April 22, 2025 • 33 mins
Will Guillory of The Athletic joins Jim Eichenhofer and Gus Kattengell on the New Orleans Pelicans Podcast to recap Trey Murphy III's 2024-25 NBA season.
They talk about Murphy’s growth as a shot creator, his impact on both ends of the floor, and what his future could look like as a key piece next to Zion Williamson. Could an All-Star nod be on the horizon?
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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. Hear 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 (00:34):
All right, Welcome back to New Orleans Pelicans Podcast, the
official podcast of your New Orleans Pelicans. Gus Catgill Jim
I can offer Frompelicans dot com.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
We're off and.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Running fourteen total player profiles as we take a look
back at the season and give each player some time
some love, Jim some things that really stood out. We
start out with Zion Williamson. We'll Gilryth the Athletic help
us with that yesterday. Obviously that's the player you start with,
right when it comes to this franchise.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Sure after that, mister Trey Murphy. He's second in the
number two hole in the lineup, and yeah, I mean,
I think he's one of the players that people are
the most excited about as far as his future. He's
only twenty four years old. He's made rapid jumps. I
think throughout the first four seasons of his career. You know,
I think he could have been in maybe in Most
(01:20):
Improved Player conversation this year if he had played enough
games to qualify for that award he ended up with
fifty three, or you know, if he had been on
the court more. Obviously you get to build up your
case as far as that award goes. But I think
either way, he was one of those players that I
think made one of the more impressive jumps because he
was already a really good player, but I think he
(01:41):
moved up another level, which is something we're gonna talk
about with Will Gillery.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Yeah, no doubt, we're definitely going to get into that
here in a quick second. But Jim, this is a
big week obviously for the organization because today, as we're
recorded here on this Tuesday, Joe Dumars will be officially
introduced and have his introductory press conference to everybody as
the new vice president of basketball operations for the New
(02:04):
Orleans Pelicans. Last week that came out, we will hear
his vision. I guess today, as we go and sit
down and you put yourselves in the shoes of the fans, what.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Do you want to hear?
Speaker 4 (02:16):
Yeah, I mean, as we record this on Tuesday morning,
his press conference is scheduled for one o'clock. So I
want to kind of go both ways of I'm sure
there's going to be people that listen. There might be
some people that listen to this before his press or
there's going to be other people that are listening to
it after he's already spoken to the media. But I mean,
I think, you know, going into it, I mean, one
of the things that I'm looking forward to hearing his
(02:38):
perspective on is just, for example, I think it's kind
of clear and obvious that, you know, I've talked about
this a lot, that the Pelicans need to improve defensively.
They finished twenty ninth in defensive rating this past season,
after they had been sixth place the previous two seasons.
You know, one of the things that's interesting from Joe
Dumars's background as both a player and an executive with
(02:59):
the Detroit Pistons. So here's a couple facts for you.
This is the seventy seventh season of Detroit Pistons basketball
franchise history. They were almost an original member of the NBA.
They've won three championships in those seventy seven years. And
Joe Dumars was the starting guard for two of those times,
and then he was the GM the lead executive for
(03:20):
the other time. So really all three times that Detroit
has won a championship, Joe Dumars has been heavily involved.
And the two thousand and four team that he was
the executive lead guy on, they were second in the
league in defensive efficiency. And then the two back to
back teams that the older NBA fans like ourselves out
there will remember, they won.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
And when he was a.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Player in nineteen eighty nine, they won. They were second
in the league in fewest points allowed. In nineteen ninety
they were first and fewest points allowed. So he was
also the Finals MVP in nineteen eighty nine. So, I mean,
if you think about his background, where he came from
the bad Boy Pistons, their hallmark was just really physical defense, intensity, toughness.
(04:05):
I'm curious to hear how much he's going to discuss
those those elements during the press conference in terms of
things that to me, those are all areas that the
Pelicans need to improve. I think they need to bring
more of a consistent competitiveness to the court. I think
we saw and Obviously we've touched on this a million
times that there were injuries that led to some of
(04:26):
the games where they're down a ton of points even
by halftime. But they've got to they have to do
better no matter who's on the court in terms of
just being more competitive on a regular basis compared to
what we saw, especially in the last couple months of
the season. And then lastly, with him just I'm sure
there's gonna be questions about the composition of the roster.
(04:47):
You know how much he'll talk about, you know how
much the chemistry. I don't even know if he's had
time to really like lock in and look at some
of these things. But to me, I think the chemistry
improvement needs to happen as well. In terms of the
pieces needing to fit together. I think the front office
has done an excellent job here in terms of bringing
in the talent, and they've drafted really well with you
(05:09):
know a guy we're talking we talked about today with
Trey Murphy who was the seventeenth pick in the draft.
Herb Jones that we're going to talk about on Thursday
was the thirty fifth pick. But I thought the pieces
fit much better together in the previous couple seasons than
they did this past season. Obviously, some of that was injuries,
but I think one of the things that they're gonna
(05:29):
have to the front office is gonna have to look at,
is how do you create a better combination of offense, defense,
hustle guys, you know, guys that make get fifty to
fifty balls, guys that bring toughness, guys that bring intensity.
It just seemed like the composition of the roster was
a lot better suited and balanced out last season or
(05:52):
two years ago when they made the when they made
the play in or the playoffs over the recent couple
of years, compared to this season, where it seem like
it was a little bit tilted too much towards offense
and not enough in some of the other areas.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
You know, as you were going through that and again
all very solid points could have and I don't mean
this like I could have summarized you, but it's what
we've talked about. The word identity kept popping in my head,
like you kept giving me one thing, and I'm like,
identity is a defense. Identity they're playing hard. Ident Like,
I think that's probably one of the first things you
want to establish win away shape or form that I'm
(06:25):
gonna be eager to listen to, Like what are the
New Orleans Pelicans?
Speaker 1 (06:29):
But what is the vision?
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Is this a team that you know we're gonna get
you with lane, We're gonna get you with hustle. You're
gonna be thankful to get across the half court line.
We're bombs away.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Get ready.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
You know, we don't worry about the defense. Here come
the shots. We're gonna give it to Zion. Everybody get
out of the way. You know what I'm saying. And
I'm not saying we're gonna hear any of that, but
we should probably get an outline of that, right, I mean,
you would assume, because that's that's kind of where we
argu him. I kind of feel that, you know, a
lot of folks is gonna be on z A lot
of folks gonna be on some of the younger players.
(07:01):
But it's also why it was so important and key
and you kept bringing us up to play hard in
the last several weeks for those players like Reeves, like Macivits,
like those guys. Because Joe maybe he was watching I
don't know, but when he opens the laptop here, or
when he turns up the TV and there's tape and
he goes through the roster which you put on tape,
(07:21):
is going to be right on that screen.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Isn't it. Yeah?
Speaker 4 (07:23):
And I think another thing like this is a very
broad question that he may or may not address in
the press conference. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if
he doesn't, just because it's so early in his time here.
But a broad thing that you have to answer to
is once you figure out what your identity is and
once you figure out what your goal is of how
(07:43):
you want things to be structured and how you want
things to go moving forward, is how much of what's
here can accomplish that? How much of that are things
that you need to change? And So I mean those
are huge questions that are above our pay grade and
to handle, But I think those are definitely things that
you have to think about when you come off a
season like they just had, where you know, you got
(08:06):
to figure out, Okay, this is what we want to accomplish.
Can we do it with the guys that are here?
And then you go forward? So yeah, I think it'll
be really interesting to hear him and if you have
already watched it. What a great what a great press conference?
That right press conference. Yes, we're supposed to say so,
just hypothetically.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Here, let's have a little fun and we'll get into obviously,
Trey Murphy here with Will Guillory. You happen to walk
down the hallway with Joe Doumurs. He tosses you a
dry eraser market, goes you get one thing to write
on my board. And I got to pay attention to
with this team. Mine's easy more dunks. All dunks keep dunking,
you know that, right. I love dunks. That's the one
thing I love about that. We saw that with some
of the younger players, Trey Murphy attacking the room Macovic.
