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  • I want to talk about the defense of this Pelicans team last season in regards to stand, you know, the last in in Detroit because he had so much on his plate because he was also the president and making personnel decisions.

  • How much better do you think stand could be?

  • This go around because he doesn't have that stuff on his plate.

  • The Orlando Magic got better when Stan became their coach.

  • The Detroit Pistons got better when Stan became their coach, not because of the moves he made with the front office in the front office.

  • Because their coach, I have no doubt that the New Orleans Pelicans will get better withstand as their coach.

  • Will he reach Zion?

  • Will it be enough?

  • That's we're gonna watch and find out perk.

  • Defensively.

  • They were ranked, I believe, 21st this season.

  • Stand, as I alluded to earlier, is an excellent defensive coach.

  • Historically, that's always been the case.

  • Wherever he's been, what do you need to see from them defensively?

  • Well, first, it's the effort, and then second, they have to be healthy.

  • You're looking at this Pelican team from this past season.

  • They wasn't healthy.

  • Majority of the season.

  • But when you go back and look at the stent before Zion got there, right, you look at what the Pelicans were right.

  • They were always top five.

  • Defensively.

  • They had a defense of mind.

  • The coaching Dan Herman, who was Darren Erman, who was right under Alvin Gentry.

  • But when you look at him, the first thing is that they have to be healthy.

  • Zion has to get better shape.

  • I've been preaching this, that he has to drop 25 to £30 on be able to move because the game is a lot faster.

  • They own the ball.

  • Defense has to get better, which I think if they decide to keep Drew holiday that drew holiday in the Lonzo ball, or to have one of the best defensive backcourts in the league.

  • And then you add a healthy Derrick favors to help anchor that defense at the five and protect the basket.

  • Brandon Ingram.

  • Now he's got to take a step forward now.

  • He can't just go out there and get 25 points a game.

  • He has to take that step forward and being able to play both ends of the floor to keep improving and keep graduating and getting into that superstar status.

  • Yeah, those are all excellent points.

  • It's funny because they did actually get better when Zion played in those 19 games.

  • It wasn't so much about what Zion was doing on the defensive end.

  • It was how he got to the basket, how he attacked the basket.

  • He got the ball in the rim, are in the hole and allowed the defense actually get set on the other side, as opposed to playing off misses, which is what they were doing.

  • Ah, lot early in the season, but you mentioned their defense, particularly their backcourt.

  • One of the big challenges that will be facing Stan Van Gundy and the Pelicans has to be the plan for Drew Holiday.

  • Hey turned 30 this summer, and he'd be an attractive piece on any contender.

  • But if the Pelicans plan to build around a 20 year old Zion, a 23 year old Brandon Ingram, you have to wonder, does holiday fit into those long term plans?

  • Brian, what do you think about the pelicans and what they can do with Drew?

  • Holiday?

  • This was this.

  • If I was Stan Van Gundy would have been the number.

  • One question I asked.

  • David Griffin Drew.

  • Holiday is one year away from having the ability to opt out of this contract.

  • JJ Reddick, also one year left on his contract.

  • Do they want to keep these veteran players and try to, you know, get back into the playoffs for next year?

  • Or do they want Thio make a move with these guys when their value is high?

  • Because it drew holiday went on to the board.

  • I think that there would be a bidding war amongst multiple teams to get him, and that's a huge decision going forward.

  • Uh, you know, Drew Holiday just won the Teammate of the Year award.

  • He plays at both ends of the court.

  • He is not easily replaceable player, But if he is, if he is gonna go, you're gonna maybe have to look at that.

  • And, um, David Griffin did take some calls, withdrew holiday back in February before the deadline.

  • Didn't get serious about it.

  • They've had a long time to think and look about this, Um and that, to me, is one of the biggest questions in the league that everyone is waiting for a sign what the pelicans they're gonna do with this star player.

  • All right, let's make the case that he stays right, that he's part of this roster moving forward.

  • I'll start with you, Brian.

  • This is a stacked Western Conference.

  • Can Stan Van Gundy and this Pelicans team with the ascension of Zion with the ascension of Brandon Ingram with the veteran guys they have in this roster with the team they have in place?

  • Are they a playoff team?

  • In your estimation?

  • If Zion looks the way he looked in the bubble, which was slowing out of shape, whether there was an injury relation or not, they're not a playoff team.

  • If Zion is the guy that we saw it, Duke, anything is possible.

  • I am as excited about Zion and his ability to transform a game as I have been about any player in this league in the last 15 years.

  • So Zion is right now, No matter what the Pelicans were doing.

  • This is a vital, vital off season for Zion Williamson.

  • He needs to be working every single day on his game and his health to make sure that whenever next season starts, he's a difference.

  • Making player, and I don't care if Red Auerbach comes back on coaches this team.

  • It doesn't matter who the coach is.

  • A Zion Williamson isn't playing at a high level park.

  • Well, I do think that that they could slide in and that eighth there seven or eight spike with them.

  • Being fully healthy was a on coming back.

  • We know that this kid is box office, but we know they have a lot of depth.

  • They have heart.

  • They have JJ Reddick.

  • They have drew holiday, Lonzo ball.

  • They have all these guys that are not afraid of the moment.

  • And at one point of time, the Pelicans were playing right before the pandemic.

  • They were playing some very inspiring basketball and matching up with the best of them.

  • And when you look at the Western Conference, yes, I know Golden State is coming back.

  • Obviously, Portland won't be a HC next year.

  • There were Nuggets will be back stronger.

  • The Utah Jazz will be back better, But when I'm looking at the Utah Jazz, I'm looking at this New Orleans Pelicans team.

  • To me, they're in the same category.

  • They're in the same boat.

  • Both of these guys Both of these teams have great young talent.

  • Zion is not your typical young start.

  • He's very mature, and but the thing is is that he has to be healthy.

  • He has to get in shape if he's in shape and he's healthy.

  • I strongly believe that the Pelicans could make the playoffs in.

  • The Western Conference is gonna be fun to see no matter what.

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I want to talk about the defense of this Pelicans team last season in regards to stand, you know, the last in in Detroit because he had so much on his plate because he was also the president and making personnel decisions.

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