I mean, the
ball is going down, It is going down. So yeah,
it's it's young guys, and that's the way it's going
to be for the last Now what we've got nine
days left and right the season.
Speaker 7 (24:48):
Yeah, you know, Gus, I'm writing this down right now.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
John de Chazer will be our guests for the Carlo
Mackovic Season review podcast. That's we're gonna announce that he
doesn't know this yet.
Speaker 5 (24:58):
But we're gonna he's going to be thrilled excellent.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
You know, by the way, uh, graph, I think we
should tell Keon Brooks. You know a lot of times
they get the question what was your welcome to the
NBA moment, and a lot of guys say, well, I
got dunked on by somebody, or you know, I crossed over.
We'll have to remind him. Just keep telling everybody when
they ask you that question that I picked Kawhi Leonard
Clean in a game on the Clippers home floor, and
(25:23):
that'll be a perfect answer for that question, Jim.
Speaker 5 (25:25):
You know how like when you do something and then
years and years later the fish gets bigger.
Speaker 7 (25:32):
You catch that fish, Yes, definitely.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
And you know it was a it was a six
pound bass, and then ten years later it was a
sixteen pound bass. Hey man, that was That is legitimate.
That is a legitimate story. Even though we were in
the nosebleedst into a dome, we saw it perfectly. And
that is a story that will never be more embellished
(25:57):
than it is because it's it's completely true.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
And we're going to get to that here in a
quick second part of your graphies parts. I know, Jim
can't wait to get into that and get your thoughts,
but just kind of wrap up on that to your point.
You know, the last home game here was you know,
Golden State, and you know the Clippers tonight, you guys
opened up with talking about the importance of this game
against the Lakers, now whether Lebron and then play or not,
but that's invaluable man, to Carlo, to KB, to these guys,
(26:22):
to be able to play, you know, games where it's
mattering to some of these opponents and the venue and
the players you're talking about because it's mad. I mean, hey, man,
I would love, you know, just to play twenty one
a horse with Steph Curry, but let's guard him in
a real NBA game in which they're trying to win,
because they had lost a couple of games going into
that game.
Speaker 7 (26:40):
So that's a big point.
Speaker 5 (26:41):
Graft Jam.
Speaker 7 (26:43):
Yeah, last thing for me before we get into the graphies.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
You know, one of the things I wanted to follow
up on that you mentioned, Graft two, in terms of
the rookies, I wrote about this morning briefly, how over
the last six games, which coincides with Keon Brooks being
in the rotation, the Pelicans have had the third most
points scored from rookies. So I mean they're in that
group now of teams where you're seeing a bunch of
guys that haven't gotten a lot of minutes. I mean,
(27:06):
I think Washington and Toronto the only teams over this
recent span that have had more points.
Speaker 7 (27:11):
Scored by rookies.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
So it's been you know, obviously we'd be happier with
the results being different for the season, but it has
been enjoyable to see some of these guys play and
also too. One of the things you also mentioned was
talking about Jose the way he's played. To me, it's
been invaluable to have a point guard Elford Payton included,
to have two point guards who can get the team organized,
(27:32):
and I think some of these first year guys are
getting more out of these minutes than maybe they otherwise
would if there were you know, if it was a
case where you didn't have that kind of leader, point
guard guy to get things set up and put in place.
Speaker 7 (27:44):
You know, I think those guys have helped a ton lately.
Speaker 5 (27:46):
I agree one hundred percent. And the thing about Jose,
I mean, Jose is becoming much more assertive offensively as well.
I mean, he has just taken a ton of shots.
I think he's maybe at times kind of dribbling around
(28:07):
too much, making trying to do a little bit too
much himself. But you know, that's fine. But the more
that he is out there and running the team and
audishing the ball and scoring, this is just more not
that he lacks any confidence. I just think that when
(28:29):
you see the results that he is having, you know,
that's just going to be huge for him going in
the next year because he knows if he's coming off
the bench, which more than likely he will next season.
But this is, you know, someone who you might be
able to count on for points offensively, because I mean
(28:49):
you look at some of the lineups that we're we've
had out here in the last couple of weeks. I mean,
John and I are going well. I mean, where's the
offense coming from? You just don't know from time to time, rotation, rotation,
and Jose has really done a good job on the
offensive end. He's starting to perfect that little runner in
(29:11):
the lane, Jim that that you've seen. As a matter
of fact, last night, when I was, you know, watching
the game, I was thinking about, you know, just our
team and how we're going to match up with the Lakers,
and I'm thinking about Jose a little bit, and just
I might have to name that runner. Definitely give it
a name.
Speaker 7 (29:30):
It was funny when you mentioned got to be organic.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
Yes, when you mentioned him dribbling around, it reminded me
if people really had to be if you're really you're
a real Pelicans diehard, if you know what I'm talking
about when I say this, There was a play in
the Clippers game where he dribbled. I don't think I've
ever seen people a player do the Nash dribble twice.
The Nash dribble basically is where you do a complete
circle around the Leach circle.
Speaker 7 (29:51):
He did it twice.
Speaker 5 (29:52):
Yeah, I was starting to.
Speaker 7 (29:53):
Get dizzy just watching him do that.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
But but yeah, that was that was just an interesting
play that they had the game.
Speaker 7 (30:00):
You know, lastly we talked about the rookies. There's actually
another rookie that's.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Going to be in the mix who just was just
signed by the Pelicans, A big guy.
Speaker 7 (30:10):
How much do we know about Kyler Kelly?
Speaker 3 (30:12):
He played a little bit for Dallas earlier this season
in terms of what impact he can make.
Speaker 5 (30:18):
And yeah, no, I mean, look, ten day contracts, so
basically going to take him to the end of the season.
We'll find out. I mean we're about to go to
shoot around here, so I'll see if he's a he's here,
b if he's at shoot around, how they're going to
try to work him in. I mean, the fact that
they signed him tells me that they're going to give
(30:39):
him at least a look. Sure. I mean, he played
minimally with Dallas. He played what eight nine games? Eight games? Yeah,
eight games. He's a seven footer in the G League
though he was a big time shot blocker. He was
G League Defensive Player of the Year a year ago.
He averaged two and a half blocks, which is significant. Yeah,
(31:02):
in games, So that I mean, we'll find out, Jim.
I mean, you know, I I don't think that he
played against this one because I do remember him being
on the roster in Dallas the last time we played
Dallas because he was already on my chart. So I
just I don't recall if he played for Dallas in
(31:23):
that game, the last game that we played him. But uh,
I got to imagine we're going to get a We're
going to get a look at him in the last
ten days.
Speaker 7 (31:31):
I mean, I like to hear this stuff about the defense.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
Obviously, that's been an area that right has been lacking
this season that we've talked about a lot, you know,
before throwing it back to Gus. I mean, just real
quickly about Kyler Kelly. A couple of notes I jotted down.
He played in the eight games we mentioned, he only made,
He only made. He made one NBA start, which with Dallas,
which was he actually had a double double twelve points,
eleven rebounds at Cleveland. But the interesting part about that
(31:56):
game was it was the day after the Luca trade,
so I mean that was definitely a unique circumstance for
him to be involved in. And lastly, two he was
in the Lakers training camp too, so I mean, maybe
they sign him because he's got some inside information that
they can apply to the game tonight.
Speaker 5 (32:13):
He was he played significantly with the Lakers G League
team this year. Yeah, so yeah, well, well we'll find out.
We'll find out, all right.
Speaker 7 (32:26):
The graphis he did such a great job on the
radio round table. We were going through different nominations and
the pellies. We're going to do the graphees. It's a
very short feature.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
Give me your best three radio locations, and if you'd like,
you can graph it up and give me the worst
ones as well. But because the uh tell me about
the into it though, how's that location?
