New Orleans Home Opener: W2W4

The New Orleans Pelicans left Houston as the talk of the league after destroying the Rockets 131-112. Coming to the Smoothie King Center to open the Big Blender on the Bayou 42 game party, the Pelicans will host the Sacramento Kings.

Having mostly weekend or Thursday night games will help the atmosphere at the SKC substantially, but starting the season with a winning streak would be the cherry on top of the fan’s hand grenades. Most seasons of the AD era, the New Orleans Pelicans have had to balance new faces, injuries, life threatening scares to teammates or significant others, and just plain bad bounces.

This season, it appears the New Orleans Pelicans will find their stride early and coast into the playoffs…based on over reactions from Game 1. However, as the coaching staff staggers their approach to the schedule’s sections, there are a few things to worry about in the coming weeks.

Can Anthony Davis find rest in the fourth quarter and still maintain MVP numbers?

Anthony Davis unleashed for 48 minutes would put up monster stats. Needing to have Anthony Davis unleashed for 48 minutes just to get through the regular season is a recipe for disaster both in the short and long term. Short term, it taxes the best player on the team. Long term, it could lead to injury or Davis making a decision that he needs more help, and the only way to find help is through a trade.

Staggering minutes but allowing for long stretches of dominance is a delicate balance. In the first game against Houston, Davis had help from Nikola Mirotic and the lead progressed to almost 30. Winning that third quarter and extending the lead in games that the Pelicans have built substantial leads is paramount to finding Davis his numbers, but also his fourth quarter rest. When Cousins was hurt last year, it could be argued he should have been off the floor, if not being subbed if he made that free throw.

Can Solomon Hill prove his worth?

Solomon Hill was a great asset on a fair contract, before his injury. His wing defense provided most of the value and any spacing with his jumper was worthy of praise. Hill missed 69 games last year and was rusty when he did return. After an off season of healing and strengthening rehab Hill is expected to contribute at least a dozen quality veteran minutes. In the game against Houston, Hill was merely adequate in sustaining the blow out. Hill paired with Miller left the offense lagging to end the third quarter. Unless the pairing can stop the opposing team’s main second unit threat, one or both will lose minutes. Alvin Gentry used an 8-man rotation, and all five starters logged close to 30 minutes if not more. The team needs to find some quality reserve minutes and just traded for Wesley Johnson.

Can the newcomers repeat the performance?

Elfrid Payton showed out with a triple double, pace, and pressure on the defense front. Julius Randle is listed as probable, but did not looked troubled against Houston, going off for 25 points, 8 rebounds. If Payton and Randle prove to be season long upgrades over Rondo and Cousins, the Pelicans should win a second round game or three. Davis and Mirotic are showing a chemisty (62 pts, 26 rebs, 11 assist combined). In order to not break that tandem up, Randle and Payton have to gel with the second unit just as much as they need to find Davis’ wavelength. The challenge to grow in both directions will only serve to toughen up two players without any playoff pedigree. They have to keep the intensity and consistency at a red-line level mentally in order to catch up to the team’s growth curve. performing at home against weaker opponents provides the necessary repetitions. Find the flow, not foul trouble or frustrations, and these two may be the biggest off season additions in the league.