Started By
Message

re: What's your biggest surprise of the season so far?

Posted on 12/30/22 at 9:26 am to
Posted by Paperchaser4ever
New Orleans
Member since Oct 2016
16 posts
Posted on 12/30/22 at 9:26 am to
Dyson contributions to the team is certainly a good surprise for me. Unfortunately, the number of games lost to injuries in just a third of the season.
Posted by Dinky Mulberry
Member since Aug 2021
2290 posts
Posted on 12/30/22 at 10:32 am to
The Pelicans are just a really odd team. Willie and powers that be, gonna have to make some serious decisions in the near future. Which way do they wish to proceed in order to become a serious playoff contender, or just be content with being a team that can maybe make the Western finals but that would be the top end.

I can't see but one player...that is a stone cold lock to be a fixture in NO for the next several years. Too many variables involved, with all the other players, not the least of which, is Willie's opinion on what specific area of the game the Pels need to make major improvements in, to have a shot at winning it all.

Should be interesting to see how the rest of the year goes, when we hopefully have all our players healthy and ready to go.

Posted by Lester Earl
3rd Ward
Member since Nov 2003
288531 posts
Posted on 12/30/22 at 10:41 am to
Trey Murphy flirting with a 50/40/90 shooting line and explosively attacking the rim like he has has been a huge surprise to me

Dyson Daniels playing meaningful minutes this early as a 19yr old is pretty crazy too.
Posted by Bronc
Member since Sep 2018
12646 posts
Posted on 12/30/22 at 11:06 am to
Even as someone that will shamelessly point out I was the first to mention keeping an eye on him as a prospect last year, Dyson has surprised me a lot.

His defense is borderline elite, he is one of the best guard rebounders in the league out the gate, and his shot actually looks good and he probably could stand to let them fly a bit more tbh
Posted by nicj4
Guadeloupe
Member since Jan 2020
765 posts
Posted on 12/30/22 at 11:10 am to
Pels 1st West.
I thought btw 6 and 9...
Posted by saintslsupels
Member since Jul 2014
2492 posts
Posted on 12/30/22 at 11:21 am to
quote:

The Pelicans are just a really odd team. Willie and powers that be, gonna have to make some serious decisions in the near future. Which way do they wish to proceed in order to become a serious playoff contender, or just be content with being a team that can maybe make the Western finals but that would be the top end. I can't see but one player...that is a stone cold lock to be a fixture in NO for the next several years. Too many variables involved, with all the other players, not the least of which, is Willie's opinion on what specific area of the game the Pels need to make major improvements in, to have a shot at winning it all. Should be interesting to see how the rest of the year goes, when we hopefully have all our players healthy and ready to go


We’re #1 in the with an incredible nucleus of young players we drafted, and we have our 2 best players on long term contracts but somehow you make it seem like we’re in a rough spot.

I’ve said it before, we don’t have any major decisions we need to make soon, there’s no rush to make a splash move, and we can match any contract when our drafted players become free agents.

It’s a pretty simple “decision”. We’re gonna try to re-sign many as we can unless someone gets a huge offer that’s way over market value.

You only need to make a major decision if AFTER A FEW YEARS we are capping out at the conference finals or semifinals and not able to seriously compete for a title, similar to what the Raptors did with the Kawhi trade.

The last thing you want to do is what the Timberwolves did. Blowing up your roster and draft capital before your young core has a chance to fully develop is a major mistake.

We don’t need to do anything. We just need to sit back and see how far this roster can go.
Posted by Retrograde
TX
Member since Jul 2014
2914 posts
Posted on 12/30/22 at 11:22 am to
The coaching staff. Our young players have all developed nicely.
Posted by touchdownjeebus
Member since Sep 2010
26071 posts
Posted on 12/30/22 at 11:43 am to
Dyson’s offensive game and court awareness. That dude doesn’t frick up. He may toss an errant pass, but the read was right. Tbh, he really doesn’t toss errant passes either.

I like that Willie is bringing him along slowly, and can’t wait to see this kid come April.
Posted by whatiknowsofar
hm?
Member since Nov 2010
25932 posts
Posted on 12/30/22 at 11:54 am to
Dyson being so good so fast and Herb having a sophomore slump of sorts.
Posted by BayouFann
CenLa
Member since Jun 2012
7161 posts
Posted on 12/30/22 at 11:54 am to
quote:


I know this will get down voted to shite but I’m genuinely surprised we haven’t won more games.