Speaker 5 (32:43):
Is okay. Well, it's awful. I know that. I know
that Joel and Antonio uh were just constantly talking about
nosebleeds and altitude sickness. And it's just amazing to me
how you can build a place like and let me
tell you what, it is absolutely unbelievable. I mean, two
(33:07):
point two billion, it better be, but it is. I mean,
every box is checked, every bell, every whistle, they've got it.
They have it. Unless you're a broadcaster. You know, we're
way up top. It's like you're in a sardine can.
There's no room for me, John and the stat person.
(33:30):
You know, Joel and ad were to our right. It's
just I mean, they designed it so poorly for broadcasters.
There's five rows of seats that are below us, that
are below us, which are tarped because they cannot use
them because the television cameras are right in front of
(33:51):
those seats. So I mean, that's wild. How is that possible?
But I think that people have complained so much that
they're going to switch it next year and move the
broadcasters to where the cameras are and back the cameras
to where we are now. When they do that, that's
going to be a good spot because the cameras are
(34:12):
basically hanging over the ledge and then hey, guess what
they'll be able to use those seats. I mean, think
about how many tens of thousands of dollars that they're
missing out on because the way they designed. I should
have taken a picture of it, but it was like,
there's five rows of seats that twenty seats in the
(34:32):
row and they can't use them. They can't use them.
They're tarped. It's incredible to make. And their mid court wow,
their mid court but they into a domo is fantastic
unless you have to broadcast there. Okay, best places, Okay,
I will say this, the best place to broadcast a
(34:55):
game as far as atmosphere goes is Boston. Hands down.
It's just the worst broadcast location. But Boston is the
only place in the NBA that I've been to in
my six years where every seat is filled before tip off.
It's unbelievable. They get there early, they're in their seats,
(35:19):
they go nuts, and then you know it's just it's
a basketball mecca. And then you're throwing top the banners
and the raptors and the parquet floor and the Leprechaun.
I mean, it's awesome. The only problem is you're in
a corner and it's the worst vantage point in the
NBA for radio. TV gets to sit court side, but
(35:44):
you know they treat TV people much better than they
do radio people. But that's the best place to broadcast
the game. Vantage point aside. Three best vantage points in
arenas in my opinion, and talking about the whole experience
including vantage point. Number one is Indiana, best arena in
(36:07):
the league, Gainbridge field House, old school field house. Just basketball.
You know it's they have other events there obviously, but
you could tell it was built for basketball the way
it was. We're in the second deck. Very good sight lines,
you know, as far as not being on the court.
(36:29):
Great place, great place to watch and broadcast the game.
Number two is Cleveland, again, unbelievable vantage point. It's an
old school arena. They call it the Joe Tate Perch
where we sit. Joe Tate was a legendary broadcaster for
the Cavaliers, whose final game was at when lebron won
the championship, and then Joe Tate retired. He has since
(36:52):
passed away, but he moved upstairs many many years ago
and we sit basicly on an overhang balcony second level,
so you're almost on top of the lower bowl, which
really isn't that big. But you've got a great great
(37:13):
spot in Cleveland, and the arena is very loud now
the public address system just blows your ears away. But
that's a whole nother conversation. Great great spot there, And
who is my other one? Oh, Chicago, which is have
Gone by the Way of the Dinosaur. That is one
(37:33):
of our final three locations where we are on the court.
We're sitting right next to the Pelican's bench, And there's
just nothing like being court side in an NBA game.
It's not like Detroit and Toronto, the other two court
side spots, because you're second row, so you're a little
further back. But Chicago you're pretty much on the court.
(37:55):
And it reminds me of being in college again. And
it's just get the feel of everything when you're down there,
the energy of the arena, the speed of the game,
the size of the players. You just feel like you're
in it. And then of course you look over your
right shoulder, Gus, and you see the six, You see
the six banners. You know that literally is the house
(38:17):
that Jordan built. You know, the United Center wasn't there
when Jordan started. That was Chicago Stadium, which was right
across the street, which doesn't exist anymore. But yeah, I
mean the United Center is pretty pretty awesome, and it's huge.
It's twenty thousand seats, it's a huge arena. But I
think those are my top three. And then you know,
(38:39):
again I hate to say it, but going to Crypto formally,
you know the Artist formerly known as the Staples Center,
which we're going to tonight. Great great location for not
being on the court, probably the best in the NBA
not being on the court. What you see on television
is exactly what you're seeing from the radio and TV
(39:01):
spots because we're actually one row lower than the cameras
and it's the same vantage point a lot of the
places we sit in we're on the other side of
the cameras, So everything you see and what we describe
is flipped from what you're watching on television. This is
exactly what you're going to see on TV tonight. When
you're talking about right to left, left to right, you know,
(39:23):
everything you're seeing on cameras, what we see you're about
halfway up the lower bowl at Crypto and the site
lines are fantastic. So how's that for the graphies? Is
that good?
Speaker 7 (39:37):
I like it?
Speaker 5 (39:37):
You know.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
By the way, do you guys realize that they had
to take the bulls banners down because they had pyrotechnics
at a oh No show and they singed the bottom
of the oh No pyrotechnics like singe the bottom of
the bank. No, they had to take them down and
they're I guess they're redoing them or fixing them or whatever.
Speaker 7 (39:56):
One of the things you talked about reminding me somewhere
down the road.
Speaker 3 (39:59):
Maybe next season we'll do a top three way too
loud PA system I have my opinions from the seven
seasons that I traveled every single game as well, but
I'll save those for later.
Speaker 5 (40:11):
To save them, because I could give you two of
them right now. I already heard number one.
Speaker 2 (40:18):
Yeah, mine is Miami Numberami Charlotte Lee, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (40:23):
Cleveland again. You know me, I'm a stick my guy
and I have to use headphones head sets on the
road now because of PA Systems.
Speaker 7 (40:31):
Yeah. Yeah, it's out of control. It's an epidemic.
Speaker 5 (40:35):
All right.
Speaker 2 (40:36):
Well, thanks for your time, and again we have so
many different. Jim, go ahead, just get on the phone
right now, book it right now. We got to get
the tray hand how to hackle podcast. I mean that
that sounds fantastic to me because well, if you're calling
them a master, that means you have to be able
to do it without getting kicked out, which means.
Speaker 5 (40:56):
Oh, no, he does it perfectly, nature perfectly. Again, I
have never guessed because he never.
Speaker 2 (41:05):
Really talks when I'm around him.
Speaker 9 (41:08):
She's he does it loudly yet subtly, and every statement
as a cutting, biting purpose.
Speaker 1 (41:24):
Wow.
Speaker 5 (41:24):
Yeah, and and and gestures as well.
Speaker 7 (41:27):
Really no, yeah, you have to do this. You have
to get an studio next door. We need to do this.
Speaker 5 (41:33):
You have to get the full scope.
Speaker 7 (41:34):
Sounds good. Thank you, Graf.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
Enjoy the game tonight, and uh we'll here we're hearing
you and JD's calls.
Speaker 5 (41:40):
All right, gentlemen, thank you.
Speaker 2 (41:42):
Our thanks to tiographing any radio voice of you're New
Orleans Pelicans. Uh you mentioned there in our conversation. You're
a Philly fan, so you're very happy as to how
the Braves season has started. I'm kind of the same
way when I see, you know, the Cardinals struggle and
all that, I'm just happy the Cubs are at least
competitive this year.
Speaker 4 (41:59):
Man.
Speaker 2 (42:00):
I don't know if the Cubs and Phillies over meet
in the playoffs though, Jim.
Speaker 3 (42:03):
Yeah, I mean, I hate to sound like a baseball
snob here, but the Phillies, I mean, making the playoffs
at this I can't believe I'm saying this based on
the most of what I've experienced with them, but it's
like the making the playoffs is like a foregone conclusion.