(08:46):
So if he tosses me a red dry eraser market
and says, hey, that's my office over there, you get
the write whatever. I'm asking anybody and everybody in the
building to write one thing they want me to focus
to get this team to do.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
I mean, I think I touched on it when I
was going through his path history that it's defense. It's
a way to you got to get back to the
We know it's there because they finished sixth in defense
the two previous seasons.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
And you have a coach.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
It was a different personnel, granted, no doubt, but to me,
that's what you have to do. You have to get
back to that, whether it's doing it with the guys
that are here, figuring out how you can improve drastically defensively,
or trying to make changes to the roster so that
you can put yourself in a better position to be
competitive and not finish, you know, second from the bottom
and defense the way that they did this season.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
All right, this is a guy that excited me when
he was on the court this season, mister Trey Murphy.
I know will Gilly feels the way I do. Jim
Ike and Offer feels that way as well. So here's
our conversation about Trey Murphy's season and what to expect
moving forward. All right, we welcome back again mister will
Gillery of the athletic He led things off, mister jim
Ike and Offer in the leadoff spot talking about Zion Williamson.
(09:54):
As we go through all of our players here fourteen
total Pelicans season reeve view of you know, the goods,
the Bassie ups and the downs, and shockingly, will as
we move on to another player, it's Trey Murphy injuries
part of it there as well, but also perhaps a
season that we may look back at and say that's
(10:16):
where it started.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Do you kind of have an idea what I'm getting at? Oh? Yeah,
we saw the essential for Trey Murphy the Indus year.
Speaker 5 (10:22):
I think if there was a most Improved Pelican Award
to be handed out at the end of the season,
I think Trey Murphrey would be the runaway favorite to
win it, just because of, you know, all the aspects
of his game that we saw grow this year, the
amount of pressure they put on him so do different
things and show a different side of his game. And
I think he excelled way more than you know, at
least I expected him to in certain areas. So I
(10:45):
thought it was a real nice season for him. And
I think obviously there was so many injuries, but I
think the Trey Murphy injury at the end of the
season might have been the one that hurt the most,
just because you saw how much progress he made this
season and then seeing him go down at the point
of the season he did, it was just like, man,
how much more can.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
This team deal with? As if everything else that happened
up to that point wasn't enough.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
You know, well, we're going to be pretty consistently asking
all of our guests to kind of describe some of
the kind of off the court aspects of some of
these players. In terms of with Trey, how do you
describe maybe his either his personality or kind of the
way that he went about improving and just kind of
(11:28):
his his approach to his game and just kind of
the strides that he's been able to make throughout his career.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
Yeah, what I would say is, as you guys know
from being around Trey, you know, I just said that,
you know, some of the aspects of his game that
improved that I wasn't expecting. I would say Trey Murphy
was not surprised by any of this at all, because
Tray Murphy.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
Is one of the most confident human beings that I've
ever been around in my life.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
That guy has a lot of belief in so he
believes in what he could do on the court. He believes,
you know, the more he puts on his plate, the
more he's capable of taking on those demands. And I
think he was kind of waiting for this opportunity, right,
I mean, it was kind of a a not you know,
very well kept secret that at some point during this
season the Depelicans were going to move on from brandon
(12:14):
Ingram to kind of put Trey Murphy into that spot
to be the co star next design Williamson, at least offensively.
And I think Trey was ready for that opportunity. He
was mentally preparing for it during the offseason, and I
think you saw him really step into it in a
big way. And I think we don't talk about enough
is you know, Trey Murphy last summer wasn't really doing
(12:35):
a lot during his training because he was waiting for
that extension.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
To come in.
Speaker 5 (12:39):
And we've heard the story a lot with guys where
when you're waiting to sign that extension, the people close
to you say, hey, don't play a lot of five
on five, don't get up and down. We don't want
to risk any injuries before you sign this deal. So
we saw him make this jump this year without doing
a lot of physical work during the offseason to improve
certain aspects of his game. So I think it was
(12:59):
a really impressive jump from trade this year considering the circumstances.
And I think the more comfortable he gets in this role,
the more we're going to see him improves.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
You know, one of the things that stood out to
me when I was looking at back at his season
and I was looking at some of the numbers and stuff,
was he played in fifty three games and he had
fifty one starts, Which I was stunned by that because
I'm like, when did they have the luxury of the
two games of being able to bring him off the bench.
If you consider how many guys were out and how
(13:28):
often this there was a steady stream of players that
they were trying to figure out, you know, how do
we how do we make up our rotation tonight? But anyways,
you know, you talked about some of the improvements that
he's made, too, I'm wondering, I mean, is it the
kind of thing where is there more for him to
get out of his ball handling and his passing? Do
(13:49):
you think that there's more room for him to improve
in those areas and that maybe we you know, you
mentioned how he didn't have he didn't have a normal offseason,
So was it the kind of thing now kind of?
And I mean he's not gonna have a normal offseason
this year either, unfortunately. But I mean, is it the
kind of thing where it's like we you know that
this was just kind of a little taste of what
(14:10):
he can do in those areas, and that if he has,
you know, more time in the gym, that it's something
that he can just continue to expand some of those
aspects of his game.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Yeah, no doubt.
Speaker 5 (14:20):
And I think it's something similar that we've talked about
in the past with other guys. It's just the more
opportunities you get on the court, the more reps you
get in a specific role, the more comfortable you get
doing it right. And I think with Trey throughout the
early parts of his career, he wasn't asked to do
a whole lot of pick and roll as the ball handler.
He wasn't, you know, asked to be an ISO guy,
to be a creator for others, to be a guy
who gets six, seven, eight assists in a game. His
(14:42):
job was to basically finish, to shoot threes, to dug
in fast breaks. You know, he wasn't asked to be
that creator. And I think you saw him be more
comfortable in that role during this season.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
And I think the more you do it, the more.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
You adjust to how teams defend you the more you
adjust to what your teammates are doing, when they.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Want to cut, when they want to spot up.
Speaker 5 (15:03):
That's just stuff that comes with time on task, right,
And I think the more he's asked to do that,
the more comfortable he's going to be with it.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
But also I think, you know, with trade.
Speaker 5 (15:11):
You know, again, we all, me and Jim always talking
about sitting next to each other at games and kind
of the stuff I mutter under my breath while watching games,
you know, so often, so often. You know, during the
early part of Trey's career, he would have the ball
dribbling up the court and I'd be like, Trey, get
a ball up, get a ball up, tray mass to trade,
and don't don't be dribbling multiple times because he just
wasn't comfortable in that role and he was so good
(15:31):
at just being a pure catching shoot guy. But I
think this season you saw him just just stretching his legs,
being more comfortable in situations.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
Where he's demanded to do more.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
And I think it's important for him to be comfortable
in that role because he's stepping up as the number
two guy next to Zion, So you want to be
able to trust tray to create those opportunities, because the
other part of that trade Murphy experienced early in his
career was we were always saying, man, I wish Tree
can get more shots, right, I wish Trick can get
more opportunities. I wish trade wasn't just standing in the
corner in a lot of these games. And if you're
(16:03):
putting the ball in his hands, you're running pick and roll,
you're forcing him to be more involved, but also you're
forcing defenses to pay more attention to him.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
And the thing that makes.
Speaker 5 (16:12):
Trey Murphy such a dynamic ball handler is his ability
to hit those step back threes right, to hit those
you know, one dribble pull ups, so you know from
thirty feet or wherever he's at. And when you have
that dynamic, it stretches defenses out and makes it harder
for them to send help. And it also makes it
easier for him to make those passes to the corner
or to throw those libs to eve Neasi. And then
(16:33):
it adds another dynamic when he's doing all that stuff
with Zion out there, because all the attention of Zion demands.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
With or without the ball.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
So I think the more you get Trey Murphy to
be a dynamic on ball guy, the more you could
just open everything else up in his game, and I
think it's something I really want to see him continue
to improve on going then the next year.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
You know.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
By the way, Will, I noticed towards the end of
the season too, that for a game or two, PR
separated us. I don't know if we were accumulating too
much power or what it was, but luckily that got
corrected and that we were back in our right full
positions by the last couple home games of this season.
