Pelica Debrief
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New Orleans Pelicans: Best Games to Watch this Season

By Steven Balkos

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 20: Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett shake hands before the 2019 NBA Draft on June 20, 2019 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Michael J. LeBrecht II/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 20: Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett shake hands before the 2019 NBA Draft on June 20, 2019 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Michael J. LeBrecht II/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 27: John Collins #20 and Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks shake hands after the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 27, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jasear Thompson/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 27: John Collins #20 and Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks shake hands after the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 27, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jasear Thompson/NBAE via Getty Images) /

New Orleans Pelicans @ Atlanta Hawks: Trae vs Lonzo / Zion vs Reddish

The Pelicans will travel to Georgia on the back end of their regular season schedule to take on the young up and coming Atlanta Hawks. This will be an interesting matchup and one that you should definitely keep an eye on because it has multiple storylines. The first and most obvious is Zion Williamson taking on his former Duke Blue Devil teammate Cam Reddish. These two were apart of the Duke big three alongside R.J. Barrett and also both former McDonald’s All-Americans. Reddish averaged 13.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists on 35.6% shooting at his time at Duke. Reddish had a highlight moment during the college season in which he hit a game-winning, buzzer-beating three against Florida State to take home a win on the road. Reddish was also voted by multiple NBA executives during a poll this summer to have the most successful NBA career coming out of this rookie class. A bold take for the Forward who went 10th overall falling into the Hawks laps. Zion and Reddish will both be playing for keeps, however, the Trae Young vs Lonzo Ball aspect of this game also brings plenty of intrigue. Trae at 20 years of age, coming off a runner-up Rookie of the Year season, averaged 19.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 8.1 assists in his rookie campaign just missing out on Award honors to Dallas star Luka Doncic. Lonzo and Jrue will have a very tough task in defending Trae, though they will have plenty of practice having to defend some of the best guards in the West on a nightly basis such as James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Steph Curry, Damian Lillard to name a few. Lonzo, known mostly as a great defender to this point in his career, will have a massive opportunity to try and lock down one of the best three-point shooting guards in the league entering just his second year of play. Brandon Ingram will also have something to play for against his fellow Duke alumni, Cam Reddish, as Brandon is a more seasoned player and will look to exploit any potential rookie weaknesses Reddish may have. These two teams are among the best young cores in the league and judging by the pace and style of play of both teams, we should be in for an exciting matchup on March 16th in “Hotlanta”. The two teams will then run it back on the 31st, this time at Smoothie King Center.

Next. Read more coverage of the 2019-2020 Pelicans' preseason. dark

There are plenty of exciting matchups to look forward to this season and these are just the name of few. With a new young core, franchise player and multiple veteran leaders, this Pelicans team will be a force to be reckoned with and we can expect highlight reel potential each and every single night. This team wants to earn their keep and facing the league’s best while showing out will do exactly that. This is a new era. This is New Orleans.

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