It seems like at this point. I don't want to
jinx anything, but I mean, yeah, it'd be it'd be
cool to see the Copies in the playoffs see some
Wrigley postseason get back to that. I hadn't looked at
(42:24):
the standings. I just checked real just now. I see
they're five and four, so yeah, not bad maybe well,
and the Cardinals are in first, so that they're not
supposed to be that good this year, so that division
is probably wide open.
Speaker 7 (42:34):
Maybe it's there for the taking.
Speaker 2 (42:35):
They're still there, Jim, just a half game back on
April fourth. That's uh, it's kind of where we want
to be, right, That's where it is. But we do have,
of course, a lot to get into here still before
we wrap up very briefly, it is Friday. A lot
of info to come, So.
Speaker 5 (42:53):
Let's go.
Speaker 4 (42:56):
TGI Jim.
Speaker 5 (42:58):
It's Friday, which means mister Eichenhoffer as a pair of
things for US, trending numbers and.
Speaker 7 (43:07):
Weekend showdown.
Speaker 4 (43:09):
What are we starting with.
Speaker 8 (43:10):
Jim, Well, Mellory, Let's start with the trending number, and
the trending number is one, and that is there's only
one season series in the entire NBA that has not
begun yet, Gus, and that is the Bucks versus the Pelicans.
Speaker 3 (43:25):
I want to give John Schuman of NBA dot com
credit for this because he mentioned this earlier in the
week that there were only two series that hadn't started.
The other one was Timberwolves versus Nets, which they played
on Thursday night, so that one has already begun. So
in the end, obviously the January snowstorm had everything to
do with this, the fact that the Pelicans have not
played the Bucks yet this season. We talked a lot
(43:48):
about the Lakers game tonight for obvious reasons, we didn't
really get into the Milwaukee game. But interesting to see that,
you know, over the Bucks last five or six games
this season. They're gonna play the Pelicans twice. Somal is
also going to play a role in determining what happens
right now with Milwaukee. Is is in a tight battle
with Detroit for five and six in the East, and
(44:09):
that's gonna determine who plays against the Pacers in the
first round and who plays against the Knicks. So that'll
be it'll be interesting to see, you know, if the
Pelicans can get a win or two against Milwaukee and play.
Speaker 7 (44:20):
Spoiler against them.
Speaker 3 (44:22):
But yeah, none have not played the Bucks this season,
but we'll play them twice over the next handful of days.
And the weekend showdown is Sunday afternoon at two thirty.
It is the Lakers and the Thunder, a huge matchup.
The OKAC still has a chance to win seventy games.
Speaker 7 (44:41):
They if they run the table the rest of the way.
They're sixty four and twelve right now.
Speaker 3 (44:45):
They do have a game against at Houston tonight, which
is difficult, but they could go into that Lakers. They
actually play the Lakers on Tuesday as well, so we
I mean, those will be two really important games and
I'll be curious to see how that goes. Really going
to have a slew of teams in the West that
become Okay, see thunder fans on Sunday and Tuesday, because
(45:07):
you know, for example, if they could knock out, if
they could beat the Lakers twice, that's gonna have a
massive impact on the race in that pack where there's
so many teams battling between three and eight right now,
Okayc's had number one clinch for a long time. Houston's
looking very good for the two seed unless they have
a real rough final week. But man, three through eight
(45:27):
is so tight right now, and so I'm looking forward
to the last part of the season with But the
Sunday showdown is the start of a two game series
for the Lakers in Oklahoma City.
Speaker 7 (45:39):
Not an easy way to kind of wind down the
regular season for them.
Speaker 2 (45:42):
You know, I mentioned it in a conversation with Graf.
As we wrap up here, Jim, something tells me that
while unfortunate, you know, just the circumstances, you're not with
us here, just a little smile maybe might come across
your face if the Pals can spoil the Lakers Friday night.
It just it wouldn't be a bad thing, right.
Speaker 7 (46:00):
What it is, not a little smile, a very large smile.
Speaker 2 (46:03):
Guys, I hear you, man, Thank you so much. Appreciate
the Thomas to Jim, Mike and off. If you want
to give a follow, of course, Jim underscore, ikenhoffer of course,
Pelicans dot com before the game, after the game, in
between games. Jim's got you covered. Thank you, Jim. Safe
travels back and forth, man, Thanks Gus and that'll do
it first. We'll see you on Monday. Aaron Summers will
be joining me on the New Orleans Pelicans podcast. Until then,
(46:25):
enjoy the weekend and thank you for listening.
Speaker 1 (46:29):
Thanks for listening to the New Orleans Pelicans podcast. Join
us three times per week on Pelicans dot com, the
Pelicans mobile app, the iHeartRadio app, or where you get
your podcast, and be sure to give Jim and Gus
a follow on x at Jim underscore I can offer
(46:49):
and Gcap Underscore seventeen. We'll see you next time right
here on the New Orleans Pelicans podcast
Welcome in to the New Orleans Pelicans Podcast, the official
podcast of your New Orleans Pelicans, a podcast dedicated to
everything you need to know about the squad here from players, coaches, broadcasters,
and those who cover the NBA on a daily basis.
It's time to flock up. The New Orleans Pelicans Podcast
(00:29):
starts right now.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Hello and welcome to the New Orleans Pelicans Podcast. Official
podcasts of your New Orleans Pelicans. As always, it's a
pleasure to have in this Jim I can offer out
of town, but that doesn't mean he's still not willing
to hang out with us a little bit. Jim how
are you today, sir?
Speaker 3 (00:48):
I'm doing well, Gus. Yeah, Unfortunately I'm in New York
for a funeral. I won't be on the Monday show
as a result. But yeah, we're going to have a
three time zone podcast here today with mister d Grafanie
coming up from the West Coast.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
That is true East Coast Central Time where I'm at,
and then graf out there in La Uh. Jimmy got
a lot to get into. I can't wait to hear
what he has to say, including the graphees his time
over catching a Dodger game in between games here as well.
But we do have to touch on that first game
on Wednesday, and it was the Clippers, and it was
a fun game. And look, I think it's if you're
(01:22):
a Pels fan, it's kind of what you you want
at this point of the season. This is what it
sounded like on the Pelicans radio network.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
In bound to MEC.
Speaker 5 (01:29):
He takes two steps and jams right before the shot
clock buzzer.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Jose lob it up for me see in a two
hand flush.
Speaker 5 (01:38):
No call. Now, Alvarado trying to go coast to coast,
puts up the floater in the lane and he does
go coast to coast so quick five, oh run, you've
cut it back to eight again. Reeves, listening to the broadcast,
left angle pop a three, make a three root was
fifteen out of his last twenty one from three fifteen
of that's seventy one percent, folks. Now even the lane
(02:01):
bounce feed to Brown. Another great pass by Mesi and Brown.
The lay in it's fifty six forty five.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
How about Mesi with three dimes. He's showing a little
passing skills, especially on the interior.
Speaker 5 (02:13):
Here, Tose doing a Curly Neil in the lane gets
it to Antonio Reeves and the shot foot from the
dotted line is down.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Reeds continues to produce He's got nine points.
Speaker 5 (02:24):
Now. Reeves tries to answer again off the mark, but
even Mesey comes in and absolutely throws it down with
the follow up with two hands.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
I would turn that of stuff. I would agree, sir.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
One fourteen ninety eight was the final. After the game,
head coach Willie Green had this to say, you know, there's.
Speaker 6 (02:43):
Some improvements that we got to make, even in a
losing effort. But I thought overall, the guys collectively went
out and they really competed, played hard. There were some
key moments in there where they made a couple more
plays than we did.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Jim.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
When you take a look at that game, thirty one
second quarter points by the Pels, they were right there
in that game. It was competitive all the way around.