But anyway, that's a discussion for another day.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
I think that's a whole podcast. Yeah, observer by you two.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
But I'm gonna throw two numbers at you, Will, and
I want you to kind of pick which one you
want to talk about. We could talk about both of them.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
You know.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
The interesting thing about these two numbers related to Trey
Murphy is neither of them are actually connected to his
shooting or his three point shots. So I think that's
actually a good sign in terms of the progression of
his game. The first number is seventy three, and that
is how many dunks that Trey Murphy had in the
fifty three games that he played. Gus loves this stat.
He loves dunks.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Yes, he averaged.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
Trey averaged one point four dunks per game this season,
which was his career high. His previous high was one
point one, so he made a jump there. And then
the second number is three, which is the time times
that Trey Murphy had eight or more assistant game this season.
He had a career high eleven versus Sacramento on February thirteenth.
So by comparison, through his first three NBA seasons, he
(18:08):
never had more than seven assists in any game. So
basically the three best assist games of his career all
happened during this past season. So which of those you
want to talk about? The seventy three dunks are the
three games where he had a bunch of assists.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
Yeah, I love the assist number, and I think we
covered that a little bit, you know, with some of
the aspects of his game that improved.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
So I want to go to dunks because I'm with Gus.
Speaker 5 (18:30):
I love me some dunks too, And in particular, what
was interesting about Trey Murphy. I think the conversation a
lot of times is also what type of dunks are is.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
He getting right?
Speaker 5 (18:39):
And I think you know, Trey Murphy, as good as
he is off the dribble, we don't see a whole
lot of the lebron off of pick and roll one dribble,
you know, throw to on back and boom it. I
think with Trey Murphy a lot of times it's in
transition put backs off of offensive rebounds, and that's the
stuff where you really want to see Tray, you know,
force his hand more. I talked a little bit about,
(19:01):
you know, wanting Trade to be more involved, to wanting
him to not just stand in the corner and watch
everybody else control the game. And I think a lot
of the times when people will complain about that, I
would say, hey, Trey can get himself involved by running
out in transition, by attacking the offensive boards. And I
think you want to see him continue to utilize those
aspects of his game because he's so effective in transition
(19:21):
because of his bounce, because he's so so much of
a threat to shoot threes in transition that he can
get to the rim and get those easy looks, you know,
in transition, but also attacking the offensive board because he
plays above the rim so easily, and you want to
see him continue to do that and not just rely
on making plays out of pick and roll or catching
shoot three pointers. So I think the dunks are a
(19:43):
really important number, not just because you know it gets
me and Gus excited, but because it shows him doing
other stuff to get involved. Right, That's what you want
to see with Trey is not don't just be a
three point shooter, don't just be a guy who's making
plays out of pick and roll, but just do everything
to make yourself an impact player in the game.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
I think that's when Trey's really at his best.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
Lastly, for me, one of the things that I thought
one of the most interesting quotes of the season was
when jose was talking to the media group and he said,
I mean, I think it might have been after a practice,
or maybe it was at a shoot around or something.
He said that. He's like, I don't know if I'm
supposed to tell you guys this, but I was talking
to Trey on the bus and Trey was saying, next year,
I'm going to be an All Star.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Now I don't want to.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
I don't want to. You know, corner you and ask you,
do you think he's going to be an All Star
next year. But I mean kind of going forward, I mean,
do you think that that is something that we should
be looking at, something that we should kind of monitor
that based on the way that he played this season,
in the progression that he made, that he can put
himself in that conversation, you know, going forward. I know
next season, hopefully he's going to get semi normal start
(20:45):
to the season. We don't know that for sure yet,
but I mean, just down the road, I mean, you
think this is this is a guy that could be
in that kind of company.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Oh yeah, And I think you know, it wasn't just Jose.
Speaker 5 (20:56):
We saw a lot of the clips from Trey when
he was at All Star weekend, you know, kind of
doing his corresponding thing, that a lot of his gears
were coming up to him and saying, hey, we expect
to see you this year. I think one I remember
off the top of my head was Kyrie Irving coming
up the tray and saying, hey, you need to be
in one of these uniforms next year. So I think
that's the big step for him, is just the respect
he's already getting from some of his peers and guys.
(21:18):
Pointing to him and saying, hey, he's the next guy.
He's going to be one of these guys who makes
this jump. Guys see that in him. And I think
another thing Tray benefits from also is guys like us
in the media where we kind of evaluate the game
differently nowadays because we have access to so many numbers,
and Trey Murphy is a guy at the very top
of the list who's advanced numbers, darling because of the
(21:39):
three point because of his three point numbers, because he
shoots a lot of attempts in the paint. You know,
a lot of guys who are kind of the stat
nerds love Trey Murphy.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
They love kind of his style of play.
Speaker 5 (21:50):
He doesn't take a whole lot of the mit range
jumpers are there very against and I think he plays
a very efficient style of basketball. So the more he
gets opportunities, the more you see that efficiency shine through.
So I think he's the guy who will get to
push from the media. But also I think we're gonna
hear more and more guys in postgame media from other
teams being like, man, Trey Murphy, he's really good.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
Trey Murphy. He had a huge impact on this game.
Speaker 5 (22:14):
And I think that's the stuff that starts to get
you in the consciousness of the NBA world when we
start talking about, you know, All Star nods or All
NBA nods, where you're getting that respect from the media
and from your peers. And I think it's only gonna
be a matter of time, in my opinion, for Trade
before he's in that All Star Game, because he's so
talented offensive then because he's very smart about the way
(22:35):
he approaches the game. And I think, just like I
keep saying, the more he gets those opportunities, the more
he's gonna be able to show what he can do. So, yeah,
I don't know if it's gonna be next year, but
I would definitely say that at some point in his career,
I expect Trator to be in that All Star Game
for sure.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
You know this is a slightly random note, Will, but
you reminded me another key I think to Trey, you know,
getting that recognition is to keep having amazing games against Boston.
We know that there's a huge Boston Mafia media contingent
out there that controls a lot of the discussion of
the NBA. And I mean, he had two monstrous games.
He had a forty point game against them. He had
(23:12):
a thirty point game against them, So I think that
also helps his case. When I think if you're a
Celtics fan and the only two games you saw of
the Pelicans were the games that Trey played against them,
You're just like, man, how's this guy not all NBA?
He was phenomenal in those games against the Celtics.
Speaker 5 (23:26):
Yeah, for sure he could go to Lakers in there
as well. Right, We've seen Trey have some really big
games against the Lakers, So I think that's for sure
that Trey loves the spotlight. That that's one thing we
can say. Trade is very confident and Trey loves when
the attention is on him. So that's one more reason
why we can expect him to shine next year.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
I'll tell you what, I'm going full dad here because
I'm going to take both stats and say it proves
my point, especially with what you just said and how
you finished in terms of is he an All Star player? Now,
we talked about it and brought it up Jim in
the podcast. I was the one that kind of threw
it to you guys, and whether it's roundtables or just
you and I podcast, I'm like, is this guy an
All Star player? All Star capable? But will you can
(24:05):
be an All Star player if you can shoot the three,
which he can do, And going into the season we
discussed it, I think even in Nashville that next step
I wanted to see Trey Murphy attack the rim. That'll
give you some space too, because then a defender can't
just go play for the three because you can blow
by them in dunkey, you compete in a dunk contest,
go play above the rims. So then there's Jim's stats
(24:26):
of the seventy plus dunks. But the assist also tells
you the growth of game understanding when he got in that.
I referred to it with Jim last week, that Denver
game where he got double teamed from the get go
and had a high number of assists in that game.
That told me, Okay, this guy has it all. He
understands what teams are trying to do. It didn't take
(24:50):
him out of his game. He actually helped the team
as well. And when you can do all that, that's
an All Star player to me, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
For sure.
Speaker 5 (24:57):
And I thought, you know, another aspect of his that
I thought really made a serious jump this year which
kind of surprised me because of some of the things
we talked about with his off season was kind of
different because he was wasn't.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
Allowed to do so many things.
Speaker 5 (25:10):
I thought was really impressive this year was the way
he was able to get to the free throw line right.
And it's not just not just the amount of times,
but how he did it right. Kind of the understanding
of how to bump a guy at the right time,
how to extend.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
His arms and get guys slapping at you.
Speaker 5 (25:24):
That's the stuff that you see guys kind of develop
over years, and I thought he showed that immediately this year,
that understanding of how to use his body. I mean,
he's a big, long guy. He's with six' nine six' ten.
