November 28, 2025 • 24 mins
The Athletic's Will Guillory joins Jim Eichenhofer and Gus Kattengell on the Pelicans Podcast for Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, to recap the win against the Chicago Bulls and look at the Pelicans' progression after a tough start to the 2025-26 NBA season.
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(00:07):
Hello everyone, and welcome to the New Orleans Pelicans
Podcast, the official podcast ofyour New Orleans Pelicans.
Happy Thanksgiving week. I'm Gus Kattengill joined along
with Mr. Jim. I can offer pelicans.com and as
you can see, Mr. Will Gillery, as always, a pleasure from the
athletic guys. It is Thanksgiving week.
I know I'm excited. I'm pumped up.
Will Jim, any thoughts on TurkeyDay or just a day of of giving
(00:30):
thanks? Thanksgiving is always.
A fun time of year, family coming in, and it seems like the
pals always have a home game right before Thanksgiving.
You get to see a whole bunch of people that you haven't seen in
a while roaming around the Smoothie King Center.
So yeah, it's a fun time. Eat good, watching some good.
Football. So.
Yeah, I I love this time of year.
(00:52):
It'll be nice if it was a littlecooler, if it felt.
A little less. Like summer outside?
But Nah. This is always a great time of
year. Yeah, guys, I'm looking forward
to, I always look forward to Thanksgiving.
Love sitting on the couch falling asleep during a football
game because I ate too much food.
So you can't beat it. And you know, you mentioned it
will. It does seem like the team
always has a home game the nightbefore Thanksgiving, which is
(01:14):
great because so many people come back to town and they get
to go to a game and the place isusually packed.
And then they always have to clear out on the weekend for the
Bayou Classic, which is another awesome event in the city of New
Orleans. But we'll be looking forward to
the road games this weekend and Golden State and the Lakers.
Yeah, no doubt. We'll keeping with the theme, we
(01:34):
give thanks to starting the workwith Gentlemen with the Win.
How nice was that that nine gameskid ended to start the work
week? And you know, will I, I kind of
want to get your thoughts on this too.
Did we see that win coming or that type of performance coming?
Because since interim head coachJames Perego took over, I don't
know if I'm wrong with this, butJim and I kind of think we we
(01:55):
started seeing signs of certain things that the team was doing
better, maybe working on. I don't know.
What are your overall thoughts about the Pelicans since interim
head coach James Perego took over?
No, I definitely. Think you've seen that?
Over the past couple. Games.
James Rago really laying the foundation of how he wants his
team to play with him in charge.Kind of what a James Rago team
looks like. I think you've seen them.
(02:15):
Really. Increase the pace.
They're playing at a faster pace, they're getting more guys
involved, they're prioritizing ball movement and they're really
prioritizing the defensive boards.
I think that's a big thing that.JB has talked about.
Pushing Eve me see Carlo Makovich, Derrick Queen some of
his young big guys to me be more.
Present on a defensive. Glass to be more physical in the
(02:36):
paint and I think you've seen them improve and that area as
well and I think just overall Alber ego just trying to make an
impact during these games. I think you've seen and I
tweeted it a couple of nights ago, just whenever they start to
slip up a little bit, he jumps on them and it calls a time out
immediately. I think that's something that
you've seen a lot you've seen him make in games, adjustments
them, you know, pressing on certain guys a little bit more
(02:59):
than, you know, switching up line UPS.
So we saw in the game and Mondayhe started his two rookies, then
he started the second-half with his two rookies on the bench,
which you know, some coaches wouldn't do in these
circumstances. So I think, I think you see him
just going more comfortable in the role, more comfortable in
his. Just just his.
Willingness to do certain things, to make certain moves,
and I think the. Team has taken pretty.
(03:20):
Well said. I mean, we know that the guys
already had a great relationshipwith Borrego, but I think
they're really starting to embrace just his mindset and the
way he wants the team to play. I.
Thought it was interesting. You mentioned the timeout thing.
It seems like that's kind of from Borrego Spurs background
that we saw Popovich, he would call timeouts quickly.
If a team started out 2O4-O run a lot of times, you know, within
(03:41):
a minute, he would call timeouts.
And I think we've seen that a couple times already with
Borrego as well. I mean, just from a broad
standpoint too. I mean, you mentioned the, to
me, the thing that the two areasthat have improved the most and,
and I really, you could say in both of these that there was
nowhere to go but up in a lot ofways.
But the defense and the rebounding to me have been a lot
better. Think they were 30th in defense
(04:02):
at one point for a couple days and then they were around 2829.
I think in the middle of this week they were already they were
up to 25, which still isn't great, but it's it's definitely
strides in a short amount of time.
I mean, how much of do you see feel?
I feel like the word vibes or orwhatever gets overused a little
bit. But I mean, do you feel like
there's just more aggressivenessfrom this team from what we've
(04:23):
seen the last week plus comparedto what we saw the beginning
where you had multiple like 30 point losses where it didn't
seem like the the intensity was what it needed to be?
I mean, let's just be real. That was a dark.
Cloud hanging over this team forthe first couple weeks of the
season. Everybody felt it.
You. Didn't have to.
Be in the building to feed you. Just watch the games and you
just saw the way guys are moving.
(04:44):
They just weren't. Really into the games.
They weren't really invested in doing what it took to win games.
They weren't connected. They weren't, you know, holding
each other down, having each other's backs on defense.
And I think, you know, once the the the move Willie Graham was
made, everything was like, OK, now we can finally get a fresh
start. We can put all of that behind
us. They, what they're getting with
(05:04):
James Borrego taking over as head coach.
And I think is it was kind of a,a reset button that this team
needed. I mean, it was just the, like
you said, the vibes were really bad around this team to start
the year, you know, stacking up those 30 point losses.
You know, every single podcast in the world is talking about
how bad they were, how dumb theywere for the moves they were
making during the offseason. This guy needs to get traded.
(05:26):
That guy needs to get traded. So I think they just wanted to
start over. And I think they feel pretty
good about what they're doing now.
I think they feel good about thefact that guys are getting
healthy now. Zion Williamson is back in the
lineup. Sadiq Bay was out for a little
while. He's back.
