The Big Easy | A New Orleans Pelicans MyLeague | NBA 2K20

[the_kevstaaa]

Pre All-Star Break Februrary 2020

Games
2/2 - (26-24) New Orleans Pelicans 96 @ (36-13) Houston Rockets 126 (J. Harden 33 points, 9 assists) (T. Burke 19 points)
2/4 - (33-17) Milwaukee Bucks 120 @ (26-25) New Orleans Pelicans 118 (OT) (G. Antetokounmpo 35 points, 20 rebounds) (Z. Williamson 26 points, 17 rebounds)
2/6 - (27-25) New Orleans Pelicans 103 @ (22-31) Chicago Bulls 101 (Z. Williamson 22 points, 15 rebounds) (Z. LaVine 22 points)
2/8 - (27-26) New Orleans Pelicans 91 @ (23-30) Indiana Pacers 116 (L. Ball 19 points, 11 assists) (M. Brogdon 33 points, 7 assists)
2/11 - (32-23) Portland Trail Blazers 119 @ (27-27) New Orleans Pelicans 90 (J. Holiday 15 points, 6 assists) (D. Lillard 55 points)
2/13 - (30-25) Oklahoma City Thunder 118 @ (27-28) New Orleans Pelicans 113 (B. Ingram 18 points, 8 rebounds) (D. Schroder 26 points)

Around The League
Milwaukee traded Ersan Ilyasova to Philadelphia for Mike Scott and a trade exception.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (26.0ppg, 17.0rpg, 6.0apg, 3.6spg, 2.3bpg) and Stephen Curry (37.0ppg, 7.0apg, 6.3rpg) win Players of the Week for 2/3-2/9.
Stephen Curry takes over the Scoring Title race (30.2ppg) from Kyrie Irving (30.0ppg).
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) has torn ACL; out for season (25.0ppg, 12.3rpg)
DeAndre Ayton (PHX) has knee tendinitis; out 4-6 weeks (17.4ppg, 10.5rpg)
Jusuf Nurkic (POR) dislocated his right patella; out 2-4 months (15.3ppg, 10.4rpg)

[Cruzerr]

Surprised that Lonzo is that miserable whilst you are contending and he is playing well. Also, Nurkic is really unlucky with his injuries. Same for KAT, but I guess they aren't contending regardless.

[the_kevstaaa]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cruzerr

Surprised that Lonzo is that miserable whilst you are contending and he is playing well. Also, Nurkic is really unlucky with his injuries. Same for KAT, but I guess they aren't contending regardless.

Lonzo's feelings surprised me too. I'm planning on using the player option to keep him and see how next season goes. Maybe he'll become happy. If not, I may have to move him for assets.

[the_kevstaaa]

Rising Stars Challenge 2020

It was a Rising Stars Challenge for the ages. There was no skirting around the fact that Team USA was deeper than Team World. The latter came in with several players who hadn't seen much court time this season. That played a part in the story of this game. With the starters going at it, Team World held a 34-29 edge after the first quarter. When the reserves started entering, the tide shifted. Team USA won the second quarter 31-18 thanks to a surge from Jaren Jackson Jr. (10 points) and Darius Garland (all 12 points and 4 three pointers in 2nd quarter). After a quiet first half (5 points, 1 rebound), Zion Williamson (23 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists) exploded with a huge third quarter. He combined with Ja Morant (26 points, 8 assists) for some tremendous plays. It looked like Team USA had this wrapped up.

Team World was not to be denied. Their three-headed monster of Luka Doncic (25 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds), RJ Barrett (26 points), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (26 points, 9 assists) helped the team storm back and take the lead in the final minutes. Team USA was rocked. A Rui Hachimura (13 points) jumper put Team World up 123-121 with 51 seconds remaining. Williamson tied the game on a putback before Barrett missed a runner in the lane. That left Team USA with the ball and 4 seconds on the clock. They inbounded to Jarrett Culver (12 points) who found Trae Young (21 points, 8 assists) coming around a screen. Young pulled up from about 30 feet to drill a three at the buzzer and give Team USA the victory.

[the_kevstaaa]

NBA All-Star Game 2020

Giannis Antetokounmpo (20 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists) and LeBron James (20 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists) were once again named the captains of the All-Star teams. This year, it was Team Giannis who managed to come out on top. Though Giannis played well, it was Paul George (25 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) who went home with the All-Star MVP trophy following a 144-132 victory. He scored most of those points during a huge third quarter run that separated the game. George re-tamed with former Thunder teammate Russell Westbrook (19 points, 6 assists) to spur that run. Ben SImmons (5 points) didn't play long, but had an emphatic dunk over LaMarcus Aldridge (2 points) that punctuated a ten point lead. Team LeBron was led by Stephen Curry (25 points, 7 assists), James, James Harden (16 points, 7 assists), and Kevin Durant (19 points).

[the_kevstaaa]

2/17/20-3/1/20

Games
2/21 – (28-28) New Orleans Pelicans 124 @ (33-24) Portland Trail Blazers 93 (L. Ball 27 points) (D. Lillard 33 points)
2/23 –(28-29) New Orleans Pelicans 109 @ (35-22) Golden State Warriors 122 (L. Ball 19 points) (S. Curry 34 points)
2/25 – (28-30) New Orleans Pelicans 117 @ (46-11) Los Angeles Lakers 118 (Z. Williamson 36 points) (L. James 28 points)
2/28 – (20-39) Cleveland Cavaliers 92 @ (29-30) New Orleans Pelicans 111 (B. Ingram 17 points) (D. Garland 17 points)

Around The League
2/21 - Charlotte's Nicolas Batum (13.1ppg) has hand fracture; out 4-6 weeks.
2/22 - New York's Bobby Portis (12.9ppg) has torn elbow ligament; out 2-4 weeks.
2/25 - Oklahoma City's Steven Adams (17.0ppg) has sprained knee; out 1-2 weeks.
2/26 - Golden State's D'Angelo Russell (24.3ppg) has torn hamstring; out 6-8 weeks.
2/29 - Houston's Clint Capela (15.0ppg) has knee tendinitis; out 2-4 weeks.

Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid (33.5ppg, 9.5rpg, 2.5spg, 2.5bpg) and the Lakers’ LeBron James (32.0ppg, 12.0apg, 6.0rpg, 1.0spg) were Players of the Week for 2/17-2/23.
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (26.6ppg, 13.5rpg, 6.3apg, 2.5spg, 1.4bpg) and Golden State’s Stephen Curry (30.5ppg, 7.4apg, 6.5rpg, 1.5spg) were named Players of the Month for February.
The February Rookies of the Month were Atlanta’s DeAndre Hunter (17.5ppg, 5.4rpg, 3.7apg) and Minnesota Jarett Culver (18.0ppg, 8.3rpg, 1.2spg)

[the_kevstaaa]

3/1/20

(47-12) Los Angeles Lakers @ (29-30) New Orleans Pelicans

Desperate to maintain ground on the race for the 8th seed out west, the Pelicans needed a win over the top team in the league to go back to .500. This was an early shootout, with LeBron James (35 points, 10 assists, 9 rebounds) torching New Orleans. He scored 20 first quarter points and hit four three pointers. Surprisingly, the Pelicans still entered the second frame with a two point lead thanks to a hot start by Lonzo Ball (20 points, 11 assists). James was taken out in the second following the play of the night. Zion Williamson (24 points, 10 rebounds) brought the crowd to their feet by throwing down a huge dunk over James, who pulled up lame on a jumper on the next possession. James was ultimately fine and returned in the second half. Without him, the Lakers were outscored 31-19 in the second quarter. The second half was evenly matched, with each quarter seeing the Lakers win by two points. That just wasn't enough to rally. When they got within four points in the final frame, JJ Redick (16 points) drained a three and Derrick Favors (12 points, 18 rebounds) scored on a putback. Admiral Schofield (10 points) sealed things with a three point play over DeMarcus Cousins (17 points). The Pelicans had seven players in double-digit scoring.