Long arms were guys with that kind of, you know
with those kind of physicality that they're able to get
into the paint and force teams to really make tough
(25:44):
decisions about how they're going to contest some of.
Speaker 3 (25:46):
Those shots how are you going to send help and
if you're we.
Speaker 5 (25:49):
See it so often when guy's like An aust rees
or like A job morant do this where you take
one trouble up to the paint and you extend those
arms and guys starts slapping at, the ball and that's
how you get easy free all.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
The TIME and i think we're going To see trade.
Speaker 5 (26:02):
Do that a lot the more he develops as a,
ball handler being able to get to the free, throw
line forcing defenders to make tough decisions on how they're.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
Defending him and we Know what trade when you send
him to the free.
Speaker 5 (26:13):
Throw line he's a guy who's eighty five, Ninety percent,
so again that's, more efficiency that's more easy points. For
HIM so i think he's he's adding a lot of
the things that you want to see from a guy
who's going to be a high, usage player to be
a guy who can. Score efficiently it's just about getting
more opportunities and just feeling comfortable.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
Doing it he shot eighty eight point seven percent from
the free, throw line like, You, said will so we
did not get Any Upset mama murphy postgame press conference
interview questions, this year so she's.
Speaker 5 (26:43):
Very.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Happy, podcast yeah, we should, we should, Really, Should WILL
as i let, you go this is going to be
my first summer full time here. Hanging out do you
want to start like a? Summer league three? On three
we can go play. With It the pales facility, over
here they're a little three.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
On three i'm there giving me a Time Traveling.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Will gillory who's who's our?
Speaker 3 (27:04):
Third player are we Taking?
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Jim jimmy?
Speaker 4 (27:06):
You, playing yeah there's a lot of shooting on. The
court if You, Get will WILL and i. OUT there
i haven't seen you. Play, before gods. THEY'RE shooting i. Can, Shoot,
OKAY okay i think we got a dangerous squad. Coming
together we're going.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
To Try let there's not.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
A lot of Left. Unlike Trey, Unlike trey i'm not
setting any career highs And, ASSIST okay i.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Got you so we're running screens.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
For you is that what.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
We're doing the ball comes, my way you can just
go ahead and attack. THE bull i, Love It.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
Will gilly it's always appreciated. The Time and i'm gonna
try to get. THIS started, I mean i haven't told me,
NO yet i, haven't asked but we'll.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Do it. Thank you will.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Appreciate it, thanks man appreciate.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Our Thanks To Will gillery as we uh move on
now with two in the in, the books Now With
zion Williamson And trey Murphy again i'm genuinely excited, for
him and you kind of heard him touch. ON it
i know you touched on it here, as well. Timeline
wise you heard him speak The final sunday for. The
season he envisions himself and this is. The key he
(28:08):
sees himself ready for, TRAINING camp. I hope, So, right,
yeah great it's been. Two seasons you brought. THAT up
i can't believe that two. Straight seasons we hasn't started.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
The, year yeah we would love to see him be
able to have kind of a normal ramp up to
the beginning of. The, season obviously his off season is
not going to be that because he has to go through.
His rehab, BUT yeah, I mean i think the thing
that is really, frustrating about beyond the obvious of the
injuries that happened this, past season is that you hope
that they don't bleed into. Next, season obviously with some
(28:37):
Cases Like dejontey murray that, it's unavoidable but Hopefully With,
trey murphy we'll be able to, see him, you know
participate fully in training camp and Preseason and australia and
all those kind. Of things but, EITHER way i think
It's and i'm sure he knows. This too don't, rush
it just take your time and be ready when. You
ARE and i think it's most important that you know
(28:59):
by the beginning of the season or early in, the
season you're good to go and not not, try to,
you know. Hurry, anything yeah let's get something better from
that aspect. Of it, well wait Thanks for will for,
doing that and thank You for jim. As well, and
again by, the way there are write ups to go
along with, These podcasts so Go to pelicans dot com
and you can see for yourself Some of jim's thoughts
on there and also some numbers and some statistics and things.
(29:21):
That nature you have an, ACCOMPANYING piece i guess is
the way it Is, is yes they can click. On that and,
you know of all the years that we've, DONE this
i think This year i've tried to tie the, two
together the written part of it and the podcast part
of it. Most closely so Something that i've been thinking
about for the last couple, of years but THIS year
i really tried to pull it together and have, you know,
(29:41):
for example in the, written part there's always going to
be a quote from one of our guests that talks
about that, Specific player so, so yeah it's something that people.
Can enjoy whether you want to listen to us ramble
on or you want to listen to me ramble on and,
written form you can.
Speaker 3 (29:57):
Do that so, All, right well.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
Before we go away on, this, one gym the. Playoffs
continue got a pair of interesting one In The western
conference Playoffs Here Golden, state houston Oh in minnesota And.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
The, Lakers Yeah Golden state houston is going To be.
Game Two that's. Wednesday night, BUT tonight i can't wait for.
This One the timberwolves And the lakers play at nine O'CLOCK. On.
Tnt boy, you know if we always pride ourselves on
being objective and providing unbiased coverage About, the lakers. We
DO but i have to SAY that i really enjoyed
(30:29):
the heck Out of saturday's Performance. BY minnesota, i MEAN
but i am curious to See in game two tonight
whether that was something That the timberwolves can replicate or
whether that was kind of. A flukey, i mean they
went they made twenty one three pointers in, That game
so if they shoot, LIKE that i think it's going
to be a. Short SERIES but, i mean it's difficult
to shoot fifty percent from three on, any night but
(30:52):
especially in. The playoffs but that was that was that was,
something else the way that they played in, that game
and it seemed like they just match up really well Against.
The lakers we've talked about How The tea wolves seem
to match up Well against denver, for, example also but
their size just Gave the lakers a lot of problems in.
That GAME and i don't Think the lakers have a
ton of options as far as bigs that they can
(31:13):
put on the court to counteract.
Speaker 3 (31:15):
Some Of what.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
Minnesota does BUT but, i mean this is this is
almost like a must win For the. Lakers TONIGHT so
i think this will be one of the more HIGHLY
rated tv broadcasts of. The, SEASON now i.
Speaker 3 (31:26):
Know you'll be.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Locked in and to, your, POINT though I mean lebron,
at nineteen it was eight, of eighteen one of five.
From three you gotta matche he's gonna, You.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
KNOW yeah i got a few.
Speaker 2 (31:34):
Bounce, Back yeah luca ahead, Thirty seven but that's to
your point when.
Speaker 4 (31:38):
They cut off everybody else Though they luca had a,
big game but they didn't get A Ton austin reeves
had a really rough night. As well, so yeah it'll
be interesting and then. Quickly too On The Golden state
houston game, tomorrow night he was. HE was, i mean
he had three or four shots that you just if you're,
the opponent you, just like what are we supposed to do?
On that he's falling out, of bounds he's shooting it
(31:59):
high enough to hit the rim and it still goes
in and beats the. Shot clock so that.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
WAS amazing, i mean or, jet quickly sure.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
Is he the player?
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Right now like of all the players, right now just
close your eyes right now and you hear you got
to pick one player to go watch play in the postseason?
Speaker 3 (32:14):
RIGHT now i.
Speaker 4 (32:14):
Think, SO yeah i think he might not be the
best player IN the nba, right now but in terms
of getting your money's worth with, the, TICKET yeah i
think he might. Be right he might be the guy
that just. Always delivers so it was an interesting. GAME
one i Thought the rockets people were concerned about their
offense because of the top, playoff teams they've struggled the.