If you listen to JOSEL. Verado and others in the
postgame locker room, they were like, look that it's a
good team. I know, graph and JD said it in
the broadcast. They're playoff all star caliber players on that
team there as well. And you went back and forth
with them. You made them have to earn that win
(03:18):
there in the fourth quarter. Just overall thoughts and what
you saw on Wednesday.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Yeah, I mean, if you think about the last four
games that the Pelicans have played, where they went to
and one on the home stand in between the middle
game they lost to Golden State on that Friday night
a week ago. The game against the Clippers was very
similar to that to me of what happened against the Warriors.
Where you're playing against a really good team, you're playing
against guys that are going to be in the Hall
of Fame. You're very undermanned, you're shorthanded, you have a
(03:45):
bunch of rookies that are playing. But for the first
three quarters or so, you're in the game and you
have a chance to, you know, maybe win or at
least be competitive.
Speaker 7 (03:53):
But then in the fourth.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Quarter, some of the experience that the Clippers had just
kind of like Golden State and the Warriors took over
in the fourth quarter and you end up losing by
double figures. But I mean, we said this in the
postgame show Friday night in the Smithie King Center, I mean,
we were okay with the effort that they.
Speaker 7 (04:08):
Put forth in the performance overall.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
It was one of those things where you know, you know,
people say there's no moral victories in the NBA, but
I mean it was a commendable performance they it wasn't
It was not a bad night overall. They just didn't
have quite enough to hang when it when it came down.
Speaker 7 (04:25):
To it at the end. Yeah, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
And I think that's definitely something that you look at.
But at the same time, some of these guys stepping
up and making some plays, Jim. Six players in double
figures for the Pelicans not bad, and that means, you know,
guys are getting shots, balls being distributed.
Speaker 7 (04:40):
A lot's going to be.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Talked about here and has already about the job hose
Elvarado's been doing as a starter. You can't have six
players in double figures if your point guard isn't distributing,
you know, huh.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Right, Yeah, I mean I think he and Alfred Payton
are doing a nice job. It was only for us
this game for Elfred Payton, where I mean my standards
for him are already so high, then I'm just like
backup point guard. I still won't look for like eight
to ten assists from him in every game, but yeah.
I mean, those guys are doing a nice job of
getting people of the ball. And I'm also very impressed
(05:12):
with in both cases Jose and Alfred, where it's not
like they've been on the court a ton relative to
the season with some of these other players, but yet
they seem to be developing very good chemistry where you know,
Elfred with Carlo Makovic and Jose with a bunch of
different guys where they've already learned okay, this is where
(05:32):
I can get this guy to the ball.
Speaker 7 (05:34):
And some of the trust that they have with some
of the.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Big guys and some of the younger big bigs has
been something that is really encouraging and something that you
don't necessarily expect to happen in a short amount of time.
But I think a lot of that speaks to the
basketball IQ that both Elfred and Jose have and they
bring to the court.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
No Doubtlet's see what takes place tonight is to take
on the Lakers. We're gonna get a little bit into
that here in a quick sec but Jim, the Lakers
playing last night, and look, I'm.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
Just be honest with you.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
I'm sitting on the couch and watching it, I felt,
smelt and sure like looked like a playoff game. It
was incredible in the last couple of minutes. You see
why still after all these years, Lebron James, Steph Curry, Mandy,
they moved the needle and it was so good to see.
I guess there as well. I'm wondering what kind of
energy what the Lakers have because Jim, I look at
(06:22):
the standings. Man, every game matters right to these teams
other than the Pelicans right now. And you said early
in the week that got a Monday spoiler scale.
Speaker 7 (06:31):
You already had this out of ten.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Can you amp it up now?
Speaker 7 (06:37):
The scale does not go to eleven. I guess we're
kind of maxed out with this one. But yeah, no,
I think this is a huge game for the Lakers.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
And by the way, too, I mean, I think if
the standing, if I'm correct when I look at the standings,
that we could see Warriors versus Lakers in the first
round of the playoffs.
Speaker 7 (06:54):
So yeah, that's what it is right now, four and five.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
I mean, obviously that could change a bunch with how
close all these teams are, but that would be epic
if we could see a Warriors Lakers playoff series in
the first round.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yeah, well, let's see what takes place, because the guy
is going to be calling it. He and JD that
is is joining us. Next TI graph for me, some
graphies and some thoughts as to maybe watching one of
the best who ever played on a baseball diamond? How
does that maybe correlate to basketball? You'll hear now on
the Pelicans podcast all right ton to welcome in the
radio voice of here New Orleans Pelicans Tigraphanini. I guess,
(07:28):
first thing, that most important thing almost been there like
a week in LA time, you're adjusted to the time
zone change.
Speaker 5 (07:36):
I love Pacific time. That's just me personally. I mean,
what better way to wake up on a Friday morning
out here in another fool, crisp, perfect Southern calimorning morning
than to wake up and do a zoom with you guys.
I mean, it's just it's fantastic.
Speaker 7 (07:57):
Jim, Jim, do you hear the enthusiasm out of that?
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Probably because he knows it's hot and humid and it's
breezy out here and I'm already sweating walking in here.
Speaker 7 (08:05):
Yeah, I mean, the the enthusiasm is coming through the screen.
It's amazing.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
I figured'd be happy, I mean from you because I
care because we were right behind home plate for the
Dodgers game.
Speaker 7 (08:15):
Weren't you How how cool was that?
Speaker 5 (08:17):
Actually I was over the first base dugout. It was.
It was fantastic because you know, I went with the
three guys on our staff, Chris Treyhant and Henry Valeer,
who both are are PR guys, along with Jordan Maguire
who was a player development coach, and they'd never been
(08:37):
to Dodger Stadium, so it was it was pretty awesome
for me. And little did I know that Chris Treyhant
is a professional heckler, so I just sat back and
watched him annihilate pretty much every brave who struck out.
I mean, I was just sitting back and joined the show.
(08:59):
And then of course Mookie Betts went deep against current
nl CY Young winner Chris Sale and the Dodgers won
the game. And now getting to the stadium and leaving
the stadium, that are two different, two different animals all together.
But I fully enjoyed the experience.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
I do ask you because obviously going to get into
I think Gym's calling it the graphies. Essentially, some thoughts
of you, what it's like to be a broadcast and
where you go since you just got the CD multi
billion dollar arena into its center or into a dome,
but just something with the Dodgers they want to bring
up to you. Look, obviously you get the call games,
and you will tonight. I'm assuming based on last night's
(09:41):
game that Lebron will play maybe in Luca. But those
two are some of the best players in the league
and you've gotten to actually call, you know, future Hall
of famers. We were doing the game when shoe a
Artani hit a game winning walk off home run. But
there's so much talk about that guy could to be
the best baseball player ever.
Speaker 7 (10:02):
Have you ever seen him in person? What was it
like to see him in person?
Speaker 5 (10:05):
That was the first time. Look, you look at him
on television and he just appears to be larger than life,
and then when you see him in person, he is
truly that big. I mean it's like he was sculpted
out of granite. I mean, just unbelievable. What a player.
(10:26):
And then the thing about him and you go into
the stadium and every time he walks out of the
dugout and you know he's on deck and then they
announce his name and you just feel the electricity in
the stadium. But the thing about the other night, and
obviously we were on the air when that happened. He
(10:47):
rises to the occasion. It's bottom of the ninth game,
tide one out. He comes out, they introduce him, everybody
gets on their feet and they're going, he's going to
hit a home run and win the game. And that's
exactly what he did. I mean, you can't you know,
we are not far from Hollywood, but you know, you
(11:09):
write a script and that's how movies and television shows end,
and then he does it. Yeah, it's uh, it's a
great time to be a Dodger fan. And by the way,
I just want to say, I am not a bandwagon
Dodger fan. Okay, I'm not. I've been a Dodger fan
since I've been eleven years old. So this is you know,
(11:31):
I didn't.
Speaker 7 (11:31):
Know Jersey you have a Fernando Dingles.
