New Orleans Pelicans Schedule: Five Most Intriguing Games
By Rick Stone
Thursday, February 23rd: New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets
It’s the game New Orleans Pelicans fans will have the most mixed feelings about: The return of Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon.
The former sharpshooters that captivated Pelicans fans with their shooting will return to New Orleans in February. This is after both signed massive deals with the Houston Rockets in the offseason.
This could be another interesting rivalry in the making, as the Rockets continue to boast a high-powered offense with the new pieces to the squad. They will combat New Orleans’ new philosophy of strong defensive play that values flexibility.
The Rockets also lost big man Dwight Howard, giving them the same glaring hole at the center position the Pelicans have struggled to fill. It makes for quite a duel, as both teams have shown they can rack up points in a hurry.
The biggest matchup of this series could come down to Jrue Holiday‘s defense on Houston Rockets’ star James Harden. Both Harden and AD appeared on the NBA 2k16 Cover this past season. They could be starting a rivalry this season, one Jrue hopes to dominate.
Jrue’s defense is strong, but he’ll be called on a lot to guard one of the best foul drawing scorers in the league. Harden’s ability to get to the basket and draw fouls is the key for the Rockets’ success. The Pels will need to harness their new found emphasis on defense to dominate this home game, as the fans will likely salute their former players.
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