(32:34):
Most offensively they've their defense is kind of, carried them,
but man they had to struggle to get to eighty
points in that Game, On sunday so that'll be interesting
to see you know if they can generate a lot,
more offense because if you play offense at, that level
you're gonna be out. Very Quickly golden state's gonna Just
with Curry, and butler they're able to. SCORE enough i
think that if you can't make shots The way houston
(32:55):
Did in, game one that they'll be in.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
Big trouble, all right It's mister jim.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
Miicanoff again don't forget to Go to pelicans see his
accompanying piece there. As, well plus continue to listen. To
us we got twelve more. Now players as we've Gone
through Zion And. Trey murphy you can continue to check
those out throughout the next two weeks here as we
lead you closer and closer TO The Nba draft, lottery
night Which is. May twelfth thanks for listening To The
(33:20):
New orleans.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
Pelicans podcast 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
(33:41):
can Offer 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. Hear 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 (00:34):
All right, Welcome back to New Orleans Pelicans Podcast, the
official podcast of your New Orleans Pelicans. Gus Catgill Jim
I can offer Frompelicans dot com.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
We're off and.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Running fourteen total player profiles as we take a look
back at the season and give each player some time
some love, Jim some things that really stood out. We
start out with Zion Williamson. We'll Gilryth the Athletic help
us with that yesterday. Obviously that's the player you start with,
right when it comes to this franchise.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Sure after that, mister Trey Murphy. He's second in the
number two hole in the lineup, and yeah, I mean,
I think he's one of the players that people are
the most excited about as far as his future. He's
only twenty four years old. He's made rapid jumps. I
think throughout the first four seasons of his career. You know,
I think he could have been in maybe in Most
(01:20):
Improved Player conversation this year if he had played enough
games to qualify for that award he ended up with
fifty three, or you know, if he had been on
the court more. Obviously you get to build up your
case as far as that award goes. But I think
either way, he was one of those players that I
think made one of the more impressive jumps because he
was already a really good player, but I think he
(01:41):
moved up another level, which is something we're gonna talk
about with Will Gillery.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Yeah, no doubt, we're definitely going to get into that
here in a quick second. But Jim, this is a
big week obviously for the organization because today, as we're
recorded here on this Tuesday, Joe Dumars will be officially
introduced and have his introductory press conference to everybody as
the new vice president of basketball operations for the New
(02:04):
Orleans Pelicans. Last week that came out, we will hear
his vision. I guess today, as we go and sit
down and you put yourselves in the shoes of the fans, what.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Do you want to hear?
Speaker 4 (02:16):
Yeah, I mean, as we record this on Tuesday morning,
his press conference is scheduled for one o'clock. So I
want to kind of go both ways of I'm sure
there's going to be people that listen. There might be
some people that listen to this before his press or
there's going to be other people that are listening to
it after he's already spoken to the media. But I mean,
I think, you know, going into it, I mean, one
of the things that I'm looking forward to hearing his
(02:38):
perspective on is just, for example, I think it's kind
of clear and obvious that, you know, I've talked about
this a lot, that the Pelicans need to improve defensively.
They finished twenty ninth in defensive rating this past season,
after they had been sixth place the previous two seasons.
You know, one of the things that's interesting from Joe
Dumars's background as both a player and an executive with
(02:59):
the Detroit Pistons. So here's a couple facts for you.
This is the seventy seventh season of Detroit Pistons basketball
franchise history. They were almost an original member of the NBA.
They've won three championships in those seventy seven years. And
Joe Dumars was the starting guard for two of those times,
and then he was the GM the lead executive for
(03:20):
the other time. So really all three times that Detroit
has won a championship, Joe Dumars has been heavily involved.
And the two thousand and four team that he was
the executive lead guy on, they were second in the
league in defensive efficiency. And then the two back to
back teams that the older NBA fans like ourselves out
there will remember, they won.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
And when he was a.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Player in nineteen eighty nine, they won. They were second
in the league in fewest points allowed. In nineteen ninety
they were first and fewest points allowed. So he was
also the Finals MVP in nineteen eighty nine. So, I mean,
if you think about his background, where he came from
the bad Boy Pistons, their hallmark was just really physical defense, intensity, toughness.
(04:05):
I'm curious to hear how much he's going to discuss
those those elements during the press conference in terms of
things that to me, those are all areas that the
Pelicans need to improve. I think they need to bring
more of a consistent competitiveness to the court. I think
we saw and Obviously we've touched on this a million
times that there were injuries that led to some of
(04:26):
the games where they're down a ton of points even
by halftime. But they've got to they have to do
better no matter who's on the court in terms of
just being more competitive on a regular basis compared to
what we saw, especially in the last couple months of
the season. And then lastly, with him just I'm sure
there's gonna be questions about the composition of the roster.
(04:47):
You know how much he'll talk about, you know how
much the chemistry. I don't even know if he's had
time to really like lock in and look at some
of these things. But to me, I think the chemistry
improvement needs to happen as well. In terms of the
pieces needing to fit together. I think the front office
has done an excellent job here in terms of bringing
in the talent, and they've drafted really well with you
(05:09):
know a guy we're talking we talked about today with
Trey Murphy who was the seventeenth pick in the draft.
Herb Jones that we're going to talk about on Thursday
was the thirty fifth pick. But I thought the pieces
fit much better together in the previous couple seasons than
they did this past season. Obviously, some of that was injuries,
but I think one of the things that they're gonna
(05:29):
have to the front office is gonna have to look at,
is how do you create a better combination of offense, defense,
hustle guys, you know, guys that make get fifty to
fifty balls, guys that bring toughness, guys that bring intensity.
It just seemed like the composition of the roster was
a lot better suited and balanced out last season or
(05:52):
two years ago when they made the when they made
the play in or the playoffs over the recent couple
of years, compared to this season, where it seem like
it was a little bit tilted too much towards offense
and not enough in some of the other areas.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
You know, as you were going through that and again
all very solid points could have and I don't mean
this like I could have summarized you, but it's what
we've talked about. The word identity kept popping in my head,
like you kept giving me one thing, and I'm like,
identity is a defense. Identity they're playing hard. Ident Like,
I think that's probably one of the first things you
want to establish win away shape or form that I'm
(06:25):
gonna be eager to listen to, Like what are the
New Orleans Pelicans?
Speaker 1 (06:29):
But what is the vision?
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Is this a team that you know we're gonna get
you with lane, We're gonna get you with hustle. You're
gonna be thankful to get across the half court line.
We're bombs away.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Get ready.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
You know, we don't worry about the defense. Here come
the shots. We're gonna give it to Zion. Everybody get
out of the way. You know what I'm saying. And
I'm not saying we're gonna hear any of that, but
we should probably get an outline of that, right, I mean,
you would assume, because that's that's kind of where we
argu him. I kind of feel that, you know, a
lot of folks is gonna be on z A lot
of folks gonna be on some of the younger players.
(07:01):
But it's also why it was so important and key
and you kept bringing us up to play hard in
the last several weeks for those players like Reeves, like Macivits,
like those guys. Because Joe maybe he was watching I
don't know, but when he opens the laptop here, or
when he turns up the TV and there's tape and
he goes through the roster which you put on tape,
(07:21):
is going to be right on that screen.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Isn't it. Yeah?
Speaker 4 (07:23):
And I think another thing like this is a very
broad question that he may or may not address in
the press conference. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if
he doesn't, just because it's so early in his time here.
But a broad thing that you have to answer to
is once you figure out what your identity is and
once you figure out what your goal is of how
(07:43):
you want things to be structured and how you want
things to go moving forward, is how much of what's
here can accomplish that? How much of that are things
that you need to change? And So I mean those
are huge questions that are above our pay grade and
to handle, But I think those are definitely things that
you have to think about when you come off a
season like they just had, where you know, you got
(08:06):
to figure out, Okay, this is what we want to accomplish.
Can we do it with the guys that are here?
And then you go forward? So yeah, I think it'll
be really interesting to hear him and if you have
already watched it. What a great what a great press conference?
That right press conference. Yes, we're supposed to say so,
just hypothetically.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Here, let's have a little fun and we'll get into obviously,
Trey Murphy here with Will Guillory. You happen to walk
down the hallway with Joe Doumurs. He tosses you a
dry eraser market, goes you get one thing to write
on my board. And I got to pay attention to
with this team. Mine's easy more dunks. All dunks keep dunking,
you know that, right. I love dunks. That's the one
thing I love about that. We saw that with some
of the younger players, Trey Murphy attacking the room Macovic.