You see Jordan Pool. Moving around now at.
Practice, he's going to be back relatively soon, so I think
(05:47):
we've set it all all offseason that.
When this? Team is healthy when you look at
the names on papers stacked up, they have talent on this team.
There's no reason for this team to be getting smoked by 30
points every single game. When you look at the talent on
the roster, it's just a matter of them committing to the right
type of habits, playing the right lineups and just going out
there and competing on a night to night basis.
(06:07):
And I think. That's what's.
Improved the most, just them stepping out and just being
willing to compete consistently over the course of four quarters
and I think JB has done a great job of when they've.
Slipped up. During moments and.
They kind. Of let go of the rope, he's
immediately jumped in and said no.
This is not our standard. This is not what we're doing.
This is the how we. Need to play and I think they've
received that message really well.
(06:28):
Yeah, Jim, I know it was something that you and I talked
about when JD was on the podcasttoo.
It's like a lot of this stuff you could fix.
You know, it's it's not whether or not as Will is saying, I have
the talent are here or there, but look, you're you're
stealing, you know, the ball at a higher rate.
It's something like 20 some odd games right now that you've had
at least six steals. You're rebounding if you would
(06:48):
like. I mean, you we've seen games
that you've out rebounded teams and those threes that you're
missing. The shots were there.
It just wasn't a situation wherewe couldn't get open.
Look, so I remember you saying on the podcast, these are all
fixables per SE, and if you can fix them over time, you should
be a more competitive team. Sure.
And I mean, in some ways the beginning part of the season, it
(07:08):
felt like we were living the same story of last season where
it was like, how is it possible that all of these different
areas can all be negatives? And and I mean, you mentioned, I
mean quickly too before the three-point shooting is another
thing that I still think this far into the season that it's a
little bit of an aberration of how poorly they're shooting in
that area. Maybe when Jordan Poole comes
(07:29):
back, they can at least increasethe volume and the makes and the
percentage a little bit. But but yeah, it just it just
felt again, like you have injuries, you have poor
shooting. If if you throw in, you know,
not enough intensity and some lack of attention to detail, you
have an O and six start. So it's just, yeah, I I think
that I'm optimistic that things can get better because and
(07:51):
partly because of what Will saidwhere.
I mean, there's so much talent on this team that you're,
you're, you should be able to win more games.
Yeah, look, and we'll see you have a handful of games here.
You have to win, Will, before you get to 500.
It's almost, you don't want to really think about that, but
it's sort of what as we close this segment out, what James
(08:12):
Borrego said from the very beginning when he first took
over as Internet coach, buildingwinning habits, right?
Be competitive and in and out ofevery game, and then maybe you
can win some of those. You can't look at it as you got
to go 9 and 1 and 10 right? Yeah, and you know, as crazy as
it sounds, as bad as. Things have been man, there are
only a few games back in the play and that's the beauty of
the play in tournament you can be.
(08:34):
Horrible. We've seen it A.
Few years ago when they were, what, 3 and 16, starting the
year, they had the long loser streak.
They got it together, baited into the playing tournament.
And once you get into that playing tournament, anything's
possible. So yeah, if they can get healthy
and start stringing some wins together, we might be having
those conversations again about this team shocking people and
being, you know, having some relevant games in March and
(08:55):
April. All right, when we come back,
we'll get specifics. We'll get into some specifics in
terms of some players that are maybe helping with that change
and get in that direction. We'll do that.
We'll return to the New Orleans Pelicans podcast.
Let's stay with the Thanksgivingtheme here, gentlemen, and how
(09:16):
thankful are we to have the rookies that we have?
If you're New Orleans Pelicans fans, Jeremiah Fears and Derrick
Queen, she would be thankful Will on their play.
No, I think Queen in particular,just him just showing up the way
he has after all of the criticism the the team received
and acquiring him over the summer, giving up that 2026
unprotected pick. And, you know, frankly, I think
(09:37):
he's exceeded expectations with the way he's played being
showing that he can be a guy that you can run your offense
through, you know, having high assist games.
You know, the the game in Dallaswas, you know, one of the better
games I've seen from the Pelicans rookie in some time.
And I think you know, him holding up at center, I think
it's been a big one as well. Going into the draft there was a
big question of is he a four? Is he A5?
(10:00):
I think he's shown the physicality and just enough rim
protection where you can feel pretty good about saying he's
going to be your center moving forward.
There are times where he has some mental lapses and, you
know, he misses some opportunities and pick and roll
situations, but I think overall he's been amazing for them.
You know, when he's been able toreally go out there and stretch
his legs and really show what hecan do as the hub of the
(10:22):
offense. And I think, you know, Jeremiah
Fears has been outstanding as well, taking over at the
starting point guard almost immediately, you know, from the
start of the season. And just his pace, his ability
to get to the rim and finish at such a high level for such a
young point guard. I think, you know, I've said it
over and over again, coming intothe season, the number one thing
for this team had nothing to do with Zion Williamson or Willie
(10:43):
Green or anything else. What they needed more than
anything was to go 2 for two with those two first round
picks. And I think, and it seems like
to this point that they did justthat, that Fears and Queen are
going to be two guys that they can build with going into the
future. And that's some major, you know,
happening for this team considering where they are right
now. Well, wanted to ask you, you
(11:03):
know, in specifics about those two guys as well.
I guess we could start with Derrick Queen, but for both of
these guys starting with him, I mean, what are some of the
things that have been the most impressive to you or maybe just
the most fun part of watching the way his 1st 15 plus games as
a rookie has gone has developed?It just seems like, like you
said, he's, if anything, he's exceeded expectations.
(11:24):
But I mean, what are some of theaspects that you that have been
maybe surprising to you or just have just been a joy kind of to
watch? I mean, the kid, you know, I say
he's a kid because he looks likehe's 15 when you talk to him and
you still got the braces and everything, but he's an
outstanding passer. You know, I saw a lot of tape of
him at Maryland. And you can see the handle, you
see the touch, you see the just the understanding of what
(11:46):
everything that's going on on the court.
But just the way he passes the ball is incredible.
And, you know, I remember a conversation we had with him at
a practice, I would say maybe a few weeks ago.
