Dillon Sage, co-host of Holy Backboard podcast, joined Tara to talk about the New Orleans Pelicans. 

00:30 How have expectations changed for the Pelicans? High expectations were quickly adjusted when Zion Williamson went down, but he’s not the only one who has been injured. Basically Pelicans fans have already had their hearts broke a number of ways this season.

2:45 What is the plan moving forward for this season? Will Zion play at all? The front office is adamant that he will play, although they are asking for patience. 

4:00 Brandon Ingram has been fantastic. He has really blossomed since he got out from under LeBron James and shown that he can be the featured player. Its been a very long time since the Pelicans (or Hornets) have had a good small forward. Ingram has great chemistry with all the players on the team. 

5:45 Lonzo Ball has been tough to watch. He’s not flourishing in a system that you would think would be good for point guards. He just keeps taking 3s, he is not penetrating. As a result he is coming off of the bench and Jrue Holiday continues to handle playmaking responsibilities. 

7:00 What do the Pelicans look like when they are playing their best? When Derrick Favors plays they are a really good defense. They look good when they play the fast paced offense. 

8:30 Is coach Alvin Gentry on the hot seat for losing 13 games in a row? Fans seem to be mad at him but it also seems like the front office likes him. 

9:15 Six months ago, David Griffin was a genius. Do people still feel that way? No matter how things are going this season, they are set up well for the future. 

10:30 Who is the leader in the locker room? Probably the three vets, Jrue Holiday, JJ Reddick, and Derrick Favors. They need to have veterans to help these very young players become professionals. 

12:00 There are rumors that the Pelicans may trade Jrue Holiday. Why would they want to do that? Sage thinks they are most likely listening to offers and would be willing to agree to a deal that will make them better, but they are most likely not actively looking for someone to trade with. 

14:00 JJ Reddick is playing well, continues to make difficult shots and he is one of their only shooters on the team, he provides spacing. 

15:30 What do the Blazers need to do to lock in this win? They need to stop the pick-and-roll. It has always been effective, especially against the Blazers. Last time they met, Hassan Whiteside figured out in the second half how to stop them. In the first game, the Blazers didn’t have Damian Lillard, it was Carmelo Anthony’s first game. The Pelicans played CJ McCollum very tight. 

17:45 How does Carmelo Anthony contribute to a Blazers win against the Pelicans? Anthony makes it a lot harder to double Lillard and McCollum, which has been the Pelicans plan against the Blazers for a long time. 

18:45 Are there any other storylines or players Blazer fans should watch for? Jackson Hayes has gotten a lot better. He has stopped jumping and been much more effective contesting shots. 

Find Sage at @dasage, follow the Holy Backboard podcast @holybackboard. Find Blazers' Edge @Blazersedge and Tara @tcbbiggs

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