Speaker 5 (11:36):
No, No, it's not the same is a country?
Speaker 8 (11:42):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (11:42):
Same thing? Is there is there an NBA comp to
what you just said.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
I'm watching the game last night and that there there
was a sequence Jim and I don't know if you
were watching it because it was East Coast time.
Speaker 7 (11:54):
Man, But Lebron hits a three, Curry hits a three.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
I will say that. Look, and I did watch the
game last night pretty much, and entire of course it
wasn't it wasn't midnight back home. It was still a
relatively decent hour, which again why I love Pacific Oa's time.
But that sequence at the end when Golden State was
trying to put the game away and the Lakers would
(12:20):
not allow them to put the game away, I have
to say, being a full blown Laker hater, that was
pretty impressive what the Lakers did to hang in there.
But you know, Lebron's one of those types of players.
Steph Curry is one of those types of players where
(12:41):
if you need a bucket, they're gonna get it. I
don't think Luke. I don't think Lebron was that way
early in his career, but he has certainly evolved into that.
And again it pains me to say it, but it's true,
but Steph Curry probably might be number one in that
list because if you need a big shot to be
(13:01):
knocked down, no matter how many guys are on him,
he's gonna do it and uh, it's it's. It's never
good when you're on the other side of that, but
it's certainly a lot of fun to watch.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
You know, Graf as a Phillies fan, this is as
much Dodger talk as I can possibly take. It's okay,
Jim or anyone, but with you, I will say though,
I'm very pleased with the start that the Atlanta Braves
are off to You've.
Speaker 5 (13:26):
Got And I did text our former colleague Daniel Sallerson
countless times excellent.
Speaker 7 (13:34):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (13:35):
By the way, Daniels in Ireland right now, So it's it's.
It was pretty cool, but uh, I couldn't text him
enough about uh, you know, having watched the Braves in person, now,
they really are that bad.
Speaker 7 (13:50):
I like to hear that.
Speaker 8 (13:51):
My Uh.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
One of my favorite expressions to use when I'm calling
baseball games, had called baseball games in the past, was
the old bingo average. Who I talked to my friends
who I took to the game the other night. If
you have an average that starts with a zero, like
sixty five seventy two eighty one, that's a bingo average,
(14:17):
like you're bingo numbers. Yeah, Well, the Braves had three
of them. In their lineup, which I never saw before.
So that's a great man, Daniel, your team is really bad.
Speaker 7 (14:30):
That's great news. I love to hear that.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Gre I know you are so glad. Either way, you
can smile.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Before we get into Pelicans Lakers two, I have seen
Chris Treyhant at work with his heckling. I think it's
been at hockey games, and I don't think he actually
knew who any of the players were, but the guy
has such a master craftsman that that didn't matter.
Speaker 7 (14:50):
So guy's elite, absolutely elite.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
I mean, look, I think I can heckle with the
best of them, even though I've kind of toned that
down over the years. I was impressed, I mean really impressed.
So that's about the highest compliment I can give him.
There you go.
Speaker 7 (15:09):
We might have to have him on some time, and
I think you need to heckling.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Turning to the Lakers Pelicans game, which I believe is
the reason we're here today.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
It's true, is uh.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
You know, our friend Joe Myers likes to say when
a team loses a game, or loses several games before
the Pelicans play them, they're going to be very angry.
Speaker 7 (15:30):
That was my best.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Joel Myers that the person wasn't very good. But so
my question is how angry are the Lakers going to
be tonight?
Speaker 7 (15:39):
And Part B?
Speaker 3 (15:40):
I mean, how big of a game is this for
them in terms of the race, and obviously the situation
of the Pelicans are in well, I.
Speaker 5 (15:48):
Don't think they're going to come in angry. I just
think that they need wins. The race in the Western
Conference top six is ridiculous. I mean we had a
really good taste of that a year ago when we
were fighting to get that six seed. I mean, if
you look at the jumble between two and even seven
(16:08):
and eight right now, it is the standings change nightly.
And you know, I was listening I like to sync
up radio broadcast while watching TV. I was listening to
Tim Roy last night, who was the fine voice of
the Golden State Warriors, and I mean he kept saying constantly,
(16:31):
how much of them must win. This was for Golden
State last night because of Memphis winning in Miami last
night and Minnesota winning their game. I mean, those are
the guys they are fighting with, or the teams we're
fighting with to try to stay where they are in
(16:51):
the standings. Right now the Lakers are fourth, even with
their loss last night, they're one game up on Golden State,
the game on the Lakers last night. Golden State right
now sitting in fifth. So the standings are changing every
single night in those positions, and of course, you know
how important it is to be top six. That just
(17:14):
takes so much stress off of you not having to
win one or two play in games. But I don't
think the Lakers care about you know, we're gonna come
in angry or anything. They just need wins. And I'm
curious as to who's going to play for them tonight. Now,
I'm assuming everybody else's There was nobody on their injury
(17:38):
report yesterday, nobody of consequence, they only had two players
on their injury report. But would you sit out Lebron
James tonight or Luka Doncic tonight If you're the Lakers thinking,
all right, well, the Pelicans are coming in, they've got
eleven available players, all their frontline guys are not playing,
(17:58):
and we can just roll the ball out out there
and win. I don't know if I would play it
that way, because if you saw the other night, you know,
even though the Pelicans do have their shortcomings, specifically offensively
and turning the ball over. With the new group that's
playing right now, they're still going to give you a
great effort. I mean, the Clippers didn't put the game
(18:20):
away the other night till basically the end of the
third quarter, and then they were kind of able to
coast the rest of the way, just because the Clippers
are just such an experienced team. But I don't know
if you can play it that way if you're the Lakers,
because the Pells are going to play hard. That's one
thing that we do know.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Yeah, that's a really interesting question, and I guess we'll
probably find out. I mean, I'm not sure what time
this will be posted the podcast, but they have until
three o'clock Central to submit their injury list, so this
will be probably up I'm sure before then, but I mean,
we'll find out today.
Speaker 7 (18:58):
It really is an interesting question.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
I mean, are you concerned about playing some of these
veteran guys in a back to back when they haven't
been playing back to backs. I think Luca's been sitting
out back to backs. You're seventy something games into the season.
But on the other hand, do you think, okay, it's
worth the quote unquote risk that we can. Maybe we'll say,
Austin Reeves, go get forty five points tonight and we'll
(19:19):
sit our guys.
Speaker 7 (19:20):
So that'll be something that will have to monitor throughout
the day of what they.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
Yeah, Jim, and if you look at the box score
and you watch the game last night, the Lakers are
basically into their playoff rotation. I mean they played nine
guys and that was it, and Jonathan Goodwin played about
eight ten minutes. I mean, it's the starting five with
(19:44):
Dorian Finney, Smith, Gabe Vincent and s Murra and no,
well they put Ruie back into the starting lineup now, yeah, yeah,
but that's it. I mean they are playing eight guys.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
I mean.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
So that's one of the things about the play in
tournament that I think is great in terms of the
back the front end of the playing tournament where you're trying.
Speaker 7 (20:09):
To avoid being out of the top six.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
It makes some of these games a lot more important,
and it is one of those things I think in
the old format, maybe we wouldn't see that game treated
as such an important game because you know, you didn't
have that the penalty of if you drop out of
the top six, you're having to deal with, you know,
playing tournament.
Speaker 5 (20:29):
By the way, it's Jared Vanderbilt istaking up.
Speaker 7 (20:33):
Yeah, you know you mentioned how competitive and.
Speaker 5 (20:35):
The Jordan Goodwe not Jonathan Jordan Goodwe. I'm thinking of
the Saints Center.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
It's okay, it's very early out there, and it is
my kid is well, we'll let that one slide. You
mentioned how competitive the Pelicans were for really three plus
quarters against the Clippers on Wednesday. I mean, just in general,
I mean for fans out there, what do you want
to see over these last six games? And is there
a player that you're the most interested in over these
(21:04):
last this last week and a half.