And I asked him about, you know,other centers around the league
act like Yokich, like Shangoon, how it seems like there's a rise
of those type of centers, but guys who can play that style,
who can face the basket and kindof be your point guard.
(12:07):
And I thought his his response was hilarious.
He was like, well, there aren't many of us around the league
like that. He was already putting himself
in that category. And this was before he was
having these crazy games. He But I think the people who
are around him kind of speak to his level of confidence and his,
you know, his, you know, his willingness to let you know,
yeah, I am this good. I can't do all of this.
I'm unlike other centers that you see around the league and I
(12:30):
think it really stands out with the way that they've kind of
leaned in and said, OK, we're going to put the ball in his
hands. We're going to run offense
through him. And I think it's been exciting
to see that he can kind of portray a lot of those things we
see from Jokic and Shengoon and Sabonis and somebody's high
assist centers where when you have a center that's that type
of threat, you bring the big manout of the paint and it opens up
(12:51):
things for everybody else. You see these lobs he's throwing
at Zion Williamson and and Trey Murphy.
You see some of the back door cuts, it's because he's a thread
at the top of the key with the ball in his hands.
And when you have that, it's such a asset on offense because
you can run offense through him,you can seek out mismatches.
And I think it is giving this team an identity on offense they
didn't have, especially in gameswhen Zion was out.
(13:14):
So I think having that identity is something they can build on
moving forward. With Jeremiah Fears, I mean,
what do you think are some of the things that he's the most
ahead of the curve on? It seems like to come in as a
rookie? I mean, he's also 19, was 18
until mid-october. That position, it seems like
it's so challenging to come in and immediately do well and look
like you belong. So I mean, what are some of the
(13:34):
areas that that stand out as faras just impressive that he's
able to do what he's doing? I just think meant for a guard.
First of all, when you see him, what jumps out immediately is
just his speed that he plays at and he the way he gets up and
down the court and he can be a one man fast break.
But I think what's even more impressive for a young guard
with that level of speed is his understanding of how to use his
(13:56):
speeds as advantage. He's not just 100 mph all the
time the way we've seen with guys like in the past.
I think one of the guys that comes to mind is Kyra Lewis,
right? But we always need to talk about
how fast Kyra is so I can get upand down the court.
But he didn't necessarily know how to play at 70 right where he
was always at 100. And I think with Jeremiah fears,
he's so young, but he understands how to slow down,
how to use angles, how to use defenders aggression against
(14:19):
them. I think he's so good at those
moments of being able to find those angles and find moments
where maybe I need to slow down a euro right here, or maybe I
need to allow the big man to to re screen so I can find the
angle in the pick and roll. I think he knows how to use his
his talent so well at such a young age.
And, you know, he still has roomto grow as far as getting other
(14:41):
guys involved, seeing the entirecourt.
But his ability to to take advantage of those one-on-one
opportunities and really, you know, put guys, you know, in the
blender. Really, it's so impressive for a
guy that's so young. I mean, really, this is a guy
who still should be in college right now.
He, you know, he reclassified a year ahead so you he can get to
(15:01):
the NBA a little bit earlier. I mean, this guy just turned 19
before the season started. And I think just his feel for
the game, it's super impressive for a guy that young when we're
talking about the point guard position, these are some of the
best players in the world at theNBA, at the NBA level.
And I think UC times, he's just kind of skipping around those
guys and throwing in reverse layups and making it look easy.
(15:23):
I think the thing that's impressive to me about those two
as well, and we've seen it already this season.
They don't like being pushed around or bullied.
You know, we we've seen Derrick Queen will over in Phoenix kind
of give some words to Dylan Brooks.
Jeremiah Fears didn't want to sit out in a blowout there in
that game. They've kind of, you know, done
some things to show whether they're losing or not.
(15:45):
This is going to be a little bitdifferent.
You can't teach that, right? I mean, that's not kind of, you
said the word identity. And it's something Joe Dumars
has been using a lot as of late.And with those two guys, it's
kind of like, hey, this is a different pals team.
This is how we're going to be treated from now on.
No, I think that's one of the most fun parts of about watching
those guys is they're competitive, man.
They they like to go at people. They're out there chirping.
I think that was one of the first things that jumped out to
(16:07):
me when I saw them at summer league, a sitting courtside,
which is how much they're talking the whole game.
Derek Clean was barking at the other teams bench.
We've seen at least four or fivetimes where Jeremiah fears just
says something that that riled up the a guy from the other team
and they almost want to fight him during the game.
And I think that that's really fun to see those guys be that
competitive this early in their career and they're not backing
(16:29):
down from people. They're out there really going
at guys. And then they want to let it be
known just that they're here to stay and they're here to
compete. And I think that's a fun thing
for Pelicans fans to see becauseearly in the season, I felt like
this team was getting steamrolled so often.
You want to see these young guysstep up and say, Nah, we're done
with that. And and more and more we're
seeing them saying, hey, this isour team.
(16:49):
We're not just a part of this team.
This is our team. And I think that's a exciting
good point. All right, now let's see what
takes place here for the next couple of games.
When we come back, we'll have a little fun, almost like a game
show. Will and Jim, trouble or Turn
Around. I'll explain where you come back
with the New Orleans Pelicans Podcast.
(17:12):
Let's have a little fun game show style here, gentlemen.
Trouble or Turn Around. And what I'm going to do is I'm
going to throw out a team and Jim's going to throw out a team
for you, Will. And you tell me, are they in
trouble or can they turn their season around?
Let's start with the team that we saw this week, the Memphis
Grizzlies. Are they in trouble or can they
turn it around? Man, I think Memphis has kind of
been the team that I've been most disappointed in this
(17:33):
season. You know, everybody's been
talking about the John Moran situation, him seemingly being
unhappy, Jaron Jackson not beingthe same guy we've seen in the
past. And I think, you know, obviously
they're starting to get a littlehealthier with Zack Edie coming
back. Brandon Clark's going to be back
at some point. Ty Jerome, Their big free agent
pickup still hasn't played yet. But I think the big thing for
(17:54):
them is just job and rant. I mean, I just don't know what's
going on with that situation. I'm not sure how they can fix
it. And I think that's the biggest
concern. It just doesn't feel like he's
all the way in with what they got going on.