(08:46):
So if he tosses me a red dry eraser market
and says, hey, that's my office over there, you get
the write whatever. I'm asking anybody and everybody in the
building to write one thing they want me to focus
to get this team to do.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
I mean, I think I touched on it when I
was going through his path history that it's defense. It's
a way to you got to get back to the
We know it's there because they finished sixth in defense
the two previous seasons.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
And you have a coach.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
It was a different personnel, granted, no doubt, but to me,
that's what you have to do. You have to get
back to that, whether it's doing it with the guys
that are here, figuring out how you can improve drastically defensively,
or trying to make changes to the roster so that
you can put yourself in a better position to be
competitive and not finish, you know, second from the bottom
and defense the way that they did this season.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
All right, this is a guy that excited me when
he was on the court this season, mister Trey Murphy.
I know will Gilly feels the way I do. Jim
Ike and Offer feels that way as well. So here's
our conversation about Trey Murphy's season and what to expect
moving forward. All right, we welcome back again mister will
Gillery of the athletic He led things off, mister jim
Ike and Offer in the leadoff spot talking about Zion Williamson.
(09:54):
As we go through all of our players here fourteen
total Pelicans season reeve view of you know, the goods,
the Bassie ups and the downs, and shockingly, will as
we move on to another player, it's Trey Murphy injuries
part of it there as well, but also perhaps a
season that we may look back at and say that's
(10:16):
where it started.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Do you kind of have an idea what I'm getting at? Oh? Yeah,
we saw the essential for Trey Murphy the Indus year.
Speaker 5 (10:22):
I think if there was a most Improved Pelican Award
to be handed out at the end of the season,
I think Trey Murphrey would be the runaway favorite to
win it, just because of, you know, all the aspects
of his game that we saw grow this year, the
amount of pressure they put on him so do different
things and show a different side of his game. And
I think he excelled way more than you know, at
least I expected him to in certain areas. So I
(10:45):
thought it was a real nice season for him. And
I think obviously there was so many injuries, but I
think the Trey Murphy injury at the end of the
season might have been the one that hurt the most,
just because you saw how much progress he made this
season and then seeing him go down at the point
of the season he did, it was just like, man,
how much more can.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
This team deal with? As if everything else that happened
up to that point wasn't enough.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
You know, well, we're going to be pretty consistently asking
all of our guests to kind of describe some of
the kind of off the court aspects of some of
these players. In terms of with Trey, how do you
describe maybe his either his personality or kind of the
way that he went about improving and just kind of
(11:28):
his his approach to his game and just kind of
the strides that he's been able to make throughout his career.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
Yeah, what I would say is, as you guys know
from being around Trey, you know, I just said that,
you know, some of the aspects of his game that
improved that I wasn't expecting. I would say Trey Murphy
was not surprised by any of this at all, because
Tray Murphy.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
Is one of the most confident human beings that I've
ever been around in my life.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
That guy has a lot of belief in so he
believes in what he could do on the court. He believes,
you know, the more he puts on his plate, the
more he's capable of taking on those demands. And I
think he was kind of waiting for this opportunity, right,
I mean, it was kind of a a not you know,
very well kept secret that at some point during this
season the Depelicans were going to move on from brandon
(12:14):
Ingram to kind of put Trey Murphy into that spot
to be the co star next design Williamson, at least offensively.
And I think Trey was ready for that opportunity. He
was mentally preparing for it during the offseason, and I
think you saw him really step into it in a
big way. And I think we don't talk about enough
is you know, Trey Murphy last summer wasn't really doing
(12:35):
a lot during his training because he was waiting for
that extension.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
To come in.
Speaker 5 (12:39):
And we've heard the story a lot with guys where
when you're waiting to sign that extension, the people close
to you say, hey, don't play a lot of five
on five, don't get up and down. We don't want
to risk any injuries before you sign this deal. So
we saw him make this jump this year without doing
a lot of physical work during the offseason to improve
certain aspects of his game. So I think it was
(12:59):
a really impressive jump from trade this year considering the circumstances.
And I think the more comfortable he gets in this role,
the more we're going to see him improves.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
You know, one of the things that stood out to
me when I was looking at back at his season
and I was looking at some of the numbers and stuff,
was he played in fifty three games and he had
fifty one starts, Which I was stunned by that because
I'm like, when did they have the luxury of the
two games of being able to bring him off the bench.
If you consider how many guys were out and how
(13:28):
often this there was a steady stream of players that
they were trying to figure out, you know, how do
we how do we make up our rotation tonight? But anyways,
you know, you talked about some of the improvements that
he's made, too, I'm wondering, I mean, is it the
kind of thing where is there more for him to
get out of his ball handling and his passing? Do
(13:49):
you think that there's more room for him to improve
in those areas and that maybe we you know, you
mentioned how he didn't have he didn't have a normal offseason,
So was it the kind of thing now kind of?
And I mean he's not gonna have a normal offseason
this year either, unfortunately. But I mean, is it the
kind of thing where it's like we you know that
this was just kind of a little taste of what
(14:10):
he can do in those areas, and that if he has,
you know, more time in the gym, that it's something
that he can just continue to expand some of those
aspects of his game.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Yeah, no doubt.
Speaker 5 (14:20):
And I think it's something similar that we've talked about
in the past with other guys. It's just the more
opportunities you get on the court, the more reps you
get in a specific role, the more comfortable you get
doing it right. And I think with Trey throughout the
early parts of his career, he wasn't asked to do
a whole lot of pick and roll as the ball handler.
He wasn't, you know, asked to be an ISO guy,
to be a creator for others, to be a guy
who gets six, seven, eight assists in a game. His
(14:42):
job was to basically finish, to shoot threes, to dug
in fast breaks. You know, he wasn't asked to be
that creator. And I think you saw him be more
comfortable in that role during this season.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
And I think the more you do it, the more.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
You adjust to how teams defend you the more you
adjust to what your teammates are doing, when they.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Want to cut, when they want to spot up.
Speaker 5 (15:03):
That's just stuff that comes with time on task, right,
And I think the more he's asked to do that,
the more comfortable he's going to be with it.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
But also I think, you know, with trade.
Speaker 5 (15:11):
You know, again, we all, me and Jim always talking
about sitting next to each other at games and kind
of the stuff I mutter under my breath while watching games,
you know, so often, so often. You know, during the
early part of Trey's career, he would have the ball
dribbling up the court and I'd be like, Trey, get
a ball up, get a ball up, tray mass to trade,
and don't don't be dribbling multiple times because he just
wasn't comfortable in that role and he was so good
(15:31):
at just being a pure catching shoot guy. But I
think this season you saw him just just stretching his legs,
being more comfortable in situations.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
Where he's demanded to do more.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
And I think it's important for him to be comfortable
in that role because he's stepping up as the number
two guy next to Zion, So you want to be
able to trust tray to create those opportunities, because the
other part of that trade Murphy experienced early in his
career was we were always saying, man, I wish Tree
can get more shots, right, I wish Trick can get
more opportunities. I wish trade wasn't just standing in the
corner in a lot of these games. And if you're
(16:03):
putting the ball in his hands, you're running pick and roll,
you're forcing him to be more involved, but also you're
forcing defenses to pay more attention to him.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
And the thing that makes.
Speaker 5 (16:12):
Trey Murphy such a dynamic ball handler is his ability
to hit those step back threes right, to hit those
you know, one dribble pull ups, so you know from
thirty feet or wherever he's at. And when you have
that dynamic, it stretches defenses out and makes it harder
for them to send help. And it also makes it
easier for him to make those passes to the corner
or to throw those libs to eve Neasi. And then
(16:33):
it adds another dynamic when he's doing all that stuff
with Zion out there, because all the attention of Zion demands.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
With or without the ball.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
So I think the more you get Trey Murphy to
be a dynamic on ball guy, the more you could
just open everything else up in his game, and I
think it's something I really want to see him continue
to improve on going then the next year.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
You know.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
By the way, Will, I noticed towards the end of
the season too, that for a game or two, PR
separated us. I don't know if we were accumulating too
much power or what it was, but luckily that got
corrected and that we were back in our right full
positions by the last couple home games of this season.
But anyway, that's a discussion for another day.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
I think that's a whole podcast. Yeah, observer by you two.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
But I'm gonna throw two numbers at you, Will, and
I want you to kind of pick which one you
want to talk about. We could talk about both of them.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
You know.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
The interesting thing about these two numbers related to Trey
Murphy is neither of them are actually connected to his
shooting or his three point shots. So I think that's
actually a good sign in terms of the progression of
his game. The first number is seventy three, and that
is how many dunks that Trey Murphy had in the
fifty three games that he played. Gus loves this stat.
