Road to a Championship start here, 2022 Draft.

[Whole Truth]

Im just at the point now where I think it would send a good message to the rest of the team. It would send a message to the team, hey it doesnt matter name recognition or what your salary is. If you play hard enough and make a big enough impact where on the court youve shown you deserve to be a starter, you will be rewarded with that.

Jose has been the far superior player compared to CJ on both ends the entire season. 20+ games into this season and there really isnt anything at the moment CJ is doing better. The guy has just flat out earned it. The only reason this change hasnt been made yet is because of CJ's name and his salary. If we were to do a blank name test, Jose runs away with this.

But with all that said. Very good win against one of the best teams in the conference and this is without BI and Herb. Right now the issues that we are talking about are the definition of 1st world problems in the basketball world haha.

Agree with that sentiment, nothing should be given or taken for granted. CJ is starting in reputation & salary alone right now. He's playing worse on both ends than when LA wanted to run Westbrook out of town... Now WB's 40m contract is benefiting LA coming off the bench. It's the same salary situation regardless.

People talk about wanting Jose as a spark plug.. NO's were down 14 when he was first subbed in... they needed an 11-0 to not let this game get away early.. Much like the Boston match a game can be lost in the first Q. Jose had to play out of his mind to pull this game out & he did. Great performance & nice overall win..

Can't wait for the Suns rematch.

Yup thats the thing, why wait until late in the 1st or the beginning of the 2nd to bring him in to get that spark? Why not start the game with that spark? And its not like Jose in the starting lineup, or really the main question to worry about is Jose with Zion/BI is a bad fit? Those 3 together have a ridiculous +25 Net Rating. Ya its on limited minutes (60) but theyve shown they play well with each other. There is no diminishing returns with them when they play together.

Start with the energy, start with the guy that can put pressure on the ball on the defensive end. Start with the guy who's game fits in perfectly with the 2 star players. Then allow CJ to come off the bench and try and be an offensive spark.

But ya to put this game into perspective, Denver is a top 4 team in the West and without BI and with CJ scoring single digits and Jonas in foul trouble all game. You still pull out a 15pt win. That is damn good.

The manner in which they're using & riding CJ in his sturggles has to be an attempt to justify trade & extension. This has nothing to do with Jose's spark because CJ with his scoring ability could easily bring a change of pace/scroring threat off the bench as a primary scoring option. Issue with that reality, is CJ's slumping production.

We both know Zion & Jonas benefit from Jose's defense, ball pressure & ability to play as needed. Whereas Jonas gets an easy hook, CJ has carte blanche for his struggling play. Raptors Jonas/Derozan, part 2, scene 3... Except at one point early this season CJ was averaging more misses than Zion had FGA's.

[NO-KG-AI]

They're riding CJ through the struggles because he has basically a decade at a level of scoring that nobody on the roster has shown to be able to sustain for any meaningful level of time to push the panic button. He shot 49% and 39% from 3 for us just last season.

I think they are banking on him shooting 39% and 33% from 3 being a shooting slump, and not an indication that this is just what CJ is now after just 19 games.

I just don't think they are ready to bench a pseudo star player that brings big time shooting over a shooting slump.

[Whole Truth]

They're riding CJ through the struggles because he has basically a decade at a level of scoring that nobody on the roster has shown to be able to sustain for any meaningful level of time to push the panic button. He shot 49% and 39% from 3 for us just last season.

I think they are banking on him shooting 39% and 33% from 3 being a shooting slump, and not an indication that this is just what CJ is now after just 19 games.

I just don't think they are ready to bench a pseudo star player that brings big time shooting over a shooting slump.

How patient do u think they will be ?

[Whole Truth]

Watching the Lakers, Cavs.

How do u turn a **** team into something passable. U let them foul on defense, u ignore traveling violations & then give them the softest of calls on offense. lol. Mobley got hacked by 3 defenders before refs decided to call a foul, then on the next possession Reeves gets to the line for a foul u can't see. LMAO.