They they made the coaching change, obviously last year.
So yeah, I'm, I'm all the way out on Memphis, 'cause I just
feel like their star players just aren't really into this
team. They aren't really into this
(18:14):
season, which is really disappointing because we know
how much John Moran means to that franchise, to that city,
and it just doesn't feel like that.
He's just in love with the situation right now.
And you know, we've seen in other teams, you know, we've
seen in New Orleans in the past,when your star player just isn't
into it, it kind of trickles down to everybody else.
And I think that's what's going on in Memphis right now.
(18:35):
Will the Sacramento Kings got off to a really poor start, but
they had a couple really good wins recently.
They beat Denver in Denver and then they beat Minnesota at home
in a really good game. I mean, is this a team that
isn't in big trouble right now or you see a way that they can
turn things around? Yeah, an interesting, too.
They kind of figure some things out with Sabonis being hurt,
right? I think he's going to be out for
the next couple weeks. But I, I, I mean, we've seen so
(18:56):
many of these names on Sacramento for so many years,
DeMar Derose and Zach Lavine, Dennis Schroeder, Russell
Westbrook. These guys know how to win
games. I think they'll figure out how
to get some wins under their belt.
I don't think they're a real threat in the West to do
anything, but I don't see them being a team that's like 2025
wins at the end of the year. I think they'll be competitive.
They'll be able to squeak some wins out.
(19:18):
I think they'll get some bonus back and they'll figure some
things out. But I think the one thing when
you bring in a guy like Westbrook, you understand that
he's going to just have that level of compete at a certain
level every night. And I think that's why they
wanted him in that building. They want him to be in that
start lineup. So I think he'll raise the level
of those guys up to a certain point.
Now, can he get them to like 40 wins?
I don't think so. But I like I said, I don't see
(19:40):
them just being terrible all year because those veteran guys
understand how to play and how to win.
So I think they'll start gettingit together after a while.
All right, well, we saw this team on Halloween night in LA,
the Clippers, I want to say recently James Harden, the beer
dropped the 55 piece so we can drop those kind of games.
I don't know. Are they in trouble, their turn
around or just I don't know. How do you view this team?
(20:01):
I mean, I think that the Clippers are in major trouble
and I think it's unfortunate because James Harden, if you
aren't watching the Clippers, he's been outstanding this
season. It hasn't just been the 55 point
game. He's been carrying them on
offense. Kawhi Leonard shocking has been
in and out of the lineup due to injuries.
They got the whole aspiration thing hanging over to You want
to talk about dark clouds hanging over a franchise?
That aspiration thing is a wholeanother conversation around the
(20:23):
Clippers. But I think that the major
conversation around the league the start of the year has been
pace his way up, scoring his wayup.
These teams are playing, you know, getting up threes.
They're playing young guys, They're getting up and down.
And the Clippers are the exact opposite of the They got a whole
bunch of old guys. They don't like the run.
Their defense is way down and, and I think their team that they
(20:46):
kind of built this team hoping that, hey, maybe we can get one
more year out of Brook Lopez. Maybe we can get one more year
out of Chris Paul. Maybe we can get some of these
young guys to kind of step in and, and, and fill in a little
bit until our old guys are readyin March and April.
And it feels like they're just too old.
They're too slow. They can't get the right lineups
on the court. One of their big pickups during
(21:07):
the offseason was Brad Bill. He's already out for the season.
It feels like they're kind of stuck where they are right now.
And again, it's unfortunate because James Harden is playing
at an incredible level. And I think this is a team
that's going to be in a lot of conversations come trade
deadline of people trying to swoop in and and steal some of
these older guys. Because it just feels like
they're stuck right now and theydon't really have any answers
(21:28):
for the future. Gus, my my scorecard says 2
troubles and one turn around. Let let's close this out with
the Dallas Mavericks. And by really we should point
out too that I mean, part of thereason we're going through these
four teams is because to me, forthe Pelicans to make the plan as
as we speak in November, they need to be out these four teams
in Utah. So let's close this with Dallas.
(21:48):
What's the forecast for them Will.
Man, I think they're another depressing team.
Just how bad they've been offensively, they've been awful
on the offensive side of the court.
Obviously they're they're tryingto work with Cooper Flag as the
point guard with Kyrie Irving being out due to his ACL injury
last year. Anthony Davis has been hurt
pretty much the entire season. They fired Nico Harrison, they
(22:09):
got rid of their dark cloud. It seems like a lot of these
teams got a dark cloud either hanging or being removed at some
point. Nico Harrison may have been the
darkest cloud in the NBA over any franchise.
So I think they're kind of starting to figure things out
now that they're the GM is not getting chanted to get fired at
every single home game. But I think, you know, the big
thing for them is just, I just don't think they're a real team
(22:32):
until Anthony Davis is on the court.
I just think they don't have enough answers offensively.
You know, they still have some really good role guys.
We know what Naji Marshall can do Daniel Gafford is a solid
center. Derek Lively is heard again.
But I think, you know, Max Christie is another really solid
role guy. But until they get Anthony Davis
out there and maybe Kyrie Irvingat some point in the future, I
(22:53):
just don't think they can real be a real threat in the West
because they just can't score. And I think the tough thing
watching is that there was so much excitement around Cooper
Flag coming into the year and itfeels like it's all gone because
people don't like watching Dallas Mavericks games because
their offense is so bad and they're so slow and it feels
like they're so methodical and everything they do.
So yeah, I think, you know, if AD gets healthy and he can run a
(23:15):
a couple months together of, youknow, playing AD level
basketball, they'll be competitive.
But we've been on the AD roller coaster around here, Jim.
We know how that goes. So you can hope, you can pray,
but I'm going to guess that history will repeat itself at
some point. No comments.
Yeah, there it is. And on that note, as always, if
you want the latest on the Pelicans, go to pelicans.com.
(23:37):
Jim's got you covered there. From injury reports to previews
and of course, recaps. And of course, Mr. Will Guillory
over the Athletic, he's got you covered.
Not just the pills, but the restof the NBA as well.
Gentlemen, happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for your time this
week and enjoy enjoy the naps. Absolutely, man.
