Pelica Debrief
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Reloaded New Orleans Pelicans set to kick-off preseason in Atlanta

By Willie Lutz

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 10: Kenrich Williams #34 of the New Orleans Pelicans drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 10, 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 Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 10: Kenrich Williams #34 of the New Orleans Pelicans drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 10, 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 Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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After an offseason of hype, Alvin Gentry and the revamped New Orleans Pelicans will give the audience a chance to see them run their system, albeit in the preseason.

While the actual tip to both the New Orleans Pelicans’ and NBA’s season is still three calendar weeks away, tonight is a good way to gauge how Alvin Gentry will use his roster during the 2019-2020 season.

Tonight, the Pels will travel to play the Atlanta Hawks in their first preseason tilt of 2019, with the game set for a 7:30 p.m. CT tip-off.

Not unlike the Pelicans, the Hawks are in the midst of an overhaul of their roster, but their process is two years along with exciting results. The Hawks are just an extra year into significant changes, but it’s something that the Pelicans fans can look to for something that’s working.

The Hawks traded for the Pelican-owned (via Los Angeles Lakers) fourth-overall pick, giving them the ability to jump for De’Andre Hunter.

In the exchange, the Pelicans acquired the picks from Atlanta that allowed them to select Jaxson Hayes at 8th, Nickeil Alexander-Walker at 17th, and Didi Louzada at 35th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Seemingly, we’ll get a chance to see a lot of core pieces from both teams. Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram were cleared to start camp after suffering season-ending injuries after their last campaign.

Derrick Favors and Jaxson Hayes were held out of the scrimmage portion of the team’s open practice on Saturday for precautionary reasons, so there’s a chance they could missing out on action tonight.

As it’s preseason action, many players on the back end of the roster will see healthy minutes.

New Orleans Pelicans’ newcomers like Hayes, Alexander-Walker, and Nicolò Melli make for exciting watches. Kenrich Williams, Jahlil Okafor, and Frank Jackson have the most to show amoungst the younger holdovers from last year’s squad.

Tonight and the remaining preseason slate gives Alvin Gentry a chance to tinker with his lineups, trying many combinations of players from all walks of life. That’s why guys like Kavell Bigby-Williams and Javon Bess might get healthy minutes; they might not make the team, but Gentry has a free game to try them out versus legitimate NBA opponents.

The New Orleans Pelicans’ defense will be the most important thing to watch against the Hawks

Following step-for-step with the league-wide trend towards perimeter play, the Atlanta Hawks have an offense constructed to make their three-point attack lethal.

Trae Young is one of the league’s most exciting rising talents and possesses an incredible offensive skillset.

After a slow start last year, Young averaged 23.2 points, 9.2 assists, and shot 35.3% from three in his last 30 games. He eventually finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Luka Dončić.

They’ve also got talented scorers like Kevin Huerter, a 38.5% three-point shooter and Jabari Parker, a 14.5 point per game scorer a season ago.

How much Cam Reddish will impact tomorrow night’s contest will certainly be interesting. Williamson’s former Duke teammate was a polarizing draft prospect, but certainly has a sweet shooting stroke and some believe he’ll be deadly from that territory in the NBA.

It’s also going to be interesting to see how the Pelicans’ new additions on the coaching staff have impacted their players.

The Pelicans have thrilling defensive potential, but they’ll have an interesting test on Monday night. How well Jeff Bzdelik’s scheme fits the team could show us how far along the team’s defensive comfort has extended.

One season ago, the New Orleans Pelicans ranked no. 25 in the NBA in three-point defense, allowing opponents to shoot 36.4% from that range. Bzdelik coordinated the Houston Rockets defense a season ago, holding opponents to the second-lowest rate from three, allowing shooters to hit 34% of their shots from that range.

Next. Pelicans with something to prove this preseason. dark

Monday night should be an exciting first preview for the new-look New Orleans Pelicans. However, expectations should be tempered, as it’s just the first game of the preseason. No matter what, it’ll give fans some satisfaction to finally see Zion and company take the floor.

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