DM with 30pts without getting to the line 4th Q, lol

[Whole Truth]

DN 3 to put Cavs up 15 with 3 to go...

Goodnight fake show.

[Whole Truth]

Now that the game is out of reach for LA, DM is getting to the line, LMAO.

[NO-KG-AI]

I’d be worried if CJ isn’t showing signs of not being s 30% 3 point shooter as we round the new year. I think the team has more obligation to figure out why he can’t even catch and shoot like he has for 10 years now. Is it mechanical? Is it mental? Is it lack of rhythm? Is he sick? Is his athleticism fading to the point of effecting it?

[Whole Truth]

I’d be worried if CJ isn’t showing signs of not being s 30% 3 point shooter as we round the new year. I think the team has more obligation to figure out why he can’t even catch and shoot like he has for 10 years now. Is it mechanical? Is it mental? Is it lack of rhythm? Is he sick? Is his athleticism fading to the point of effecting it?

I'd say it's rythym & him trying to find a balance with more options than just Lilliard to share the ball with.

Portland fans will tell u he's had slumps like this that he's had to shoot his way out of but that becomes hareder to do wien u have to involve more than just Lilliard into the equation.

This is part reason I'm suggesting to bring him off the bench as a primary option with Nance backing him.. This way he can focus on his scorers game against lesser comp without having to worry about feeding all of Zion, BI & Jonas... Then when in rythym he'd be a more effective option to close with, avoiding slow starts.

If you hhink twice about taking a shot more often than not it will result in a miss. Now imagine CJ thinking he needs to get everyone involved apposed to just looking to be the scorer he is. I absolutely think it's a mental/rythym issue.

[Whole Truth]

Good teams win ugly.

Want a laugh, rewatch the Lakers Detroit matchup & compare the whistlle Lakers & Davis got in realtion, LMAO.

[NO-KG-AI]

I’d be worried if CJ isn’t showing signs of not being s 30% 3 point shooter as we round the new year. I think the team has more obligation to figure out why he can’t even catch and shoot like he has for 10 years now. Is it mechanical? Is it mental? Is it lack of rhythm? Is he sick? Is his athleticism fading to the point of effecting it?

I'd say it's rythym & him trying to find a balance with more options than just Lilliard to share the ball with.

Portland fans will tell u he's had slumps like this that he's had to shoot his way out of but that becomes hareder to do wien u have to involve more than just Lilliard into the equation.

This is part reason I'm suggesting to bring him off the bench as a primary option with Nance backing him.. This way he can focus on his scorers game against lesser comp without having to worry about feeding all of Zion, BI & Jonas... Then when in rythym he'd be a more effective option to close with, avoiding slow starts.

If you hhink twice about taking a shot more often than not it will result in a miss. Now imagine CJ thinking he needs to get everyone involved apposed to just looking to be the scorer he is. I absolutely think it's a mental/rythym issue.

I can buy CJ not getting enough shots to get in rhythm like he's used to, and I can also believe he could struggle adjusting to Ingram and Zion, because he's aggressive and score first and isn't scaling back his shot attempts like he should.

My thing is that two subsets of fans are arguing these two things to be the problem, and they really can't both be true. I'm more in the first camp though as of now. Some people are arguing he won't attempt to change his role for the better, and some are arguing he's struggling because he can't adjust to the changing role.

[Whole Truth]

I’d be worried if CJ isn’t showing signs of not being s 30% 3 point shooter as we round the new year. I think the team has more obligation to figure out why he can’t even catch and shoot like he has for 10 years now. Is it mechanical? Is it mental? Is it lack of rhythm? Is he sick? Is his athleticism fading to the point of effecting it?

I'd say it's rythym & him trying to find a balance with more options than just Lilliard to share the ball with.

Portland fans will tell u he's had slumps like this that he's had to shoot his way out of but that becomes hareder to do wien u have to involve more than just Lilliard into the equation.

This is part reason I'm suggesting to bring him off the bench as a primary option with Nance backing him.. This way he can focus on his scorers game against lesser comp without having to worry about feeding all of Zion, BI & Jonas... Then when in rythym he'd be a more effective option to close with, avoiding slow starts.