Happy Thanksgiving, fellas. Yep, sounds good.
Thank you for watching the New Orleans Pelicans podcast.
Hello everyone, and welcome to the New Orleans Pelicans
Podcast, the official podcast ofyour New Orleans Pelicans.
Happy Thanksgiving week. I'm Gus Kattengill joined along
with Mr. Jim. I can offer pelicans.com and as
you can see, Mr. Will Gillery, as always, a pleasure from the
athletic guys. It is Thanksgiving week.
I know I'm excited. I'm pumped up.
Will Jim, any thoughts on TurkeyDay or just a day of of giving
(00:30):
thanks? Thanksgiving is always.
A fun time of year, family coming in, and it seems like the
pals always have a home game right before Thanksgiving.
You get to see a whole bunch of people that you haven't seen in
a while roaming around the Smoothie King Center.
So yeah, it's a fun time. Eat good, watching some good.
Football. So.
Yeah, I I love this time of year.
(00:52):
It'll be nice if it was a littlecooler, if it felt.
A little less. Like summer outside?
But Nah. This is always a great time of
year. Yeah, guys, I'm looking forward
to, I always look forward to Thanksgiving.
Love sitting on the couch falling asleep during a football
game because I ate too much food.
So you can't beat it. And you know, you mentioned it
will. It does seem like the team
always has a home game the nightbefore Thanksgiving, which is
(01:14):
great because so many people come back to town and they get
to go to a game and the place isusually packed.
And then they always have to clear out on the weekend for the
Bayou Classic, which is another awesome event in the city of New
Orleans. But we'll be looking forward to
the road games this weekend and Golden State and the Lakers.
Yeah, no doubt. We'll keeping with the theme, we
(01:34):
give thanks to starting the workwith Gentlemen with the Win.
How nice was that that nine gameskid ended to start the work
week? And you know, will I, I kind of
want to get your thoughts on this too.
Did we see that win coming or that type of performance coming?
Because since interim head coachJames Perego took over, I don't
know if I'm wrong with this, butJim and I kind of think we we
(01:55):
started seeing signs of certain things that the team was doing
better, maybe working on. I don't know.
What are your overall thoughts about the Pelicans since interim
head coach James Perego took over?
No, I definitely. Think you've seen that?
Over the past couple. Games.
James Rago really laying the foundation of how he wants his
team to play with him in charge.Kind of what a James Rago team
looks like. I think you've seen them.
(02:15):
Really. Increase the pace.
They're playing at a faster pace, they're getting more guys
involved, they're prioritizing ball movement and they're really
prioritizing the defensive boards.
I think that's a big thing that.JB has talked about.
Pushing Eve me see Carlo Makovich, Derrick Queen some of
his young big guys to me be more.
Present on a defensive. Glass to be more physical in the
(02:36):
paint and I think you've seen them improve and that area as
well and I think just overall Alber ego just trying to make an
impact during these games. I think you've seen and I
tweeted it a couple of nights ago, just whenever they start to
slip up a little bit, he jumps on them and it calls a time out
immediately. I think that's something that
you've seen a lot you've seen him make in games, adjustments
them, you know, pressing on certain guys a little bit more
(02:59):
than, you know, switching up line UPS.
So we saw in the game and Mondayhe started his two rookies, then
he started the second-half with his two rookies on the bench,
which you know, some coaches wouldn't do in these
circumstances. So I think, I think you see him
just going more comfortable in the role, more comfortable in
his. Just just his.
Willingness to do certain things, to make certain moves,
and I think the. Team has taken pretty.
(03:20):
Well said. I mean, we know that the guys
already had a great relationshipwith Borrego, but I think
they're really starting to embrace just his mindset and the
way he wants the team to play. I.
Thought it was interesting. You mentioned the timeout thing.
It seems like that's kind of from Borrego Spurs background
that we saw Popovich, he would call timeouts quickly.
If a team started out 2O4-O run a lot of times, you know, within
(03:41):
a minute, he would call timeouts.
And I think we've seen that a couple times already with
Borrego as well. I mean, just from a broad
standpoint too. I mean, you mentioned the, to
me, the thing that the two areasthat have improved the most and,
and I really, you could say in both of these that there was
nowhere to go but up in a lot ofways.
But the defense and the rebounding to me have been a lot
better. Think they were 30th in defense
(04:02):
at one point for a couple days and then they were around 2829.
I think in the middle of this week they were already they were
up to 25, which still isn't great, but it's it's definitely
strides in a short amount of time.
I mean, how much of do you see feel?
I feel like the word vibes or orwhatever gets overused a little
bit. But I mean, do you feel like
there's just more aggressivenessfrom this team from what we've
(04:23):
seen the last week plus comparedto what we saw the beginning
where you had multiple like 30 point losses where it didn't
seem like the the intensity was what it needed to be?
I mean, let's just be real. That was a dark.
Cloud hanging over this team forthe first couple weeks of the
season. Everybody felt it.
You. Didn't have to.
Be in the building to feed you. Just watch the games and you
just saw the way guys are moving.
(04:44):
They just weren't. Really into the games.
They weren't really invested in doing what it took to win games.
They weren't connected. They weren't, you know, holding
each other down, having each other's backs on defense.
And I think, you know, once the the the move Willie Graham was
made, everything was like, OK, now we can finally get a fresh
start. We can put all of that behind
us. They, what they're getting with
(05:04):
James Borrego taking over as head coach.
And I think is it was kind of a,a reset button that this team
needed. I mean, it was just the, like
you said, the vibes were really bad around this team to start
the year, you know, stacking up those 30 point losses.
You know, every single podcast in the world is talking about
how bad they were, how dumb theywere for the moves they were
making during the offseason. This guy needs to get traded.
(05:26):
That guy needs to get traded. So I think they just wanted to
start over. And I think they feel pretty
good about what they're doing now.
I think they feel good about thefact that guys are getting
healthy now. Zion Williamson is back in the
lineup. Sadiq Bay was out for a little
while. He's back.
You see Jordan Pool. Moving around now at.
Practice, he's going to be back relatively soon, so I think
(05:47):
we've set it all all offseason that.
When this? Team is healthy when you look at
the names on papers stacked up, they have talent on this team.