We 100% got cheated out of three games early in the season. Lack of foul call handicapped us early on also.
Posted by BowDownToLSU
Livingston louisiana
Member since Feb 2010
21169 posts
Posted on 12/30/22 at 12:50 pm to
Trey taking to the rack. I thought he was just a three point shooter. He is really gonna make some SC top ten list the way he goes strong to the rim. He gonna put many players on posters
Posted by LSUFreek
Greater New Orleans
Member since Jan 2007
15895 posts
Posted on 12/30/22 at 1:06 pm to
Surprises? For me, it has to be Naji. As recent as the Summer League, I had my frustrations with his decision-making and quietly wished someone would earn the minutes Naji was getting. But this dude has been clutch AF for a timely 3, a layup, steal, rebound, assist...even ready to throw fisticuffs or a shiv a bitch.

I'm not totally surprised at Dyson's progress. I was wishing that this elite defensive stud I had been watching countless clips of pre-draft would fit right in. His lights-out pre-draft Pels workout where he hit all those 3's also had me stoked that his distance game had taken a major jump up from his iffy brick-laying start with Ignite. I am surprised my wishes came true, but I did expect Dyson to impress.
Posted by iwyLSUiwy
I'm your huckleberry
Member since Apr 2008
40793 posts
Posted on 12/30/22 at 1:07 pm to
There's no reason to be negative because there are so many pleasant surprises so I won't talk about Herb's shooting.

Like most, Dyson has been the biggest surprise to me. The 8th overall pick averaging 5/3/2 doesn't seem like a positive surprise but it's like stats barely matter with him. You can tell his offense will grow. He's already got a nice little floater, drives fairly hard to the hoop, and is %40 from three with seriously the smoothest stroke on the team. But that defense from a 19 year should not be that good. It's just crazy to me. You could sum up his defense for the entire year in the last play vs Minny guarding A. Edwards. Just solid, disciplined, textbook defense.

I was going to pull for him hard to be good year one, but looking at the roster I just didn't see where the minutes would come from for him. I didn't think Willie would scale back Grahams minutes like he has (hell DV has been a nice surprise as well in a lesser role for that matter). I hate that injuries have been a reason he's gotten as many minutes as he has but it has been good for him which in turn is good for the team.

I love this team.
Posted by iwyLSUiwy
I'm your huckleberry
Member since Apr 2008
40793 posts
Posted on 12/30/22 at 1:14 pm to
Man it is hard for you to say anything positive unless it's about Herb.

quote:

The Pelicans are just a really odd team. Willie and powers that be, gonna have to make some serious decisions in the near future. Which way do they wish to proceed in order to become a serious playoff contender, or just be content with being a team that can maybe make the Western finals but that would be the top end.


What team in the NBA doesn't have to make serious decisions going forward? Every team in the NBA has to make serious decisions going forwards every year if the want to get better. That's not odd. What's odd is you picking the time when we are in first place to say that the team is at a crossroad because you just see them as a WCF team. If you're a WCF worthy team, then you have a chance at the finals unless you have a team on fire like the Warriors have been in seasons past. There is not a team in the West that has separated itself like that. The Grizzlies for some reason act like they have won multiple titles and are by far the best team in the conferences but they aren't.

quote:

I can't see but one player...that is a stone cold lock to be a fixture in NO for the next several years.


My god

Posted by Dinky Mulberry
Member since Aug 2021
2290 posts
Posted on 12/30/22 at 1:29 pm to
quote:

Man it is hard for you to say anything positive unless it's about Herb.


Obviously, Zion is a massive talent and I have been very pleased and surprised by his efforts to make others better and I'm very happy with Dyson & hope he will soon be on closing 5. Herb obviously needs to improve his 3-pt shooting, but we desperately need defense so? CJ is on the wrong side of the hill...but still quite useful & a great pickup. Trey has tremendous potential...but be a stretch to see him reach it...but I'm hoping for the best. Need huge improvement at the "5"...
Posted by Pistol44
New Orleans
Member since Jun 2019
2298 posts
Posted on 12/30/22 at 2:21 pm to
Gotta be Naji Jordan/Johnson/Curry/Mahorn .... 'The chameleon'
first pageprev pagePage 2 of 2Next pagelast page
refresh

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram