New Orleans Pelicans Podcast: Pels vs Bulls Pregame With Bulls Expert Daniel Coughlin

Jan 14, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the first half against Chicago Bulls center Robin Lopez (8) at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the first half against Chicago Bulls center Robin Lopez (8) at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New Orleans Pelicans are playing their best basketball, winners of eight of the last eleven contests. This includes a dominant performance versus the Sacramento Kings last night. However, the birds still need to win out, to have any chance at a postseason berth. Next up is the Chicago Bulls.

Sunday continues a huge stretch for the New Orleans Pelicans. They will go toe-to-toe with teh Chicago Bulls. Pelican Debrief’s Preston Ellis (@PrestonEllis) talked with the expert of Pippen Ain’t Easy Daniel Coughlin (@xvanwilderx). Below is an excerpt from our podcast. To hear the conversation in its entirety, click the player below:

Preston Ellis (@PrestonEllis):

In the past several games, Gentry has opted for a starting second quarter lineup, void of the big three players, Jrue Holiday, DeMarcus Cousins, and Anthony Davis. In large part, with the exception of the Denver Nuggets, this lineup has been getting killed. Who will Fred Hoiberg utilize in the early goings of the second quarter, and do they take advantage of the Pelicans’ B squad?

Daniel Couglin (@xVanWilderx):

Hoiberg is very formulaic with his lineups. Like clockwork, he rotates the same group of guys at the same points in the game every game.

And where you might start to see some variations would be in the fourth quarter where he’ll start to really mix with the lineups.

More from Pelican Debrief

Second team, what he might end up doing, my bet is, you’ll see 11-12 minutes from Robin Lopez and Jimmy butler in the first, even if they’re resting your two big guys. Jimmy will play all twelve unless he gets in foul trouble.

Generally your first guys out in that second lineup, assuming Rondo starts, is probably going to be Michael Carter Williams.

Jerian Grant, he’s probably just as shocked as anyone if his number gets called at this point, so it’s kind of hard to figure him into it.

Their second team lineups are pretty bad and the other night Mirotic had 28, Butler had 20, I think Lopez had 18, Rondo had 18, Paul Zipser was the lowest scorer of the group with 10, and then no one on the bench scored more than four points.

It’s been a big experiment, a huge mess. And that’s the problem we’re having with the Bulls.