There's no reason for this team to be getting smoked by 30
points every single game. When you look at the talent on
the roster, it's just a matter of them committing to the right
type of habits, playing the right lineups and just going out
there and competing on a night to night basis.
(06:07):
And I think. That's what's.
Improved the most, just them stepping out and just being
willing to compete consistently over the course of four quarters
and I think JB has done a great job of when they've.
Slipped up. During moments and.
They kind. Of let go of the rope, he's
immediately jumped in and said no.
This is not our standard. This is not what we're doing.
This is the how we. Need to play and I think they've
received that message really well.
(06:28):
Yeah, Jim, I know it was something that you and I talked
about when JD was on the podcasttoo.
It's like a lot of this stuff you could fix.
You know, it's it's not whether or not as Will is saying, I have
the talent are here or there, but look, you're you're
stealing, you know, the ball at a higher rate.
It's something like 20 some odd games right now that you've had
at least six steals. You're rebounding if you would
(06:48):
like. I mean, you we've seen games
that you've out rebounded teams and those threes that you're
missing. The shots were there.
It just wasn't a situation wherewe couldn't get open.
Look, so I remember you saying on the podcast, these are all
fixables per SE, and if you can fix them over time, you should
be a more competitive team. Sure.
And I mean, in some ways the beginning part of the season, it
(07:08):
felt like we were living the same story of last season where
it was like, how is it possible that all of these different
areas can all be negatives? And and I mean, you mentioned, I
mean quickly too before the three-point shooting is another
thing that I still think this far into the season that it's a
little bit of an aberration of how poorly they're shooting in
that area. Maybe when Jordan Poole comes
(07:29):
back, they can at least increasethe volume and the makes and the
percentage a little bit. But but yeah, it just it just
felt again, like you have injuries, you have poor
shooting. If if you throw in, you know,
not enough intensity and some lack of attention to detail, you
have an O and six start. So it's just, yeah, I I think
that I'm optimistic that things can get better because and
(07:51):
partly because of what Will saidwhere.
I mean, there's so much talent on this team that you're,
you're, you should be able to win more games.
Yeah, look, and we'll see you have a handful of games here.
You have to win, Will, before you get to 500.
It's almost, you don't want to really think about that, but
it's sort of what as we close this segment out, what James
(08:12):
Borrego said from the very beginning when he first took
over as Internet coach, buildingwinning habits, right?
Be competitive and in and out ofevery game, and then maybe you
can win some of those. You can't look at it as you got
to go 9 and 1 and 10 right? Yeah, and you know, as crazy as
it sounds, as bad as. Things have been man, there are
only a few games back in the play and that's the beauty of
the play in tournament you can be.
(08:34):
Horrible. We've seen it A.
Few years ago when they were, what, 3 and 16, starting the
year, they had the long loser streak.
They got it together, baited into the playing tournament.
And once you get into that playing tournament, anything's
possible. So yeah, if they can get healthy
and start stringing some wins together, we might be having
those conversations again about this team shocking people and
being, you know, having some relevant games in March and
(08:55):
April. All right, when we come back,
we'll get specifics. We'll get into some specifics in
terms of some players that are maybe helping with that change
and get in that direction. We'll do that.
We'll return to the New Orleans Pelicans podcast.
Let's stay with the Thanksgivingtheme here, gentlemen, and how
(09:16):
thankful are we to have the rookies that we have?
If you're New Orleans Pelicans fans, Jeremiah Fears and Derrick
Queen, she would be thankful Will on their play.
No, I think Queen in particular,just him just showing up the way
he has after all of the criticism the the team received
and acquiring him over the summer, giving up that 2026
unprotected pick. And, you know, frankly, I think
(09:37):
he's exceeded expectations with the way he's played being
showing that he can be a guy that you can run your offense
through, you know, having high assist games.
You know, the the game in Dallaswas, you know, one of the better
games I've seen from the Pelicans rookie in some time.
And I think you know, him holding up at center, I think
it's been a big one as well. Going into the draft there was a
big question of is he a four? Is he A5?
(10:00):
I think he's shown the physicality and just enough rim
protection where you can feel pretty good about saying he's
going to be your center moving forward.
There are times where he has some mental lapses and, you
know, he misses some opportunities and pick and roll
situations, but I think overall he's been amazing for them.
You know, when he's been able toreally go out there and stretch
his legs and really show what hecan do as the hub of the
(10:22):
offense. And I think, you know, Jeremiah
Fears has been outstanding as well, taking over at the
starting point guard almost immediately, you know, from the
start of the season. And just his pace, his ability
to get to the rim and finish at such a high level for such a
young point guard. I think, you know, I've said it
over and over again, coming intothe season, the number one thing
for this team had nothing to do with Zion Williamson or Willie
(10:43):
Green or anything else. What they needed more than
anything was to go 2 for two with those two first round
picks. And I think, and it seems like
to this point that they did justthat, that Fears and Queen are
going to be two guys that they can build with going into the
future. And that's some major, you know,
happening for this team considering where they are right
now. Well, wanted to ask you, you
(11:03):
know, in specifics about those two guys as well.
I guess we could start with Derrick Queen, but for both of
these guys starting with him, I mean, what are some of the
things that have been the most impressive to you or maybe just
the most fun part of watching the way his 1st 15 plus games as
a rookie has gone has developed?It just seems like, like you
said, he's, if anything, he's exceeded expectations.
(11:24):
But I mean, what are some of theaspects that you that have been
maybe surprising to you or just have just been a joy kind of to
watch? I mean, the kid, you know, I say
he's a kid because he looks likehe's 15 when you talk to him and
you still got the braces and everything, but he's an
outstanding passer. You know, I saw a lot of tape of
him at Maryland. And you can see the handle, you
see the touch, you see the just the understanding of what
(11:46):
everything that's going on on the court.
But just the way he passes the ball is incredible.
And, you know, I remember a conversation we had with him at
a practice, I would say maybe a few weeks ago.
And I asked him about, you know,other centers around the league
act like Yokich, like Shangoon, how it seems like there's a rise
of those type of centers, but guys who can play that style,
who can face the basket and kindof be your point guard.