Speaker 7 (21:05):
Of the season, to see how they play.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
I mean, I just want to see more of the same,
more the same energy, determination. And it's really right now,
Jim and Gus, it's it's about the young guys. I mean,
that is our storyline pretty much every night. That's what
John and I are talking about. We know what Kelly
olin It can do. We know what Bruce Brown can do.
(21:30):
You know, I'm going to ask Willie Green before the
game tonight about how he thinks Jose Alvarado's running the team,
because now Jose's been starting a lot, and he's running
that first unit, and he picked up his second double
double the season against the Clippers in his third career,
So Jose's doing things that he really hasn't done before.
(21:53):
But make no mistake about it, right now, it's all
about Eve mecI and Carlo Mackovic and Antonio Reeves and
Keon Brooks Junior. I mean, those are the guys we've
really been focusing on in the last few games, and
those are the guys we're really going to look at
the rest of the way because these minutes are invaluable
for these guys. You know, I'm going to talk to
(22:14):
Keon Brooks after shoot around today for our penultimate Pelicans
Weekly which is going to air next week. And look,
he's playing twenty minutes a game now. I mean, I
don't know if he would have even dreamed that he
was going to be doing that when he was in
Birmingham for all those games. So he's getting invaluable experience,
(22:36):
and for the most part, especially in the last week
week and a half, he's produced. He had three straight
career highs, three straight back to back games, culminating that
seventeen point effort against Charlotte and then the other night,
you know, he he's going to have a memory that
he's going to remember for the rest of his life.
You know, he's got Kawhi Leonard on the right baseline,
(22:58):
sizing them up, ready to take him to the hole,
and he picked Kawhi Leonard's pocket. I mean, he clawed
the claw. It was. It was awesome, like a moment
like that. You know, John and I we that's fricking
fantastic because he'll never forget that moment as long as
he lived, no matter what happens for the rest of
his career. So it's all about those young guys right now,
(23:21):
Jim and I can't believe if forgot Carlo mckovic Carlo
as well. I mean he I mean you can almost
pencil in now, guys. I mean, Carlo Magovic is going
to score double figures every game. And that's one guy
who I'm real I've really been impressed with in the
(23:43):
last two months. That guy can play. And John de
Chazer is a huge Carlo fan, and I don't think
it's very hard to see that. I think the more
he plays, a lot of people are going to become
Carlo fans because of what he can do. You just
you didn't see the athleticism early on in training camp,
(24:08):
even though he always had it. I just think that
he's kind of broken out of his shell a little
bit and realizes that he can play at this level
on a night in a night out basis. And my
favorite thing about Carlo is he is a finisher. I mean, yeah,
he is a reciditure. And you know Al for Peyton
w of course is now in a second ten day contract.
(24:29):
I mean, is there a better combo than el for
Peyton lobbing it up to Carlo Makovic. I mean, the
ball is going down, It is going down. So yeah,
it's it's young guys, and that's the way it's going
to be for the last Now what we've got nine
days left and right the season.
Speaker 7 (24:48):
Yeah, you know, Gus, I'm writing this down right now.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
John de Chazer will be our guests for the Carlo
Mackovic Season review podcast. That's we're gonna announce that he
doesn't know this yet.
Speaker 5 (24:58):
But we're gonna he's going to be thrilled excellent.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
You know, by the way, uh, graph, I think we
should tell Keon Brooks. You know a lot of times
they get the question what was your welcome to the
NBA moment, and a lot of guys say, well, I
got dunked on by somebody, or you know, I crossed over.
We'll have to remind him. Just keep telling everybody when
they ask you that question that I picked Kawhi Leonard
Clean in a game on the Clippers home floor, and
(25:23):
that'll be a perfect answer for that question, Jim.
Speaker 5 (25:25):
You know how like when you do something and then
years and years later the fish gets bigger.
Speaker 7 (25:32):
You catch that fish, Yes, definitely.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
And you know it was a it was a six
pound bass, and then ten years later it was a
sixteen pound bass. Hey man, that was That is legitimate.
That is a legitimate story. Even though we were in
the nosebleedst into a dome, we saw it perfectly. And
that is a story that will never be more embellished
(25:57):
than it is because it's it's completely true.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
And we're going to get to that here in a
quick second part of your graphies parts. I know, Jim
can't wait to get into that and get your thoughts,
but just kind of wrap up on that to your point.
You know, the last home game here was you know,
Golden State, and you know the Clippers tonight, you guys
opened up with talking about the importance of this game
against the Lakers, now whether Lebron and then play or not,
but that's invaluable man, to Carlo, to KB, to these guys,
(26:22):
to be able to play, you know, games where it's
mattering to some of these opponents and the venue and
the players you're talking about because it's mad. I mean, hey, man,
I would love, you know, just to play twenty one
a horse with Steph Curry, but let's guard him in
a real NBA game in which they're trying to win,
because they had lost a couple of games going into
that game.
Speaker 7 (26:40):
So that's a big point.
Speaker 5 (26:41):
Graft Jam.
Speaker 7 (26:43):
Yeah, last thing for me before we get into the graphies.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
You know, one of the things I wanted to follow
up on that you mentioned, Graft two, in terms of
the rookies, I wrote about this morning briefly, how over
the last six games, which coincides with Keon Brooks being
in the rotation, the Pelicans have had the third most
points scored from rookies. So I mean they're in that
group now of teams where you're seeing a bunch of
guys that haven't gotten a lot of minutes. I mean,
(27:06):
I think Washington and Toronto the only teams over this
recent span that have had more points.
Speaker 7 (27:11):
Scored by rookies.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
So it's been you know, obviously we'd be happier with
the results being different for the season, but it has
been enjoyable to see some of these guys play and
also too. One of the things you also mentioned was
talking about Jose the way he's played. To me, it's
been invaluable to have a point guard Elford Payton included,
to have two point guards who can get the team organized,
(27:32):
and I think some of these first year guys are
getting more out of these minutes than maybe they otherwise
would if there were you know, if it was a
case where you didn't have that kind of leader, point
guard guy to get things set up and put in place.
Speaker 7 (27:44):
You know, I think those guys have helped a ton lately.
Speaker 5 (27:46):
I agree one hundred percent. And the thing about Jose,
I mean, Jose is becoming much more assertive offensively as well.
I mean, he has just taken a ton of shots.
I think he's maybe at times kind of dribbling around
(28:07):
too much, making trying to do a little bit too
much himself. But you know, that's fine. But the more
that he is out there and running the team and
audishing the ball and scoring, this is just more not
that he lacks any confidence. I just think that when
(28:29):
you see the results that he is having, you know,
that's just going to be huge for him going in
the next year because he knows if he's coming off
the bench, which more than likely he will next season.
But this is, you know, someone who you might be
able to count on for points offensively, because I mean
(28:49):
you look at some of the lineups that we're we've
had out here in the last couple of weeks. I mean,
John and I are going well. I mean, where's the
offense coming from? You just don't know from time to time, rotation, rotation,
and Jose has really done a good job on the
offensive end. He's starting to perfect that little runner in
(29:11):
the lane, Jim that that you've seen. As a matter
of fact, last night, when I was, you know, watching
the game, I was thinking about, you know, just our
team and how we're going to match up with the Lakers,
and I'm thinking about Jose a little bit, and just
I might have to name that runner. Definitely give it
a name.
Speaker 7 (29:30):
It was funny when you mentioned got to be organic.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
Yes, when you mentioned him dribbling around, it reminded me
if people really had to be if you're really you're
a real Pelicans diehard, if you know what I'm talking
about when I say this, There was a play in
the Clippers game where he dribbled. I don't think I've
ever seen people a player do the Nash dribble twice.
