re: Primary Pelicans starting lineup has one of the worst Net Ratings in league

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It doesn't leave any other actual realistic starting lineup shake ups right now. We have to ride it out this season.

But ultimately, breaking up Zion/BI is the way to go...more specifically moving BI. It's all just so obvious at this point IMO.

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The starting lineup has many problems. I don't think Zion and BI as a combo is the worst of them.

I do think there are three main issues with the starting linuep:

-The Front court pairing of Jonas/Nance with Zion

-CJ

-Starting lineup has 4 bad defenders.

Ultimately, neither Jonas nor Nance mesh well with Zion as a frontcourt mate. They both muck up the spacing and allow teams to theoretically have their best rim protector camping in the paint to help contest Zion drives. Both Nance and Jonas do not attempt enough jumpers (Frankly, every time they take a jump shot, it is a win for the defense) per game to keep a defense honest.

The ideal Center for a Zion-led team is the Myles Turner type. Unfortunately, those guys are rare and Griff didn't pull the trigger when we had the chance to get him for multiple seasons.

While CJ has done a great job of adapting as the 3rd scorer and has become an excellent catch-and-shoot option, he has reached the stage of his career where he may be better as the lead guard off the bench.

For all the good CJ has brought on offense this season, he is downright terrible on D. Teams are singling him out on every possession and he just doesn't provide any resistance at the point of attack. Teams aren't even using elaborate P&R actions either, they are running simple P&R options against CJ and it is breaking our defensive structure down into pieces.

CJ's ineffectiveness on D leads to my final point that we have a starting lineup that has 4 bad defenders. This is the chief reason why we start games slow and end them terribly. We can't get stops when we need to.

Not only are teams putting CJ in P&R's constantly, but many of those actions also involve Jonas are Zion. Teams get way too many easy drives to the basket and we don't have any rim protection.

Switch the P&R and you have a guard blowing by Zion or Jonas.

Hard Hedge the screen and you have the easy dump off to the rolling big with no rim protection behind.

Play the P&R conventionally, and you have CJ dying on the screen and either Zion or Jonas facing both the guard and the big in a 2 v. 1 to the basket.

Ultimately, this is a failure on Griff's part. Willie can only do so much because Zion, BI, CJ, and Jonas have too much stature to not start.

If Willie could bench Jonas and CJ, the best possible option with the cards that are dealt would be:

Nance
Zion
BI
Herb
Trey

And even that lineup has its flaws w/ the Nance/Zion pairing, and Trey being an overrated defender.

More Point Zion!

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If Willie could bench Jonas and CJ, the best possible option with the cards that are dealt would be:

Nance
Zion
BI
Herb
Trey

And even that lineup has its flaws w/ the Nance/Zion pairing, and Trey being an overrated defender.

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Stolen from somewhere...can't recall where...If I may be completely unrealistic, the actual idea starting lineup would be:

CJ
Herb
Trey
Zion
Val


BI off the bench. That should ruffle some feathers on here.

What I've always wanted to see:

Jose
CJ
BI
Zion
Herb

Take Zion, Jose out at 4 minute mark, enter JV and Dyson
Start the 2nd with Zion and Trey coming in for BI and CJ, Larry for JV. Hawk or Naji depending on matchups for Herb

shite, my bad Ned lol.

That's all you, great call out. I hadn't even realized it.

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My new favorite dumbass thing I've read about Jose is that he wouldn't play on any other NBA team but ours. Like what fricking world are we living in when a dude with multiple years of winning minutes (arguably the most important stat for bench players) "wouldn't play for any nba team but Pels"

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I said he would be a bench player everywhere else.

If you believe he would start somewhere, you are legitamitely a dumbass. Sorry.

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They have to figure out the starting 5 either with scheme or players

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You quickly run out of options if you’re changing players in the starting 5. Herb can’t sit, he’s the only one who plays defense. It’s been proven that it doesn’t matter if you switch JV for Larry since both lineups suck. You can’t sit CJ or else who the hell is taking 3s? It comes down to benching Zion or BI and there’s no way in hell you can send one of your stars to the bench

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That would require leaning into the offense, which doesn't seem like something Willie is comfortable doing.

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How is it leaning in anymore than what we’re already doing? You’re switching out BI and JV for Trey and KAT, all of those guys are offense first players. KAT’s probably the best defender out of the 4 and that’s not saying a whole lot

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I agree he is a bench play for us lol

I do think he would be able to carve out a nich and be able to play in the NBA for a decent time. He would probably bounce around but every team could use that type of player. But some already have that player

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Sure every team would want an energy guy at the back of their bench they can throw in randomly. The Pelicans are the only team in the league that may consider him MORE then that.

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How is it leaning in anymore than what we’re already doing?

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For 1, KAT is one of the few bigs that would actually create space for Zion. Swapping JV of KAT is pretty significant offensively speaking. But, what I'm getting at is this is an offensively skewed team now and would be even more so after trading JV for KAT. While Willie getting the Pels to have the 7th ranked defense is both surprising and admirable, I believe in leaning into your strengths, and while I'd like to keep the defense, I'm not sure Willie is the guy to take advantage of the lineup you're proposing.