(12:07):
And I thought his his response was hilarious.
He was like, well, there aren't many of us around the league
like that. He was already putting himself
in that category. And this was before he was
having these crazy games. He But I think the people who
are around him kind of speak to his level of confidence and his,
you know, his, you know, his willingness to let you know,
yeah, I am this good. I can't do all of this.
I'm unlike other centers that you see around the league and I
(12:30):
think it really stands out with the way that they've kind of
leaned in and said, OK, we're going to put the ball in his
hands. We're going to run offense
through him. And I think it's been exciting
to see that he can kind of portray a lot of those things we
see from Jokic and Shengoon and Sabonis and somebody's high
assist centers where when you have a center that's that type
of threat, you bring the big manout of the paint and it opens up
(12:51):
things for everybody else. You see these lobs he's throwing
at Zion Williamson and and Trey Murphy.
You see some of the back door cuts, it's because he's a thread
at the top of the key with the ball in his hands.
And when you have that, it's such a asset on offense because
you can run offense through him,you can seek out mismatches.
And I think it is giving this team an identity on offense they
didn't have, especially in gameswhen Zion was out.
(13:14):
So I think having that identity is something they can build on
moving forward. With Jeremiah Fears, I mean,
what do you think are some of the things that he's the most
ahead of the curve on? It seems like to come in as a
rookie? I mean, he's also 19, was 18
until mid-october. That position, it seems like
it's so challenging to come in and immediately do well and look
like you belong. So I mean, what are some of the
(13:34):
areas that that stand out as faras just impressive that he's
able to do what he's doing? I just think meant for a guard.
First of all, when you see him, what jumps out immediately is
just his speed that he plays at and he the way he gets up and
down the court and he can be a one man fast break.
But I think what's even more impressive for a young guard
with that level of speed is his understanding of how to use his
(13:56):
speeds as advantage. He's not just 100 mph all the
time the way we've seen with guys like in the past.
I think one of the guys that comes to mind is Kyra Lewis,
right? But we always need to talk about
how fast Kyra is so I can get upand down the court.
But he didn't necessarily know how to play at 70 right where he
was always at 100. And I think with Jeremiah fears,
he's so young, but he understands how to slow down,
how to use angles, how to use defenders aggression against
(14:19):
them. I think he's so good at those
moments of being able to find those angles and find moments
where maybe I need to slow down a euro right here, or maybe I
need to allow the big man to to re screen so I can find the
angle in the pick and roll. I think he knows how to use his
his talent so well at such a young age.
And, you know, he still has roomto grow as far as getting other
(14:41):
guys involved, seeing the entirecourt.
But his ability to to take advantage of those one-on-one
opportunities and really, you know, put guys, you know, in the
blender. Really, it's so impressive for a
guy that's so young. I mean, really, this is a guy
who still should be in college right now.
He, you know, he reclassified a year ahead so you he can get to
(15:01):
the NBA a little bit earlier. I mean, this guy just turned 19
before the season started. And I think just his feel for
the game, it's super impressive for a guy that young when we're
talking about the point guard position, these are some of the
best players in the world at theNBA, at the NBA level.
And I think UC times, he's just kind of skipping around those
guys and throwing in reverse layups and making it look easy.
(15:23):
I think the thing that's impressive to me about those two
as well, and we've seen it already this season.
They don't like being pushed around or bullied.
You know, we we've seen Derrick Queen will over in Phoenix kind
of give some words to Dylan Brooks.
Jeremiah Fears didn't want to sit out in a blowout there in
that game. They've kind of, you know, done
some things to show whether they're losing or not.
(15:45):
This is going to be a little bitdifferent.
You can't teach that, right? I mean, that's not kind of, you
said the word identity. And it's something Joe Dumars
has been using a lot as of late.And with those two guys, it's
kind of like, hey, this is a different pals team.
This is how we're going to be treated from now on.
No, I think that's one of the most fun parts of about watching
those guys is they're competitive, man.
They they like to go at people. They're out there chirping.
I think that was one of the first things that jumped out to
(16:07):
me when I saw them at summer league, a sitting courtside,
which is how much they're talking the whole game.
Derek Clean was barking at the other teams bench.
We've seen at least four or fivetimes where Jeremiah fears just
says something that that riled up the a guy from the other team
and they almost want to fight him during the game.
And I think that that's really fun to see those guys be that
competitive this early in their career and they're not backing
(16:29):
down from people. They're out there really going
at guys. And then they want to let it be
known just that they're here to stay and they're here to
compete. And I think that's a fun thing
for Pelicans fans to see becauseearly in the season, I felt like
this team was getting steamrolled so often.
You want to see these young guysstep up and say, Nah, we're done
with that. And and more and more we're
seeing them saying, hey, this isour team.
(16:49):
We're not just a part of this team.
This is our team. And I think that's a exciting
good point. All right, now let's see what
takes place here for the next couple of games.
When we come back, we'll have a little fun, almost like a game
show. Will and Jim, trouble or Turn
Around. I'll explain where you come back
with the New Orleans Pelicans Podcast.
(17:12):
Let's have a little fun game show style here, gentlemen.
Trouble or Turn Around. And what I'm going to do is I'm
going to throw out a team and Jim's going to throw out a team
for you, Will. And you tell me, are they in
trouble or can they turn their season around?
Let's start with the team that we saw this week, the Memphis
Grizzlies. Are they in trouble or can they
turn it around? Man, I think Memphis has kind of
been the team that I've been most disappointed in this
(17:33):
season. You know, everybody's been
talking about the John Moran situation, him seemingly being
unhappy, Jaron Jackson not beingthe same guy we've seen in the
past. And I think, you know, obviously
they're starting to get a littlehealthier with Zack Edie coming
back. Brandon Clark's going to be back
at some point. Ty Jerome, Their big free agent
pickup still hasn't played yet. But I think the big thing for
(17:54):
them is just job and rant. I mean, I just don't know what's
going on with that situation. I'm not sure how they can fix
it. And I think that's the biggest
concern. It just doesn't feel like he's
all the way in with what they got going on.
They they made the coaching change, obviously last year.
