New Orleans Pelicans Rank: Tyreke Evans roundtable
Dec 30, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans point guard Tyreke Evans (1) celebrates with teammate point guard Jrue Holiday (11) after hitting a shot to take the lead with 1.2 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the New Orleans Arena. The Pelicans defeated the Trail Blazers 110-108. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
With a healthy roster should Tyreke Evans start or come off the bench?
Austin (@apete1993): Given how iffy Jrue Holiday’s health has been the last two seasons, I would lean more towards starting Tyreke Evans at point guard. I think they both should start because they have games that could really work well with each other. It would take some cooperation and humility to a certain extent for both of them, but coach Alvin Gentry has been known to be a positive locker room influence. If anyone can get guys to buy into lesser roles, its Gentry, given the way he was able to help do it last year on Steve Kerr’s staff in Golden State.
Nathan (@nathanheck22): For this season, I think Reke coming off the bench as the primary ball handler is the best decision. Holiday and Gordon compliment each other well, and it allows Evans to really command the floor with the second unit. The bench unit has two proven floor spacers in Cole and Anderson, and hopefully Cunningham can take a few steps back on his long two point shots this season and aid the spacing even more. With all that space, Evans can do what he does best: attack the basket and run the pick-and-roll. Also, if he comes in before the other team’s starters rotate out, he can really create problems for the opposing defense by pushing the pace with his fresh legs.
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Rick (@RickStoneNBA): If everyone is healthy, then the best course of action would be to have Tyreke Evans run with the bench unit as the floor general. Tyreke’s game has developed to kind of mirror Jrue Holiday, since a lot of the weight that came from Jrue’s injury fell on Tyreke. He doesn’t have the floor vision or the defensive prowess that Jrue does, but he can really run an offense and be an electric player that teams have to focus on when he’s on the floor. Running him with a unit that may need offensive help would be the best course of action.
Brendon (@zimmerguy4): The bench role seems right for Tyreke this year. I think it makes the most sense to give him as much control as possible, and in this starting lineup, he would not be able to do that. Considering that Pondexter, Gordon and Holiday would provide excellent floor spacing as well, it makes sense to give Reke the keys to the second unit offense and have guys like Norris Cole and Ryan Anderson spot up around him. The wing backups (Alonzo Gee and Dante Cunningham) could also provide enough defense to make up for Evans’ deficiencies.
Matt: Honestly if it were up to me I would start Evans and Holiday but it doesn’t seem likely that Eric Gordon leads a bench unit. With that in mind I say use Reke as the sixth man and let him dominate the ball with a bench group full of shooters.
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