In the 12-game salvo that made up this first Panzani Wednesday of the season, the Nets – Pelicans meeting was perhaps the most anticipated. Already because we wanted to see the Kevin Durant – Kyrie Irving – Ben Simmons trio at work for the first time in an official match, but also and above all because New Orleans is one of the most hyped teams of this start to the season. with the return of Zion Williamson. Finally ? We were treated to a real demonstration of the Pels.
On the one hand the Nets have everything to rebuild after the mess of last year and the offseason, on the other the Pels can surf on their good qualification in the Playoffs and the famous return of Zion. It is difficult to do more symbolism than the scenario of the meeting of this night to illustrate these two completely opposite dynamics in which Brooklyn and New Orleans find themselves today. Williamson (25 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals at 11/22 shooting) did not miss his debut on the floor of the Barclays Center, the entire New Orleans collective was in tune, and the Nets n have never really made the weight. 130-108 final score, in the jargon we call it a jerk.
It didn’t take long to see the Pels dismantle their evening opponent. +18 in the first quarter alone, Nets fans quickly realized it was going to be a long night. Between the stray bullets that follow one another on the Brooklyn side, the Pelicans who dominate the rebound and a Kevin Durant who is experiencing a big delay in ignition, it strongly resembled the first episode of a Nets saga which will end very badly this season. . It was as sad on the Brooklyn side as it was promising on the New Orleans side. Promising because Zion Williamson quickly showed that he was in good shape to remind everyone what a monster he is. Ben Simmons or not, the buffalo attacked the basket without hesitation and in front there was not really a responder. Promising also because Herb Jones wasted no time in starting his madness again in defense, the sophomore allowing himself to tarp KD on a 3-point shot. Clearly respect for the elders has disappeared among the current young generation. The second quarter was certainly one of revolt (it’s a big word huh) for Brooklyn with Durant in particular who caught fire while wickedly countering a slightly too ambitious Brandon Ingram, but it didn’t last.
I imagine there won’t be too much media fuss around this spanking received by the Nets for their first home game.
+20 New Orleans, there’s hardly been a match.
Impressive Pelicans, infuriating Nets. Game 1, we expect better. Quick.
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) October 20, 2022
The second half was indeed a big ordeal for the Nets outclassed in almost all areas of the game. 61 rebounds to 39 (!) for New Orleans, 46% 3-point success against only 30 for Brooklyn, and above all two radically different atmospheres. Zion and Ingram (28 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists at 10/17 shooting), much too easy against these Nets, had the banana while opposite there was necessarily something to pull the face. Symbols of the galleys experienced by the Brooklyn team, Ben Simmons did not weigh (4 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 ball losses, 6 faults, 0/2 in throws), Kyrie Irving missed ( 15 points at 6/19, 0/6 from afar), and it was… Grandpa Mills (16 points) who finished second in scoring behind Kevin Durant’s 32 points in 32 minutes. Clearly, the calculations are wrong. So yes, we knew that these Nets version 2022-23 were probably not going to run at full speed during Game 1 of the regular season, but the signals – in particular in the effort and the defensive intensity – are not very reassuring for the sequel. Quite the opposite of the Pelicans, who seem determined to take flight.
A very good Zion, a super smooth Brandon Ingram, a collective already developed and a first big victory in Brooklyn, no doubt the Pelicans sent a message to the rest of the competition. Next dates for them? The Hornets and the Jazz, which should see them start with three wins in three games if they show the same seriousness on both sides of the field as they did tonight.
533 days have passed…Zion is here????@PelicansNBA | #Pelicans |????:BSNO pic.twitter.com/iu4Lvk9cSq
— Bally Sports New Orleans (@BallySportsNO) October 20, 2022