So yeah, I'm, I'm all the way out on Memphis, 'cause I just
feel like their star players just aren't really into this
team. They aren't really into this
(18:14):
season, which is really disappointing because we know
how much John Moran means to that franchise, to that city,
and it just doesn't feel like that.
He's just in love with the situation right now.
And you know, we've seen in other teams, you know, we've
seen in New Orleans in the past,when your star player just isn't
into it, it kind of trickles down to everybody else.
And I think that's what's going on in Memphis right now.
(18:35):
Will the Sacramento Kings got off to a really poor start, but
they had a couple really good wins recently.
They beat Denver in Denver and then they beat Minnesota at home
in a really good game. I mean, is this a team that
isn't in big trouble right now or you see a way that they can
turn things around? Yeah, an interesting, too.
They kind of figure some things out with Sabonis being hurt,
right? I think he's going to be out for
the next couple weeks. But I, I, I mean, we've seen so
(18:56):
many of these names on Sacramento for so many years,
DeMar Derose and Zach Lavine, Dennis Schroeder, Russell
Westbrook. These guys know how to win
games. I think they'll figure out how
to get some wins under their belt.
I don't think they're a real threat in the West to do
anything, but I don't see them being a team that's like 2025
wins at the end of the year. I think they'll be competitive.
They'll be able to squeak some wins out.
(19:18):
I think they'll get some bonus back and they'll figure some
things out. But I think the one thing when
you bring in a guy like Westbrook, you understand that
he's going to just have that level of compete at a certain
level every night. And I think that's why they
wanted him in that building. They want him to be in that
start lineup. So I think he'll raise the level
of those guys up to a certain point.
Now, can he get them to like 40 wins?
I don't think so. But I like I said, I don't see
(19:40):
them just being terrible all year because those veteran guys
understand how to play and how to win.
So I think they'll start gettingit together after a while.
All right, well, we saw this team on Halloween night in LA,
the Clippers, I want to say recently James Harden, the beer
dropped the 55 piece so we can drop those kind of games.
I don't know. Are they in trouble, their turn
around or just I don't know. How do you view this team?
(20:01):
I mean, I think that the Clippers are in major trouble
and I think it's unfortunate because James Harden, if you
aren't watching the Clippers, he's been outstanding this
season. It hasn't just been the 55 point
game. He's been carrying them on
offense. Kawhi Leonard shocking has been
in and out of the lineup due to injuries.
They got the whole aspiration thing hanging over to You want
to talk about dark clouds hanging over a franchise?
That aspiration thing is a wholeanother conversation around the
(20:23):
Clippers. But I think that the major
conversation around the league the start of the year has been
pace his way up, scoring his wayup.
These teams are playing, you know, getting up threes.
They're playing young guys, They're getting up and down.
And the Clippers are the exact opposite of the They got a whole
bunch of old guys. They don't like the run.
Their defense is way down and, and I think their team that they
(20:46):
kind of built this team hoping that, hey, maybe we can get one
more year out of Brook Lopez. Maybe we can get one more year
out of Chris Paul. Maybe we can get some of these
young guys to kind of step in and, and, and fill in a little
bit until our old guys are readyin March and April.
And it feels like they're just too old.
They're too slow. They can't get the right lineups
on the court. One of their big pickups during
(21:07):
the offseason was Brad Bill. He's already out for the season.
It feels like they're kind of stuck where they are right now.
And again, it's unfortunate because James Harden is playing
at an incredible level. And I think this is a team
that's going to be in a lot of conversations come trade
deadline of people trying to swoop in and and steal some of
these older guys. Because it just feels like
they're stuck right now and theydon't really have any answers
(21:28):
for the future. Gus, my my scorecard says 2
troubles and one turn around. Let let's close this out with
the Dallas Mavericks. And by really we should point
out too that I mean, part of thereason we're going through these
four teams is because to me, forthe Pelicans to make the plan as
as we speak in November, they need to be out these four teams
in Utah. So let's close this with Dallas.
(21:48):
What's the forecast for them Will.
Man, I think they're another depressing team.
Just how bad they've been offensively, they've been awful
on the offensive side of the court.
Obviously they're they're tryingto work with Cooper Flag as the
point guard with Kyrie Irving being out due to his ACL injury
last year. Anthony Davis has been hurt
pretty much the entire season. They fired Nico Harrison, they
(22:09):
got rid of their dark cloud. It seems like a lot of these
teams got a dark cloud either hanging or being removed at some
point. Nico Harrison may have been the
darkest cloud in the NBA over any franchise.
So I think they're kind of starting to figure things out
now that they're the GM is not getting chanted to get fired at
every single home game. But I think, you know, the big
thing for them is just, I just don't think they're a real team
(22:32):
until Anthony Davis is on the court.
I just think they don't have enough answers offensively.
You know, they still have some really good role guys.
We know what Naji Marshall can do Daniel Gafford is a solid
center. Derek Lively is heard again.
But I think, you know, Max Christie is another really solid
role guy. But until they get Anthony Davis
out there and maybe Kyrie Irvingat some point in the future, I
(22:53):
just don't think they can real be a real threat in the West
because they just can't score. And I think the tough thing
watching is that there was so much excitement around Cooper
Flag coming into the year and itfeels like it's all gone because
people don't like watching Dallas Mavericks games because
their offense is so bad and they're so slow and it feels
like they're so methodical and everything they do.
So yeah, I think, you know, if AD gets healthy and he can run a
(23:15):
a couple months together of, youknow, playing AD level
basketball, they'll be competitive.
But we've been on the AD roller coaster around here, Jim.
We know how that goes. So you can hope, you can pray,
but I'm going to guess that history will repeat itself at
some point. No comments.
Yeah, there it is. And on that note, as always, if
you want the latest on the Pelicans, go to pelicans.com.
(23:37):
Jim's got you covered there. From injury reports to previews
and of course, recaps. And of course, Mr. Will Guillory
over the Athletic, he's got you covered.
Not just the pills, but the restof the NBA as well.
Gentlemen, happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for your time this
week and enjoy enjoy the naps. Absolutely, man.
Happy Thanksgiving, fellas. Yep, sounds good.
Thank you for watching the New Orleans Pelicans podcast.
Host
Jim Eichenhofer
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