[the_kevstaaa]

NEW ORLEANS GETS HOT

Games
3/3 - (23-37) Minnesota Timber Wolves 88 @ (31-30) New Orleans Pelicans 124
Notes
Jrue Holiday 26 points/Trey Burke 21 points, 6 assists
Jarrett Culver 21 points
New Orleans pulls within half a game of Utah for the #8 seed

3/4 – (32-30) New Orleans Pelicans 117 @ (20-43) Dallas Mavericks 107
Notes
Brandon Ingram 23 points/James Ennis 22 points
Kristaps Porzingis 38 points (averaged 29.0ppg against NOP)
New Orleans takes sole possession of #8 seed

3/6 – (25-38) Miami Heat 116 @ (33-30) New Orleans Pelicans 123
Notes
Derrick Favors 21 points/Zion Williamson 17 points, 10 rebounds
Dion Waiters 20 points
New Orleans passes Denver to take a .5 game lead for the #7 seed

3/8 – (34-30) New Orleans Pelicans 113 @ (24-39) Minnesota Timber Wolves 101
Notes
Derrick Favors 22 points, 16 rebounds/Zion Williamson 15 points, 14 rebounds
Noah Vonleh 20 points, 10 rebounds

3/11 – (35-30) New Orleans Pelicans 152 @ (34-31) Sacramento Kings 140 (2OT)
Notes
Zion Williamson 26 points, 17 rebounds/Jrue Holiday 25 points, 10 assists/Derrick Favors 22 points
JJ Redick 19 points, game tying 3 in final seconds of both regulation and overtime
Buddy Hield 35 points/Marvin Bagley III 28 points, 11 rebounds
The win puts the Pelicans in the #7 seed with a game lead over Denver and Sacramento

3/13 – (36-30) New Orleans Pelicans 135 @ (31-35) Utah Jazz 108
Notes
JJ Redick 26 points/Zion Williamson 25 points, 11 rebounds/Jrue Holiday 16 points, 11 assists
Donovan Mitchell 25 points/Rudy Gobert 18 points, 13 rebounds

3/14 – (37-30) New Orleans Pelicans 108 @ (48-19) Los Angeles Clippers 96
Notes
JJ Redick 22 points/Zion Williamson 18 points, 14 rebounds/Lonzo Ball 9 points, 9 assists, 3 blocks
Kawhi Leonard 24 points, 12 rebounds/Paul George 19 points, 8 rebounds
New Oleans dominated the paint 46-30.

3/16 – (29-40) Atlanta Hawks 112 @ (38-30) New Orleans Pelicans 125
Notes
Zion Williamson 22 points, 13 rebounds/Jrue Holiday 21 points, 15 assists/Admiral Schofield 15 points
DeAndre Hunter 21 points/Jabari Parker 18 points
This marked 10 straight wins for the Pelicans, who are now .5 back of the #6 seed.

Around The League
3/6 - Toronto’s Pascal Siakam (14.1ppg) has twisted knee; out 1-2 weeks.
3/11 – Miami’s Justise Winslow (9.7ppg) has spinal injury; out for season.
3/12 – Boston’s Gordon Hayward (17.3ppg) has ankle sprain; out 4-6 weeks.

3/2-3/8 - Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (28.ppg, 12.2rpg, 8.0apg, 1.5spg, 2.5bpg) and Dallas’ Kristaps Porzingis (38.5ppg, 9.5rpg, 1.7bpg) won Player of the Week.
3/9-3/15 – Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic (27.0ppg, 12.3rpg, 5.0apg, 1.3bpg) and Golden State’s Stephen Curry (40.6ppg, 11.3apg, 6.6rpg, 1.3spg) won Player of the Week.