He loves dunks.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Yes, he averaged.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
Trey averaged one point four dunks per game this season,
which was his career high. His previous high was one
point one, so he made a jump there. And then
the second number is three, which is the time times
that Trey Murphy had eight or more assistant game this season.
He had a career high eleven versus Sacramento on February thirteenth.
So by comparison, through his first three NBA seasons, he
(18:08):
never had more than seven assists in any game. So
basically the three best assist games of his career all
happened during this past season. So which of those you
want to talk about? The seventy three dunks are the
three games where he had a bunch of assists.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
Yeah, I love the assist number, and I think we
covered that a little bit, you know, with some of
the aspects of his game that improved.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
So I want to go to dunks because I'm with Gus.
Speaker 5 (18:30):
I love me some dunks too, And in particular, what
was interesting about Trey Murphy. I think the conversation a
lot of times is also what type of dunks are is.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
He getting right?
Speaker 5 (18:39):
And I think you know, Trey Murphy, as good as
he is off the dribble, we don't see a whole
lot of the lebron off of pick and roll one dribble,
you know, throw to on back and boom it. I
think with Trey Murphy a lot of times it's in
transition put backs off of offensive rebounds, and that's the
stuff where you really want to see Tray, you know,
force his hand more. I talked a little bit about,
(19:01):
you know, wanting Trade to be more involved, to wanting
him to not just stand in the corner and watch
everybody else control the game. And I think a lot
of the times when people will complain about that, I
would say, hey, Trey can get himself involved by running
out in transition, by attacking the offensive boards. And I
think you want to see him continue to utilize those
aspects of his game because he's so effective in transition
(19:21):
because of his bounce, because he's so so much of
a threat to shoot threes in transition that he can
get to the rim and get those easy looks, you know,
in transition, but also attacking the offensive board because he
plays above the rim so easily, and you want to
see him continue to do that and not just rely
on making plays out of pick and roll or catching
shoot three pointers. So I think the dunks are a
(19:43):
really important number, not just because you know it gets
me and Gus excited, but because it shows him doing
other stuff to get involved. Right, That's what you want
to see with Trey is not don't just be a
three point shooter, don't just be a guy who's making
plays out of pick and roll, but just do everything
to make yourself an impact player in the game.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
I think that's when Trey's really at his best.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
Lastly, for me, one of the things that I thought
one of the most interesting quotes of the season was
when jose was talking to the media group and he said,
I mean, I think it might have been after a practice,
or maybe it was at a shoot around or something.
He said that. He's like, I don't know if I'm
supposed to tell you guys this, but I was talking
to Trey on the bus and Trey was saying, next year,
I'm going to be an All Star.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Now I don't want to.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
I don't want to. You know, corner you and ask you,
do you think he's going to be an All Star
next year. But I mean kind of going forward, I mean,
do you think that that is something that we should
be looking at, something that we should kind of monitor
that based on the way that he played this season,
in the progression that he made, that he can put
himself in that conversation, you know, going forward. I know
next season, hopefully he's going to get semi normal start
(20:45):
to the season. We don't know that for sure yet,
but I mean, just down the road, I mean, you
think this is this is a guy that could be
in that kind of company.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Oh yeah, And I think you know, it wasn't just Jose.
Speaker 5 (20:56):
We saw a lot of the clips from Trey when
he was at All Star weekend, you know, kind of
doing his corresponding thing, that a lot of his gears
were coming up to him and saying, hey, we expect
to see you this year. I think one I remember
off the top of my head was Kyrie Irving coming
up the tray and saying, hey, you need to be
in one of these uniforms next year. So I think
that's the big step for him, is just the respect
he's already getting from some of his peers and guys.
(21:18):
Pointing to him and saying, hey, he's the next guy.
He's going to be one of these guys who makes
this jump. Guys see that in him. And I think
another thing Tray benefits from also is guys like us
in the media where we kind of evaluate the game
differently nowadays because we have access to so many numbers,
and Trey Murphy is a guy at the very top
of the list who's advanced numbers, darling because of the
(21:39):
three point because of his three point numbers, because he
shoots a lot of attempts in the paint. You know,
a lot of guys who are kind of the stat
nerds love Trey Murphy.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
They love kind of his style of play.
Speaker 5 (21:50):
He doesn't take a whole lot of the mit range
jumpers are there very against and I think he plays
a very efficient style of basketball. So the more he
gets opportunities, the more you see that efficiency shine through.
So I think he's the guy who will get to
push from the media. But also I think we're gonna
hear more and more guys in postgame media from other
teams being like, man, Trey Murphy, he's really good.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
Trey Murphy. He had a huge impact on this game.
Speaker 5 (22:14):
And I think that's the stuff that starts to get
you in the consciousness of the NBA world when we
start talking about, you know, All Star nods or All
NBA nods, where you're getting that respect from the media
and from your peers. And I think it's only gonna
be a matter of time, in my opinion, for Trade
before he's in that All Star Game, because he's so
talented offensive then because he's very smart about the way
(22:35):
he approaches the game. And I think, just like I
keep saying, the more he gets those opportunities, the more
he's gonna be able to show what he can do. So, yeah,
I don't know if it's gonna be next year, but
I would definitely say that at some point in his career,
I expect Trator to be in that All Star Game
for sure.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
You know this is a slightly random note, Will, but
you reminded me another key I think to Trey, you know,
getting that recognition is to keep having amazing games against Boston.
We know that there's a huge Boston Mafia media contingent
out there that controls a lot of the discussion of
the NBA. And I mean, he had two monstrous games.
He had a forty point game against them. He had
(23:12):
a thirty point game against them, So I think that
also helps his case. When I think if you're a
Celtics fan and the only two games you saw of
the Pelicans were the games that Trey played against them,
You're just like, man, how's this guy not all NBA?
He was phenomenal in those games against the Celtics.
Speaker 5 (23:26):
Yeah, for sure he could go to Lakers in there
as well. Right, We've seen Trey have some really big
games against the Lakers, So I think that's for sure
that Trey loves the spotlight. That that's one thing we
can say. Trade is very confident and Trey loves when
the attention is on him. So that's one more reason
why we can expect him to shine next year.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
I'll tell you what, I'm going full dad here because
I'm going to take both stats and say it proves
my point, especially with what you just said and how
you finished in terms of is he an All Star player? Now,
we talked about it and brought it up Jim in
the podcast. I was the one that kind of threw
it to you guys, and whether it's roundtables or just
you and I podcast, I'm like, is this guy an
All Star player? All Star capable? But will you can
(24:05):
be an All Star player if you can shoot the three,
which he can do, And going into the season we
discussed it, I think even in Nashville that next step
I wanted to see Trey Murphy attack the rim. That'll
give you some space too, because then a defender can't
just go play for the three because you can blow
by them in dunkey, you compete in a dunk contest,
go play above the rims. So then there's Jim's stats
(24:26):
of the seventy plus dunks. But the assist also tells
you the growth of game understanding when he got in that.
I referred to it with Jim last week, that Denver
game where he got double teamed from the get go
and had a high number of assists in that game.
That told me, Okay, this guy has it all. He
understands what teams are trying to do. It didn't take
(24:50):
him out of his game. He actually helped the team
as well. And when you can do all that, that's
an All Star player to me, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
For sure.
Speaker 5 (24:57):
And I thought, you know, another aspect of his that
I thought really made a serious jump this year which
kind of surprised me because of some of the things
we talked about with his off season was kind of
different because he was wasn't.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
Allowed to do so many things.
Speaker 5 (25:10):
I thought was really impressive this year was the way
he was able to get to the free throw line right.
And it's not just not just the amount of times,
but how he did it right. Kind of the understanding
of how to bump a guy at the right time,
how to extend.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
His arms and get guys slapping at you.
Speaker 5 (25:24):
That's the stuff that you see guys kind of develop
over years, and I thought he showed that immediately this year,
that understanding of how to use his body. I mean,
he's a big, long guy. He's with six' nine six' ten.
Long arms were guys with that kind of, you know
with those kind of physicality that they're able to get
into the paint and force teams to really make tough
(25:44):
decisions about how they're going to contest some of.
