Final Season Review: Ring Bound?

Ethen Meyers • April 12, 2023

Writing this final installment of the season feels unreal. The ups and downs of this season have really felt like a few seasons put into one. It doesn't feel like Willie Green is a 2nd year head coach. It doesn't feel like Brandon Ingram is 25 years old. Zion still only 21. Our two core pieces and one entering "prime" years and the other not even touching them. There is a lot to be positive about with this young squad despite feeling like the regular season was filled with negatives; Ingram and Zion both missing 50% of regular season games, Jose dealing with injuries, Nance and CJ playing through injuries. The season was a roller coaster that felt like a combination of the Jester and the Zephyr at Jazzland.

None of that answers the question, are we ring bound? The easy answer is no, because we face two elimination games despite being 1st in the West at one point. We face two chances at season ending losses or season extending wins. There is hope, and that hope lies in the fact that the guys we do have always seem to play to the competition, and the competition only gets tougher. We tend to take the "challenge" heads on despite dropping key games. Last year I had no idea that the Pelicans would make the playoffs let alone give the defending champs a run for their money. The team certainly plays with a chip sometimes, but when that chip on their shoulder is heavy they tend to lean into it and play their best ball. We can only hope that is the case this post season.

Ring bound or not, we still have a lot of upside on this roster with young guys and a whole lot of upside I hate to say I am still very optimistic about the Pelicans future. We have drafted well in recent years despite what people will say. We have young guys with confidence issues, not skill issues. Once Willie Green grows with these players I truly believe the sky is the limit. We saw what can happen when a players coach gets some experience under his belt with Monty leaving and winning in Phoenix. Will Willie Green follow suit? Do we have the duo that needs a smart veteran point to help us make the next step? Time can tell, and I will enjoy listening.

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Pelicans @ Nuggets Takeaways

By Chrissy Smith • October 30, 2025

Team Stats (Pelicans at Nuggets) Final Score: 88-122 Rebounds: 36-57 Assists: 17-40 Steals: 9-5 Blocks: 3-5 Turnovers: 12-14 Stat Leaders Scoring Leaders: Jeremiah Fears, 21; Nikola Jokić, 21 Rebound Leaders: Trey Murphy III, 7; Nikola Jokić, 12 Assist Leaders: Jeremiah Fears, 6; Nikola Jokić, 10 My Player of the Game: Jeremiah Fears Chrissy's Key Takeaways * The starters for this game were Fears, Murphy III, Jones, Zion, and Deandre Jordan. So that was different, and it didn't work at all. * With most of the third quarter over, Zion had five total points in the game. He finished with 11. * The Nuggets went on a 32-4 run in the third quarter. The Pelicans came out very slow to start off the third. * New Orleans went 7-of-33 from the three-point line. * Nikola Jokić had a triple-double. The Pelicans had no answer for him all night. * Do the Pelicans know that the season has started because the majority of the guys out there look like they still think they're playing Summer League. * The problem with this team isn't the talent because they have that. So what's the problem? Coaching, effort, etc.? This has to be fixed ASAP. Follow @TheKneaux on X, and follow me there too, @SportsChrissy.

Celtics @ Pelicans Takeaways

By Chrissy Smith • October 28, 2025

Team Stats (Celtics at Pelicans) Final Score: 122-90 Rebounds: 54-35 Assists: 25-17 Steals: 5-7 Blocks: 7-0 Turnovers: 11-13 Stat Leaders Scoring Leaders: Anfernee Simons, 25; Jordan Poole, 22 Rebound Leaders: Neemias Queta, 11; Yves Miss, 7 Assist Leaders: Payton Prichard, 8; Trey Murphy, III, 5 My Player of the Game: Jordan Poole Chrissy's Key Takeaways * The first two losses of the season were tough but at least the team looked good. In this game, no one looked fired up to compete except Jordan Poole and Jose Alvarado. * Zion did not play because he's been spending all offseason getting in shape just so he could rest after two games. Makes no sense to me. * Trey Murphy and Herb Jones need to find their spark and stride. These guys have been putting in a ton of work in the offseason but it isn't showing right now. * Willie Green has got to be on a short leash because this 0-3 start feels like the team is just picking up where they left off except this time they're healthy and have all the momentum in the world. * The next three games for the Pelicans will be on the road against Denver, Clippers, and Thunder . Follow @TheKneaux on X, and follow me there too, @SportsChrissy.