Game preview: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Charlotte Hornets
After dropping a tough grind it out game last night the New Orleans Pelicans get a chance to get a loss out of their minds as fast as possible as Tuesday night marks the culmination of their first back-to-back to the season with a home game against the Charlotte Hornets. It is a winnable game for New Orleans, as Charlotte enters the game a bit banged up and coming off a loss on the road against the New York Knicks.
To beat the Hornets everything starts with defending Al Jefferson. This is the type of game that Omer Asik should thrive in as he will be asked to win a one-on-one battle against an opponent on the block. If Asik can stay down on Jefferson’s pump fakes and make the Hornets big man work for his buckets the Charlotte offense will be forced to turn to a bunch of perimeter players that are inconsistent shooters to win the game. Jrue Holiday should do a fine job defending Kemba Walker which would leave new acquisition Lance Stephenson as the guy that needs to be a star for the Hornets to win. While New Orleans has struggled to defend perimeter players at times this year, if the Pelicans can get down to the Hornets needing a big night from Lance to win they will be in a good spot.
The Pelicans meanwhile will look to bounce back offensively after scoring just 81 points in Memphis last night. Anthony Davis left the game early with foul trouble and the Pelicans offense never really got going after that. Tyreke Evans was pretty good again in stretches last night but he ultimately finished just 7-17 from the field. New Orleans needs to start making shots soon to make their lives much easier.
Where and when: 7 pm CT at the Smoothie King Center
How to watch: The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports New Orleans
Injury report:
Charlotte: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is questionable (rib contusion), Noah Vonleh (sports hernia, though he played in the preseason), Jeff Taylor is suspended indefinitely.
New Orleans: None
Probable starters:
Charlotte: PG Kemba Walker, SG Lance Stephenson, SF Gerald Henderson, PF Marvin Williams, C Al Jefferson
New Orleans: PG Jrue Holiday, SG Eric Gordon, SF Tyreke Evans, PF Anthony Davis, C Omer Asik
Other players to watch:
Charlotte: Gary Neal, Cody Zeller, Brian Roberts
New Orleans: Ryan Anderson, Austin Rivers, Alexis Ajinca
What to watch for:
Does Charlotte go big if MKG can’t play?
I would assume that Kidd-Gilchrist is going to be out tonight after a brutal fall in New York the other night, which leaves the Hornets with a decision to make. They could shift Marvin Williams up from power forward to small forward and insert Cody Zeller into the starting lineup in hopes of better defending Anthony Davis or keep the spacing Williams provides at power forward and use Gerald Henderson on the wing next to Lance Stephenson. I would expect to see Henderson since it keeps Williams at power forward and Anthony Davis away from the rim but it matters. Neither Williams or Zeller will really defend Davis well but Williams being the starter should allow Davis to go inside a bit more to start which would be a change of pace from the jumpers he has used recently.
Do the Pelicans make shots?
This question is going to keep showing up here until the Pelicans actually make shots. Much as they had in the first two games the Pelicans got plenty of open looks last night and just missed them. When they fall the Pelicans will run away with a game. Is tonight that night, even with tired legs? Only time will tell.
What does Monty do at backup small forward?
Last night Luke Babbitt got minutes with John Salmons away from the team for the birth of his third child. While it remains to be seen if Salmons returns tonight, Babbitt wasn’t exactly good anyway. Tyreke Evans played 39 minutes last night so he will need an early break or two to be able to be effective late. What Monty does with those minutes will be important.