The Pelicans and Rockets face off in what should be an exciting matchup tonight. This series hasn’t disappointed in the past, and with the star power present, don’t expect a letdown. Anytime Chris Paul returns back to NOLA it’s always special. Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson bring their own share of memories as well. But surprisingly, that isn’t what makes this latest matchup compelling. The Pelicans are currently playing their best basketball of the season, and the Rockets are back to full strength. Not to mention they haven’t lost with a healthy James Harden and Chris Paul backcourt. As always done around this time, we here at the Pelican Debrief got some assistance before tip-off. Michael Knight currently edits Space City Scoop for FanSided. He was kind enough to answer a few questions. Enjoy our latest installment of Outsider’s Perspective
1.The Rockets have been spectacular with Chris Paul and James Harden both available. Many were worried about how they would play together. Talk about how well they’ve played together. What’s the secret?
The James Harden and Chris Paul experiment definitely started out a bit faster than expected. There have been some bumps in the road at times, as expected, but for the most part, the two have fit in perfectly together. Having two willing passers on the floor at the same time has done wonders for the already-potent Rockets offense. The secret, though, is when D’Antoni separates the two and has one Hall of Fame playmaker on the floor at all times. That’s unfair for most second units.
2. Are the Rockets collecting a franchise full of former Pelicans? If so, who’s next?
The Rockets definitely seem to stack up on all the former Pelicans! New Orleans does a great job developing young talent. CP3 and Ryan Anderson likely wouldn’t be who they are today without NOLA. With Daryl Morey at GM, who knows who could be next?
3. The Pelicans and Rockets have had some exciting match-ups in the past. We’ve seen plenty of shootouts. Safe to expect another one tonight? What is the biggest key to Houston spoiling another big-time Pelicans home game?
The Rockets and Pelicans definitely seem to have shootouts every time they play. It’s safe to assume that will be the case tonight, but don’t underestimate the ever-improving Houston defense! If the Rockets can hit their shots and keep the turnovers down, I see them taking one from New Orleans.
4. What’s the biggest misconception about the Rockets?
The biggest misconception about the Rockets is definitely the defensive issues. For most of the year, the team has had a top-10 defense and they have shut down opponents. James Harden has improved his play on that end of the court significantly this year, but you won’t see that on YouTube.
5. Outside Perspective on the Pelicans
I think the Pelicans are one of the under-the-radar scary teams out there. Cousins and Davis give you so much production each night and Jrue Holiday has been fantastic. Whoever has to play NOLA in the playoffs is in for a tough match-up.
Next: A Deep Dive into E’Twaun Moore’s Indefensible Defense
And that’s a wrap for our time with Micheal and the Space City family. Make sure to follow Micheal @M_KnightSCS and the Rockets @SpaceCity_Scoop. You can follow us as always @PelicanDebrief. Special thanks to everyone who enjoys and supports this series as there will be more to come. Enjoy the game!