Speaker 3 (25:46):
Those shots how are you going to send help and
if you're we.
Speaker 5 (25:49):
See it so often when guy's like An aust rees
or like A job morant do this where you take
one trouble up to the paint and you extend those
arms and guys starts slapping at, the ball and that's
how you get easy free all.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
The TIME and i think we're going To see trade.
Speaker 5 (26:02):
Do that a lot the more he develops as a,
ball handler being able to get to the free, throw
line forcing defenders to make tough decisions on how they're.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
Defending him and we Know what trade when you send
him to the free.
Speaker 5 (26:13):
Throw line he's a guy who's eighty five, Ninety percent,
so again that's, more efficiency that's more easy points. For
HIM so i think he's he's adding a lot of
the things that you want to see from a guy
who's going to be a high, usage player to be
a guy who can. Score efficiently it's just about getting
more opportunities and just feeling comfortable.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
Doing it he shot eighty eight point seven percent from
the free, throw line like, You, said will so we
did not get Any Upset mama murphy postgame press conference
interview questions, this year so she's.
Speaker 5 (26:43):
Very.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Happy, podcast yeah, we should, we should, Really, Should WILL
as i let, you go this is going to be
my first summer full time here. Hanging out do you
want to start like a? Summer league three? On three
we can go play. With It the pales facility, over
here they're a little three.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
On three i'm there giving me a Time Traveling.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Will gillory who's who's our?
Speaker 3 (27:04):
Third player are we Taking?
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Jim jimmy?
Speaker 4 (27:06):
You, playing yeah there's a lot of shooting on. The
court if You, Get will WILL and i. OUT there
i haven't seen you. Play, before gods. THEY'RE shooting i. Can, Shoot,
OKAY okay i think we got a dangerous squad. Coming
together we're going.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
To Try let there's not.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
A lot of Left. Unlike Trey, Unlike trey i'm not
setting any career highs And, ASSIST okay i.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Got you so we're running screens.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
For you is that what.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
We're doing the ball comes, my way you can just
go ahead and attack. THE bull i, Love It.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
Will gilly it's always appreciated. The Time and i'm gonna
try to get. THIS started, I mean i haven't told me,
NO yet i, haven't asked but we'll.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Do it. Thank you will.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Appreciate it, thanks man appreciate.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Our Thanks To Will gillery as we uh move on
now with two in the in, the books Now With
zion Williamson And trey Murphy again i'm genuinely excited, for
him and you kind of heard him touch. ON it
i know you touched on it here, as well. Timeline
wise you heard him speak The final sunday for. The
season he envisions himself and this is. The key he
(28:08):
sees himself ready for, TRAINING camp. I hope, So, right,
yeah great it's been. Two seasons you brought. THAT up
i can't believe that two. Straight seasons we hasn't started.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
The, year yeah we would love to see him be
able to have kind of a normal ramp up to
the beginning of. The, season obviously his off season is
not going to be that because he has to go through.
His rehab, BUT yeah, I mean i think the thing
that is really, frustrating about beyond the obvious of the
injuries that happened this, past season is that you hope
that they don't bleed into. Next, season obviously with some
(28:37):
Cases Like dejontey murray that, it's unavoidable but Hopefully With,
trey murphy we'll be able to, see him, you know
participate fully in training camp and Preseason and australia and
all those kind. Of things but, EITHER way i think
It's and i'm sure he knows. This too don't, rush
it just take your time and be ready when. You
ARE and i think it's most important that you know
(28:59):
by the beginning of the season or early in, the
season you're good to go and not not, try to,
you know. Hurry, anything yeah let's get something better from
that aspect. Of it, well wait Thanks for will for,
doing that and thank You for jim. As well, and
again by, the way there are write ups to go
along with, These podcasts so Go to pelicans dot com
and you can see for yourself Some of jim's thoughts
on there and also some numbers and some statistics and things.
(29:21):
That nature you have an, ACCOMPANYING piece i guess is
the way it Is, is yes they can click. On that and,
you know of all the years that we've, DONE this
i think This year i've tried to tie the, two
together the written part of it and the podcast part
of it. Most closely so Something that i've been thinking
about for the last couple, of years but THIS year
i really tried to pull it together and have, you know,
(29:41):
for example in the, written part there's always going to
be a quote from one of our guests that talks
about that, Specific player so, so yeah it's something that people.
Can enjoy whether you want to listen to us ramble
on or you want to listen to me ramble on and,
written form you can.
Speaker 3 (29:57):
Do that so, All, right well.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
Before we go away on, this, one gym the. Playoffs
continue got a pair of interesting one In The western
conference Playoffs Here Golden, state houston Oh in minnesota And.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
The, Lakers Yeah Golden state houston is going To be.
Game Two that's. Wednesday night, BUT tonight i can't wait for.
This One the timberwolves And the lakers play at nine O'CLOCK. On.
Tnt boy, you know if we always pride ourselves on
being objective and providing unbiased coverage About, the lakers. We
DO but i have to SAY that i really enjoyed
(30:29):
the heck Out of saturday's Performance. BY minnesota, i MEAN
but i am curious to See in game two tonight
whether that was something That the timberwolves can replicate or
whether that was kind of. A flukey, i mean they
went they made twenty one three pointers in, That game
so if they shoot, LIKE that i think it's going
to be a. Short SERIES but, i mean it's difficult
to shoot fifty percent from three on, any night but
(30:52):
especially in. The playoffs but that was that was that was,
something else the way that they played in, that game
and it seemed like they just match up really well Against.
The lakers we've talked about How The tea wolves seem
to match up Well against denver, for, example also but
their size just Gave the lakers a lot of problems in.
That GAME and i don't Think the lakers have a
ton of options as far as bigs that they can
(31:13):
put on the court to counteract.
Speaker 3 (31:15):
Some Of what.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
Minnesota does BUT but, i mean this is this is
almost like a must win For the. Lakers TONIGHT so
i think this will be one of the more HIGHLY
rated tv broadcasts of. The, SEASON now i.
Speaker 3 (31:26):
Know you'll be.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Locked in and to, your, POINT though I mean lebron,
at nineteen it was eight, of eighteen one of five.
From three you gotta matche he's gonna, You.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
KNOW yeah i got a few.
Speaker 2 (31:34):
Bounce, Back yeah luca ahead, Thirty seven but that's to
your point when.
Speaker 4 (31:38):
They cut off everybody else Though they luca had a,
big game but they didn't get A Ton austin reeves
had a really rough night. As well, so yeah it'll
be interesting and then. Quickly too On The Golden state
houston game, tomorrow night he was. HE was, i mean
he had three or four shots that you just if you're,
the opponent you, just like what are we supposed to do?
On that he's falling out, of bounds he's shooting it
(31:59):
high enough to hit the rim and it still goes
in and beats the. Shot clock so that.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
WAS amazing, i mean or, jet quickly sure.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
Is he the player?
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Right now like of all the players, right now just
close your eyes right now and you hear you got
to pick one player to go watch play in the postseason?
Speaker 3 (32:14):
RIGHT now i.
Speaker 4 (32:14):
Think, SO yeah i think he might not be the
best player IN the nba, right now but in terms
of getting your money's worth with, the, TICKET yeah i
think he might. Be right he might be the guy
that just. Always delivers so it was an interesting. GAME
one i Thought the rockets people were concerned about their
offense because of the top, playoff teams they've struggled the.
(32:34):
Most offensively they've their defense is kind of, carried them,
but man they had to struggle to get to eighty
points in that Game, On sunday so that'll be interesting
to see you know if they can generate a lot,
more offense because if you play offense at, that level
you're gonna be out. Very Quickly golden state's gonna Just
with Curry, and butler they're able to. SCORE enough i
think that if you can't make shots The way houston
(32:55):
Did in, game one that they'll be in.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
Big trouble, all right It's mister jim.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
Miicanoff again don't forget to Go to pelicans see his
accompanying piece there. As, well plus continue to listen. To
us we got twelve more. Now players as we've Gone
through Zion And. Trey murphy you can continue to check
those out throughout the next two weeks here as we
lead you closer and closer TO The Nba draft, lottery
night Which is. May twelfth thanks for listening To The
(33:20):
New orleans.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
Pelicans podcast 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
(33:41):
can Offer 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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If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!