re: "I'm out for straight vengeance"-Zion

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Been been ridin’

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Been been been ridin...

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Wee need 1. Health 2. Top 4 seed minimum

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1 is obvious. And yes as i pointed out in another thread, if you don't finish top 3 or 4 in the standings, you aren't winning the MVP. He doesn't need to averge 30+ppg to win it, he just needs to be dominant and the overwhelming reason we are a top 2 or 3 seed. He's likely not to have the points that Luka or SGA are goign to have, but he can still be in that 27/8/6 range, and then he needs to do something special like have a near 70% TS% (which means he needs to make his damn FT's) Jokic/Embiid/SGA all were at 64-65 TS% and Luka was at 62%, and all were higher than Zion last year. Jokic was 10th in the league.

If he can be at 27ppg, be higher than the Jokic/Embiid/Luka/SGA in TS%, and probably also needs to have some great clutch moments and stats, then he's got a chance.

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Show us on the court

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Well, until he can do that next month, he's showing us by putting himself in the best shape of his life. He's showing us by, for the first time, doing voluntary off-season workouts with his teammates. He's doing it by inviting reporters to witness his training regimen, which he hasn't done in the past. He's doing it by inviting team staff to be a part of that process, which he hasn't done before.

There's literally nothing else he can do until tipoff. So why are you so mad? Do you think that he shouldn't do interviews like this??

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There's literally nothing else he can do until tipoff.

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Exactly, because he can only show us in games, not words. He's done the show us by words before, how did that work out?

I fell for it before, I'm sure you did too. I don't see the point of falling for it again.

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So why are you so mad?

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What are you talking about? Since when is being a realist after being burned multiple times by being an optimist considered being mad?

No clue what you're talking about.

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Do you think that he shouldn't do interviews like this??

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Are you actually insinuating I haven't made what I think extremely clear?

i'll just repeat it again, i guess. I think we've all been burned by the words and pics of skinny Zion and ready to dominate Zion...multiple times before.

I think it's pointless to fall for it again and assume it's true solely because Zion said some words that this time is different...we've done that before, how'd it work out?

I think I will believe Zion when he does it on the court.

I don't know how to make that any more clear or concise, I'm not sure why you're asking questions about what I think here

I haven't forgotten shite.

The only thing that Zion can do at this point is stay healthy and play in the playoffs and dominate. 2nd round type shite is a must. It's the same as it's always been for me. You have to make the 2nd round at minimum to get this fan base to the next level of commitment

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Been been been ridin...

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Add another “been” there for me too.

Nothing but optimism for Zion. Can literally play all 5 spots. If the young man keeps working and gels with the team, he will have a solid team to lead.

Take a break. If people want to be optimistic, let them. Dude appointing himself the hall monitor of not allowing people to be excited about their best player. Maybe I’m just speaking for myself but genuinely no one cares if you’ve been burned by believing in Zion before. We’re fans, literally what else is there to do but support the team?

Lost in the pessimism of some posters are the exaggerated timelines they are using to reinforce their point. Somebody said he's played *6 seasons that's just wrong.

Maturing in any facet of life is a process. Some figure it out sooner than others. Zion played 1 year of college ball, which is not out of the ordinary for an elite talent like himself, but you could easily detect that irrespective of his genetic lottery physique and having a body that was ready for the rigors of playing against grown men, Zion was a big kid entering the League. Mentality wise, I would say he was a tad behind insofar as adulting.

Add to the fact, that dude instantly came into an absurd amount of money between the League and endorsements, the minute he declared, that alone, could stunt any 19/20 year old. Zion was just learning from coach K what a professional level of commitment to the game looked like, but that was only what 7 maybe 8 months, max.

He's gone through a public display of trial and error as it relates to maturing into adulthood and getting serious about being dedicated to his craft. Not many 21,22, 23 year olds are ready to necessarily assume that amount of responsibility. Most people his age are just trying to focus on earning a college degree while learning the discipline to party or whatnot, in moderation.

Zion didn't necessarily have the built in structure from an organization and coaching perspective, like a San Antonio or Miami, nor was an emphasis placed on providing him with the right veteran players to serve as mentors.

I would say Jrue, to a certain extent, but Etuan, JJ Redick, and D. Favors probably don't strike anyone as being outgoing in showing rookies the ins and outs, on a daily basis, in how to become a player with good habits, on and off the court, with the understanding of how to become a "veteran." Once Jrue left, he basically was relegated to learning what it takes on his own. The only person you could say he could benefit from emulating as an example, was probably Herb. But, that's being offset with a clown like Jaxon on the other end of the spectrum. Griff didn't have a number of vets on the team, who made it their goal to show the franchise player the ropes and how to avoid the pitfalls early in a career. His best example that Zion could relate to was probably Garrett Temple. Not everybody has Kobe's Mamba Mentality upon entering the League.

With all that being said, it was apparent last season, after rhe Inseason tourney,that the bulb went on and he was taking the necessary steps to holding himself accountable and sacrificing for the sake of trying to now attain greatness and be the best player he can be. I'm sure that Lakers game (tourney game) was sobering for him. To see arguably the greatest player of his generation, Lebron, at nearly 40 years old, still playing at an elite level, and showing his young arse up for the world to see.

He's matured over the past year plus and I believe he's "now" ready to assume the mantle of franchise player. B.I. kept the seat warm for him, bc Brandon is a serious minded individual and had the franchise player temperament to try to be the #1 for us. He did the best he could and I am forever thankful that B.I. was able to carry an average team without Zion healthy the past 3 years basically. It's just the fact that B.I. has reached his peak and it's not franchise player, transcendent game.

It's NOW Zion's team. I have no doubt that Zion will look otherworldly out the gate and be firmly in the discussion for MVP, if his health permits. He should average 27pts/7rebs/4ast with an average of at least 4 stocks a game. Dude has ostensibly worked hard and grinded this summer. Went holed himself up in a little arse town, with his camp and got in peak shape. Now we can see what he's fully capable of being.

So, don't have the pessimistic view to those who doubt the progress... You KNOW he's put in the REAL WORK this summer from his maturation over this past year and yes, the pics that show him demonstrably thinner throughout his body and one can assume he has finally committed himself to the sacrifice, discipline and mentality it takes to assume his pre-destined fate when he entered the League.

It's finally that time where you can believe in him. Embrace it. We finally will be able to say we have a legitimate chance to win a chip bc we will have arguably aTop 3-5 player in the League and he's surrounded with enough quality talent, just needs tweaking (B.I. for a center and more bench depth), to where they can beat anyone in a best of 7, if they play their game. And I mean ANYONE. This team is arguably the most talented team New Orleans has ever seen. The West is tough, but we have shown glimpses over the past 2 years, in particular, that we are capable of being a top seed, when healthy.

I have no doubt we will finish Top 5 in the West, but if Griff makes the right trade, we can realistically get the #1 seed. Flock up and relish in the fact that we have a legitimate chance, finally.