Five Interesting Lineups for the New Orleans Pelicans Next Season

Apr 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) celebrates with guard Tyreke Evans (1) during a game against the San Antonio Spurs at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Spurs 108-103 and earned the 8th seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The Pelican’s Best Lineup: Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans, Anthony Davis, Omer Asik

Trying to decide what was actually the best lineup that the Pelicans can put on the floor on a night-in-night-out basis was way tougher than I expected it to be, more because of fit than anything else.It is pretty easy to say that the Pelicans six best players are the same as they were a season ago (Davis and then Holiday, Gordon, Evans, Asik and Ryan Anderson in some order) but that doesn’t mean that the five best players are the team’s best lineup.

For the Pelicans though, some combination of those best six players seems to produce the most versatile and balanced lineup. It obviously all starts with Davis, who should improve on defense this year and could potentially carry New Orleans on both ends.

Offensively, the Pelicans would spot-up two above-average shooters in Holiday and Gordon around Davis as he rolls to the basket and Evans as he drives towards it. Asik would provide a giant target for dump off passes when the defense commits to Davis or Evans. Add Holiday as a secondary, or at times primary, creator and the offense should be unstoppable.

Defensively should be an improvement from last season as well. It all starts with the addition of Holiday, who gives the Pelicans a real-life actual stopper on the perimeter. Holiday’s size also allows for him to shift and defend a shooting guard if the matchup needs it, allowing Gordon to defend point guards if it will be best.

Evans won’t lock down any small forwards but with a should be improved Davis and the already great Asik behind him it won’t matter. Once the Pelicans force a miss they should be able to corral it as well with Asik, a top four rebounder by rebounding rate last season, around.

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