The Nash dribble basically is where you do a complete
circle around the Leach circle.
Speaker 7 (29:51):
He did it twice.
Speaker 5 (29:52):
Yeah, I was starting to.
Speaker 7 (29:53):
Get dizzy just watching him do that.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
But but yeah, that was that was just an interesting
play that they had the game.
Speaker 7 (30:00):
You know, lastly we talked about the rookies. There's actually
another rookie that's.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Going to be in the mix who just was just
signed by the Pelicans, A big guy.
Speaker 7 (30:10):
How much do we know about Kyler Kelly?
Speaker 3 (30:12):
He played a little bit for Dallas earlier this season
in terms of what impact he can make.
Speaker 5 (30:18):
And yeah, no, I mean, look, ten day contracts, so
basically going to take him to the end of the season.
We'll find out. I mean we're about to go to
shoot around here, so I'll see if he's a he's here,
b if he's at shoot around, how they're going to
try to work him in. I mean, the fact that
they signed him tells me that they're going to give
(30:39):
him at least a look. Sure. I mean, he played
minimally with Dallas. He played what eight nine games? Eight games? Yeah,
eight games. He's a seven footer in the G League
though he was a big time shot blocker. He was
G League Defensive Player of the Year a year ago.
He averaged two and a half blocks, which is significant. Yeah,
(31:02):
in games, So that I mean, we'll find out, Jim.
I mean, you know, I I don't think that he
played against this one because I do remember him being
on the roster in Dallas the last time we played
Dallas because he was already on my chart. So I
just I don't recall if he played for Dallas in
(31:23):
that game, the last game that we played him. But uh,
I got to imagine we're going to get a We're
going to get a look at him in the last
ten days.
Speaker 7 (31:31):
I mean, I like to hear this stuff about the defense.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
Obviously, that's been an area that right has been lacking
this season that we've talked about a lot, you know,
before throwing it back to Gus. I mean, just real
quickly about Kyler Kelly. A couple of notes I jotted down.
He played in the eight games we mentioned, he only made,
He only made. He made one NBA start, which with Dallas,
which was he actually had a double double twelve points,
eleven rebounds at Cleveland. But the interesting part about that
(31:56):
game was it was the day after the Luca trade,
so I mean that was definitely a unique circumstance for
him to be involved in. And lastly, two he was
in the Lakers training camp too, so I mean, maybe
they sign him because he's got some inside information that
they can apply to the game tonight.
Speaker 5 (32:13):
He was he played significantly with the Lakers G League
team this year. Yeah, so yeah, well, well we'll find out.
We'll find out, all right.
Speaker 7 (32:26):
The graphis he did such a great job on the
radio round table. We were going through different nominations and
the pellies. We're going to do the graphees. It's a
very short feature.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
Give me your best three radio locations, and if you'd like,
you can graph it up and give me the worst
ones as well. But because the uh tell me about
the into it though, how's that location?
Speaker 5 (32:43):
Is okay. Well, it's awful. I know that. I know
that Joel and Antonio uh were just constantly talking about
nosebleeds and altitude sickness. And it's just amazing to me
how you can build a place like and let me
tell you what, it is absolutely unbelievable. I mean, two
(33:07):
point two billion, it better be, but it is. I mean,
every box is checked, every bell, every whistle, they've got it.
They have it. Unless you're a broadcaster. You know, we're
way up top. It's like you're in a sardine can.
There's no room for me, John and the stat person.
(33:30):
You know, Joel and ad were to our right. It's
just I mean, they designed it so poorly for broadcasters.
There's five rows of seats that are below us, that
are below us, which are tarped because they cannot use
them because the television cameras are right in front of
(33:51):
those seats. So I mean, that's wild. How is that possible?
But I think that people have complained so much that
they're going to switch it next year and move the
broadcasters to where the cameras are and back the cameras
to where we are now. When they do that, that's
going to be a good spot because the cameras are
(34:12):
basically hanging over the ledge and then hey, guess what
they'll be able to use those seats. I mean, think
about how many tens of thousands of dollars that they're
missing out on because the way they designed. I should
have taken a picture of it, but it was like,
there's five rows of seats that twenty seats in the
(34:32):
row and they can't use them. They can't use them.
They're tarped. It's incredible to make. And their mid court wow,
their mid court but they into a domo is fantastic
unless you have to broadcast there. Okay, best places, Okay,
I will say this, the best place to broadcast a
(34:55):
game as far as atmosphere goes is Boston. Hands down.
It's just the worst broadcast location. But Boston is the
only place in the NBA that I've been to in
my six years where every seat is filled before tip off.
It's unbelievable. They get there early, they're in their seats,
(35:19):
they go nuts, and then you know it's just it's
a basketball mecca. And then you're throwing top the banners
and the raptors and the parquet floor and the Leprechaun.
I mean, it's awesome. The only problem is you're in
a corner and it's the worst vantage point in the
NBA for radio. TV gets to sit court side, but
(35:44):
you know they treat TV people much better than they
do radio people. But that's the best place to broadcast
the game. Vantage point aside. Three best vantage points in
arenas in my opinion, and talking about the whole experience
including vantage point. Number one is Indiana, best arena in
(36:07):
the league, Gainbridge field House, old school field house. Just basketball.
You know it's they have other events there obviously, but
you could tell it was built for basketball the way
it was. We're in the second deck. Very good sight lines,
you know, as far as not being on the court.
(36:29):
Great place, great place to watch and broadcast the game.
Number two is Cleveland, again, unbelievable vantage point. It's an
old school arena. They call it the Joe Tate Perch
where we sit. Joe Tate was a legendary broadcaster for
the Cavaliers, whose final game was at when lebron won
the championship, and then Joe Tate retired. He has since
(36:52):
passed away, but he moved upstairs many many years ago
and we sit basicly on an overhang balcony second level,
so you're almost on top of the lower bowl, which
really isn't that big. But you've got a great great
(37:13):
spot in Cleveland, and the arena is very loud now
the public address system just blows your ears away. But
that's a whole nother conversation. Great great spot there, And
who is my other one? Oh, Chicago, which is have
Gone by the Way of the Dinosaur. That is one
(37:33):
of our final three locations where we are on the court.
We're sitting right next to the Pelican's bench, And there's
just nothing like being court side in an NBA game.
It's not like Detroit and Toronto, the other two court
side spots, because you're second row, so you're a little
further back. But Chicago you're pretty much on the court.
(37:55):
And it reminds me of being in college again. And
it's just get the feel of everything when you're down there,
the energy of the arena, the speed of the game,
the size of the players. You just feel like you're
in it. And then of course you look over your
right shoulder, Gus, and you see the six, You see
the six banners. You know that literally is the house
(38:17):
that Jordan built. You know, the United Center wasn't there
when Jordan started. That was Chicago Stadium, which was right
across the street, which doesn't exist anymore. But yeah, I
mean the United Center is pretty pretty awesome, and it's huge.
It's twenty thousand seats, it's a huge arena. But I
think those are my top three. And then you know,
(38:39):
again I hate to say it, but going to Crypto formally,
you know the Artist formerly known as the Staples Center,
which we're going to tonight. Great great location for not
being on the court, probably the best in the NBA
not being on the court. What you see on television
is exactly what you're seeing from the radio and TV
(39:01):
spots because we're actually one row lower than the cameras
and it's the same vantage point a lot of the
places we sit in we're on the other side of
the cameras, So everything you see and what we describe
is flipped from what you're watching on television. This is
exactly what you're going to see on TV tonight. When
you're talking about right to left, left to right, you know,
(39:23):
everything you're seeing on cameras, what we see you're about
halfway up the lower bowl at Crypto and the site
lines are fantastic. So how's that for the graphies? Is
that good?
Speaker 7 (39:37):
I like it?
