Trail Blazers @ Pelicans Takeaways
Chrissy Smith • November 5, 2024
Team Stats
(Trail Blazers @ Pelicans)
Final Score: 118-100
Rebounds: 38-34
Assists: 21-24
Blocks: 5-3
Steals: 10-5
Turnovers: 11-12
Stat Leaders
(Trail Blazers/Pelicans)
Scoring Leaders: Anfernee Simons, 24; Brandon Ingram, 27
Rebound Leaders: Deandre Ayton, 13; Yves Missi, 7
Assist Leaders: Scoot Henderson, 5; Jose Alvarado, 6
My Player of the Game: Brandon Ingram
Takeaways
- Considering the Pelicans were without four starters, the home team put on a good showing, hanging with the Trail Blazers until the fourth quarter.
- Brandon Ingram is having a great start to the season.
- Zion Williamson was out for the second game in a row and wasn't even in the building for this game. He was told my his doctors to "stay home" for Monday's game.
- The Pelicans have to get healthy soon before they get too far in the hole in the Western Conference. Last season, the difference between fourth place and eighth place was decided by four games so the early stretch right now is important.
- Brandon Boston Jr. is playing on a 10-day contract and he's proving himself to be worthy of that with some great minutes lately. In this game, he scored 20 points.
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QB 
Trace Johnson 
Trace Johnson is a pro-style pocket passer quarterback from the Class of 2026. Standing at 6-1 and weighing 190 pounds, he possesses a solid build for the position with room to add more mass at the college level. 
Originally from Gainesville, Florida, Johnson played his sophomore and junior seasons at Buchholz High School before transferring to Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, ahead of his senior year in 2025. 
The move allowed him to compete in one of California’s top high school programs, where he helped lead the team to an Open Division State Championship. Johnson comes from strong football lineage as the son of Doug Johnson, a former University of Florida quarterback (1996-1999) who went on to a seven-year NFL career with teams like the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars, amassing over 2,600 passing yards professionally. 
In addition to football, Johnson is a multi-sport athlete who also competes in baseball, showcasing his overall athleticism. Johnson committed to Tulane University on June 20, 2025, following an official visit, and signed his National Letter of Intent on December 3, 2025. He enrolled early at Tulane on January 12, 2026, positioning him to compete for playing time as a true freshman. 
Prior to his commitment, he held offers from programs including West Virginia, Wake Forest, Central Michigan, and Virginia, among others. 
Scouting Report: 
Arm Talent and Velocity: Johnson boasts a “cannon for an arm,” enabling him to make tight-window throws and deliver deep balls with precision and ease. His ability to thread the needle in coverage stands out as a pro-level trait. 
Touch and Deep Ball Accuracy: Exhibits excellent touch on longer throws, allowing receivers to track and adjust effectively. He gets the ball out on time, minimizing sacks and maximizing yards after catch. 
Progression Reading and Decision-Making: Patiently works through his reads without delaying his release, showing maturity beyond his years. His decision-making improved markedly over time, with interceptions dropping from 13 in 2023 to 5 in 2025. 
Clutch Performance and Improvement: Thrives in big games and playoffs, elevating his play when it matters most. He consistently got better as seasons progressed, adapting to new systems post-transfer. 
Poise and Leadership: Maintains composure under pressure, drawing from his pedigree to lead teams to championships and deep playoff runs. His work ethic and football IQ make him a natural field general. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X
QB Zeon Chriss- Houston 
Hall has explicitly said the offense will be “built around our quarterback” with tempo, a passing attack, pro-style elements (including heavy tight end usage), and more speed than recent Tulane teams. Crucially, he wants “at least one quarterback who can move around a little bit, a dual-threat guy.”  
Hall has called Chriss “an extreme dual-threat guy with a strong arm” and loves the contrast with the other main contender Semonza/Bruno/Johnson. He specifically praised Chriss’s explosiveness from his UL days: “When he was at Louisiana several years ago, I was in that league and he was just dynamic… Just dominated that league with his legs and was probably the scariest player in that league.” 
Chriss’s career stats: 2,263 passing yards (64% completion, 17 TDs) plus nearly 1,000 rushing yards and 10 rushing TDs across 13 starts. His mobility adds a true QB-run threat that aligns with Hall’s run-first success model (which he helped install as Tulane’s former OC under Willie Fritz). #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X