I don't really follow the Pels, or the NBA much, but does this board think

I just want to see the evolution of Ingram and Ball's games.

And Zion being able to keep healthy.

Couldn't care less about our record, another lottery pick wouldn't be the worst result.

I’d like to agree to this but even this early into the season it appears that 48- 50 wins may not get you in this year.

And while I think Zion would undoubtedly swing one or two of these games, I’m not sure a team this young and this unfamiliar with one another was ever going to hit the ground running and sustain it enough to make the playoffs.

Though I’m ok with that. Honestly we weren’t making a run, and we can probably achieve equal growth and long-term team building value by struggling early and overcoming that, finishing the season strong but missing the playoffs in a draft system that has smoothed the odds. Because even in a best case scenario I’m not sure we would have made it given how deep the west is this year.

If the team had its complete roster and was reasonably healthy, it could be a very good team by the second half of the season, and it would challenge for a playoff spot. It conceivably could exceed those expectations with a little luck. In any event, it will be an exciting team to watch.

Right now, the Pelicans are leading the league in made 3-pointers, and are tied for 5th in 3-pt percentage. Those are crazy numbers for a team that, before the season, was widely seen as lacking 3-pt shooting -- and this was considered the central weakness of the team. We're getting those shots by moving the ball extremely well, which is why we are leading the league in assists per game.

The problems so far have been:

* A lack of points in the paint. It's no coincidence that the one game that we won was the one that Okafor dominated inside. That's what give our shooter open looks, which is why we shot 42% from 3 in that game. Needless to say, that's what Zion is going to do to the extreme -- draw defenders inside on him and open up the perimeter.

* Defensive confusion. With a completely new group of players, constant lineup changes and a new defensive coach, it's not surprising that the beginning of the season has featured confusion and poor rotations. Team defense is about knowing what your teammates are going to do and trusting them to do it. We were much improved in our last game, but lets see if we can continue to progress.

So, yeah, I think that the team's problems so far are going to get fixed, and we're going to be one of the league's top-10 teams when Zion is healthy. And we're an incredibly young team who should improve over the course of the season. Hopefully, we can play something close to .500 ball until Zion gets back.

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They will be really good?

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My take is yes they will be really good. With Zion we can sneak into the playoffs then go toe to toe with ANY team because Zion is a generational player who plays his best in the spotlight and on the big stage and the team has depth.

all stats from NBA.com

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A lack of points in the paint. It's no coincidence that the one game that we won was the one that Okafor dominated inside.

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Nope.

Before that game, the Pels were 5th in the league in FGM per game in the Restricted Area, averaging 20.5 FGM on 66.7% shooting. That game they made 21 FG in the RA on 80% shooting.

Taking nothing away from Okafor, who played excellently. But the Pels had been getting into the paint and converting even when they lost. Did Okafor help boost that? Yes. Was it a glaring problem before? No

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That's what give our shooter open looks, which is why we shot 42% from 3 in that game

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Nope.

Before that game, the Pels were leading the league in 3PM at 16.8. They were shooting a very good 36.6% on the season as a team. Over the last 4 years, that would rank 6th, 11th, 12th, 6th in the league over a full season.

Before that game, the Pels were 2nd in the league in Catch and Shoot 3s with 32.7 per game and hit those at 42.7%, good for 6th in the league

Before that game, the Pels took 18.8 WIDE OPEN 3s per game, good for 9th in the league, and hit them at 46.7%, good for 3rd in the league.

Before that game, the Pels took 19.8 OPEN 3s per game, good for 1st in the league, and hit them at 31.6%, good for 19th in the league.

The one thing they did more of? They took 13 Corner 3s and 18 Above the Break. Corner 3s are the best jump shots you can take from a pure math/shot value perspective and those % are usually higher for a variety of reasons. Normally, they take Above the Break 3s almost 3 times as much as Corner 3s.

The question to tease out is why. Is that because Okafor was playing so well? Or was it Nuggets breakdowns? Or something else the Pels did? Tough for any of us to say.

Bottom line, system offense ain't the problem. On the whole, they get good shots, they convert them at good rates. Zion will help because he's going to be a force. But they're already doing many good things on offense.

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Defensive confusion. With a completely new group of players, constant lineup changes and a new defensive coach, it's not surprising that the beginning of the season has featured confusion and poor rotations. Team defense is about knowing what your teammates are going to do and trusting them to do it. We were much improved in our last game, but lets see if we can continue to progress.

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Yup.