Speaker 5 (39:37):
You know.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
By the way, do you guys realize that they had
to take the bulls banners down because they had pyrotechnics
at a oh No show and they singed the bottom
of the oh No pyrotechnics like singe the bottom of
the bank. No, they had to take them down and
they're I guess they're redoing them or fixing them or whatever.
Speaker 7 (39:56):
One of the things you talked about reminding me somewhere
down the road.
Speaker 3 (39:59):
Maybe next season we'll do a top three way too
loud PA system I have my opinions from the seven
seasons that I traveled every single game as well, but
I'll save those for later.
Speaker 5 (40:11):
To save them, because I could give you two of
them right now. I already heard number one.
Speaker 2 (40:18):
Yeah, mine is Miami Numberami Charlotte Lee, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (40:23):
Cleveland again. You know me, I'm a stick my guy
and I have to use headphones head sets on the
road now because of PA Systems.
Speaker 7 (40:31):
Yeah. Yeah, it's out of control. It's an epidemic.
Speaker 5 (40:35):
All right.
Speaker 2 (40:36):
Well, thanks for your time, and again we have so
many different. Jim, go ahead, just get on the phone
right now, book it right now. We got to get
the tray hand how to hackle podcast. I mean that
that sounds fantastic to me because well, if you're calling
them a master, that means you have to be able
to do it without getting kicked out, which means.
Speaker 5 (40:56):
Oh, no, he does it perfectly, nature perfectly. Again, I
have never guessed because he never.
Speaker 2 (41:05):
Really talks when I'm around him.
Speaker 9 (41:08):
She's he does it loudly yet subtly, and every statement
as a cutting, biting purpose.
Speaker 1 (41:24):
Wow.
Speaker 5 (41:24):
Yeah, and and and gestures as well.
Speaker 7 (41:27):
Really no, yeah, you have to do this. You have
to get an studio next door. We need to do this.
Speaker 5 (41:33):
You have to get the full scope.
Speaker 7 (41:34):
Sounds good. Thank you, Graf.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
Enjoy the game tonight, and uh we'll here we're hearing
you and JD's calls.
Speaker 5 (41:40):
All right, gentlemen, thank you.
Speaker 2 (41:42):
Our thanks to tiographing any radio voice of you're New
Orleans Pelicans. Uh you mentioned there in our conversation. You're
a Philly fan, so you're very happy as to how
the Braves season has started. I'm kind of the same
way when I see, you know, the Cardinals struggle and
all that, I'm just happy the Cubs are at least
competitive this year.
Speaker 4 (41:59):
Man.
Speaker 2 (42:00):
I don't know if the Cubs and Phillies over meet
in the playoffs though, Jim.
Speaker 3 (42:03):
Yeah, I mean, I hate to sound like a baseball
snob here, but the Phillies, I mean, making the playoffs
at this I can't believe I'm saying this based on
the most of what I've experienced with them, but it's
like the making the playoffs is like a foregone conclusion.
It seems like at this point. I don't want to
jinx anything, but I mean, yeah, it'd be it'd be
cool to see the Copies in the playoffs see some
Wrigley postseason get back to that. I hadn't looked at
(42:24):
the standings. I just checked real just now. I see
they're five and four, so yeah, not bad maybe well,
and the Cardinals are in first, so that they're not
supposed to be that good this year, so that division
is probably wide open.
Speaker 7 (42:34):
Maybe it's there for the taking.
Speaker 2 (42:35):
They're still there, Jim, just a half game back on
April fourth. That's uh, it's kind of where we want
to be, right, That's where it is. But we do have,
of course, a lot to get into here still before
we wrap up very briefly, it is Friday. A lot
of info to come, So.
Speaker 5 (42:53):
Let's go.
Speaker 4 (42:56):
TGI Jim.
Speaker 5 (42:58):
It's Friday, which means mister Eichenhoffer as a pair of
things for US, trending numbers and.
Speaker 7 (43:07):
Weekend showdown.
Speaker 4 (43:09):
What are we starting with.
Speaker 8 (43:10):
Jim, Well, Mellory, Let's start with the trending number, and
the trending number is one, and that is there's only
one season series in the entire NBA that has not
begun yet, Gus, and that is the Bucks versus the Pelicans.
Speaker 3 (43:25):
I want to give John Schuman of NBA dot com
credit for this because he mentioned this earlier in the
week that there were only two series that hadn't started.
The other one was Timberwolves versus Nets, which they played
on Thursday night, so that one has already begun. So
in the end, obviously the January snowstorm had everything to
do with this, the fact that the Pelicans have not
played the Bucks yet this season. We talked a lot
(43:48):
about the Lakers game tonight for obvious reasons, we didn't
really get into the Milwaukee game. But interesting to see that,
you know, over the Bucks last five or six games
this season. They're gonna play the Pelicans twice. Somal is
also going to play a role in determining what happens
right now with Milwaukee. Is is in a tight battle
with Detroit for five and six in the East, and
(44:09):
that's gonna determine who plays against the Pacers in the
first round and who plays against the Knicks. So that'll
be it'll be interesting to see, you know, if the
Pelicans can get a win or two against Milwaukee and play.
Speaker 7 (44:20):
Spoiler against them.
Speaker 3 (44:22):
But yeah, none have not played the Bucks this season,
but we'll play them twice over the next handful of days.
And the weekend showdown is Sunday afternoon at two thirty.
It is the Lakers and the Thunder, a huge matchup.
The OKAC still has a chance to win seventy games.
Speaker 7 (44:41):
They if they run the table the rest of the way.
They're sixty four and twelve right now.
Speaker 3 (44:45):
They do have a game against at Houston tonight, which
is difficult, but they could go into that Lakers. They
actually play the Lakers on Tuesday as well, so we
I mean, those will be two really important games and
I'll be curious to see how that goes. Really going
to have a slew of teams in the West that
become Okay, see thunder fans on Sunday and Tuesday, because
(45:07):
you know, for example, if they could knock out, if
they could beat the Lakers twice, that's gonna have a
massive impact on the race in that pack where there's
so many teams battling between three and eight right now,
Okayc's had number one clinch for a long time. Houston's
looking very good for the two seed unless they have
a real rough final week. But man, three through eight
(45:27):
is so tight right now, and so I'm looking forward
to the last part of the season with But the
Sunday showdown is the start of a two game series
for the Lakers in Oklahoma City.
Speaker 7 (45:39):
Not an easy way to kind of wind down the
regular season for them.
Speaker 2 (45:42):
You know, I mentioned it in a conversation with Graf.
As we wrap up here, Jim, something tells me that
while unfortunate, you know, just the circumstances, you're not with
us here, just a little smile maybe might come across
your face if the Pals can spoil the Lakers Friday night.
It just it wouldn't be a bad thing, right.
Speaker 7 (46:00):
What it is, not a little smile, a very large smile.
Speaker 2 (46:03):
Guys, I hear you, man, Thank you so much. Appreciate
the Thomas to Jim, Mike and off. If you want
to give a follow, of course, Jim underscore, ikenhoffer of course,
Pelicans dot com before the game, after the game, in
between games. Jim's got you covered. Thank you, Jim. Safe
travels back and forth, man, Thanks Gus and that'll do
it first. We'll see you on Monday. Aaron Summers will
be joining me on the New Orleans Pelicans podcast. Until then,
(46:25):
enjoy the weekend and thank you for listening.
Speaker 1 (46:29):
Thanks for listening to the New Orleans Pelicans podcast. Join
us three times per week on Pelicans dot com, the
Pelicans mobile app, the iHeartRadio app, or where you get
your podcast, and be sure to give Jim and Gus
a follow on x at Jim underscore I can offer
(46:49):
and Gcap Underscore seventeen. We'll see you next time right
here on the New Orleans Pelicans podcast
Host
Jim Eichenhofer
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