Game Preview: New Orleans Pelicans vs. San Antonio Spurs
The last time we saw the New Orleans Pelicans in action they dominated from start to finish in nine-point win over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday evening. Anthony Davis finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds and Tyreke Evans added 16 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to pace the Pelicans who finished off a back-to-back with a win. Now the Pelicans get ready for the fourth of four straight games against playoff teams from a year ago as they continue to search for their first big win of 2014.
The Spurs should be well rested for the game after head coach Gregg Popovich decided to rest Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili on Thursday night, which led to the Spurs being blown out by the Houston Rockets. The Spurs enter the game a bit beat up as starting center Tiago Splitter is out along with two key bench players but like things always are with the Spurs, Popovich has players to plug into the empty spots and keep the machine rolling.
Where and when: 7:30 pm CT at the AT&T Center in San Antonio.
How to watch: The game will be broadcast on NBATV
Injury report:
New Orleans: Luke Babbitt is out with a finger injury.
San Antonio: Tiago Splitter is out with a calf injury. Patty Mills is out with a shoulder injury. Marco Belinelli is out with a groin injury.
Probable starters:
New Orleans: PG Jrue Holiday, SG Eric Gordon, SF Tyreke Evans, PF Anthony Davis, C Omer Asik
San Antonio: PG Tony Parker, SG Danny Green, SF Kawhi Leonard, PF Boris Diaw, C Tim Duncan
Other players to watch:
New Orleans: Ryan Anderson, Austin Rivers
San Antonio: Corey Joseph, Manu Ginobili, Kyle Anderson
What to watch for:
Who defends Anthony Davis?
Without Tiago Splitter, Boris Diaw likely moves into the starting lineup as a power forward. It would make sense then for him to defend Anthony Davis but the Spurs don’t always do things in the most obvious way. If Diaw defends Davis he will have a length advantage to utilize by shooting over the top of him from both the post and midrange. If Tim Duncan ends up on Davis the majority of the time look for the Pelicans to get Davis the ball from 16 feet and out and let him attack the basket off the dribble. Either way if Davis can get one of the two into foul trouble it could spell the difference in the game.
Can Tyreke Evans continue his recent play?
Kawhi Leonard is one of the better wing defenders in the NBA and will make Reke’s life very difficult. The Pelicans have used runs fueled by Evans to pull ahead in both of their wins this season so if Leonard can make that run harder, or eliminate it completely the Pelicans will need to find somewhere else to get points from. Expect the Spurs to let Evans shoot from the perimeter early on while cutting off the paint for Evans. If he can knock down a few threes early it could change the complexion of the game.
Can Eric Gordon make shots?
Playing the Spurs five on five is tough enough. If Gordon is going to continue to struggle as badly as he has the Pelicans can’t afford to try to force things to make him happy and end up playing four on five. Austin Rivers has been playing very well early in the season and if Gordon doesn’t have it early Monty Williams should shift a majority of Gordon’s minutes to Rivers.
How will the Pelicans’ defense respond to the Spurs ball movement?
The New Orleans defense has been pretty good at times this season but when it struggles it is because Gordon and Evans struggle to contain ball handlers from the perimeter. Letting the Spurs get into the paint and collapse a defense is a death wish so both will have to fix that problem tonight. Jrue Holiday should do just fine on Tony Parker and Omer Asik and Anthony Davis will protect the rim but if Evans and Gordon are allowing drives the Spurs are going to take advantage and find open shooters. This is the Pelicans biggest test of the season so far. Can they rise to the occasion?