If you hhink twice about taking a shot more often than not it will result in a miss. Now imagine CJ thinking he needs to get everyone involved apposed to just looking to be the scorer he is. I absolutely think it's a mental/rythym issue.

I can buy CJ not getting enough shots to get in rhythm like he's used to, and I can also believe he could struggle adjusting to Ingram and Zion, because he's aggressive and score first and isn't scaling back his shot attempts like he should.

My thing is that two subsets of fans are arguing these two things to be the problem, and they really can't both be true. I'm more in the first camp though as of now. Some people are arguing he won't attempt to change his role for the better, and some are arguing he's struggling because he can't adjust to the changing role.

Though I've talked about the shooting struggles, offensive fit & have advocated for him to come off the bench, I'm not in that 2nd camp either. CJ has & is making a concerted effort to both pass & defend harder. He's just limited defensively & I think trying to be a pass first is interferring with his ability to score/shoot & find a rythym.

Balance & skillset is why I'm advocating for CJ to start not finish off the bench. Focus on finding his rytym against bench units (lesser comp) where NO's won't get off to slow starts, with defensive compliments like Nance not Jonas with CJ as a primary option not overthinking having to involve all the other options... I'm not hating, I'm looking for what I think best for both CJ & the team.

[Whole Truth]

Morning NO's, beautifull day today. Sun is out, birds are singing & your NO's Pelicans hold the 1 seed in the West.

[NO-KG-AI]

I will say this, I might be getting ahead of myself, but I've gone very quickly through several stages with Jose:

"Wow, what a great pickup for our G-League and deep bench"

"Oh cool, he's a legit rotation guy"

"6th player of the year candidate?"

"Spot starter?"

"Is he our PG of the future?"

I'm super excited about Jose and Daniels, as I figure one of them has to develop into the starting PG of the future.

[Whole Truth]

The Zion & Murphy TO's were both clearly off the Suns players.. Hope that is not an early sign of what is to come.

[Whole Truth]

Pels playing great D but Jonas is ice cold.

[Whole Truth]

Nice half.. Pels would be up double digits if Jonas would have hit some of his open looks. Rough half for him..

Naji has low key been playing some great ball in BI's absence.

[Whole Truth]

Watch the baseline ref's face that kept wrongfully awarding the Suns the ball on Zion's 2nd to last dunk, LMAO.

Nice win & I'm loving that the Pels & Memphis r 1, 2 in the West. A WCF's matchup would be nice..

[Funcrusher]

Man, what would y'all say to the idea that the guy I'm most excited about getting via the draft isn't Wemby or Scoot, but Amen?


Like, ion even know if it would work, but two nuclear athletes on the same team who just about score exclusively in the paint would be such an interesting experiment man. Would be incredible to see how they would play off each other, if they could lol, probably fairly unique pre 3pt revolution and certainly unique post. If we pick 3rd though there's no way Griff bites, which is understandable obviously. but mannnn

[Funcrusher]

I will say this, I might be getting ahead of myself, but I've gone very quickly through several stages with Jose:

"Wow, what a great pickup for our G-League and deep bench"

"Oh cool, he's a legit rotation guy"

"6th player of the year candidate?"

"Spot starter?"

"Is he our PG of the future?"

I'm super excited about Jose and Daniels, as I figure one of them has to develop into the starting PG of the future.

People who think we should explore the trade market for a 3 & D PG don't understand. Jose's our 3 & D PG. yes he can shoot

[Whole Truth]

Man, what would y'all say to the idea that the guy I'm most excited about getting via the draft isn't Wemby or Scoot, but Amen?


Like, ion even know if it would work, but two nuclear athletes on the same team who just about score exclusively in the paint would be such an interesting experiment man. Would be incredible to see how they would play off each other, if they could lol, probably fairly unique pre 3pt revolution and certainly unique post. If we pick 3rd though there's no way Griff bites, which is understandable obviously. but mannnn

This draft is 10 deep for me. I ain't mad at it.

Amen would be nice.