New Orleans Pelicans: Biggest things to watch this preseason

Heading into the 2019-2020 NBA Season, here are a few of the biggest and key things to watch from the New Orleans Pelicans.

After an exciting offseason of winning the NBA Draft lottery, trades, signings and the rebirth of a basketball franchise in New Orleans, the new-look Pelicans have finally taken the court as a team for the first time this preseason. While the summer was a time to fantasize about possible lineup combinations, new signings and the impact potential of rookie Zion Williamson, Alvin Gentry now has the real task in putting these new chess pieces on the floor and using them to their greatest possible potential.

There are many questions that need answering heading into this preseason for the Pelicans; How will the new Los Angeles Lakers fit in to Gentry’s system and what tools have they added to their arsenal over the summer? How will rookie phenom Zion Williamson adjust to life in the NBA as well as the speed and strength of his NBA opponents? What will the rotation look like throughout preseason with new pieces in place via trade, draft and signings? Will the veteran leaders added have the ability to positively impact the young Pelicans while also helping the team compete for a playoff spot?

Some of these questions will find answers over the course of the next few weeks, while others will take months and perhaps the course of the season to play out. Either way, this is an exciting time for Pelicans fans worldwide and the fun is about to get started in the Big Easy.

How will the new additions from the Los Angeles Lakers fit?

Trading away Anthony Davis comes at a price, whether Pelicans fans want to admit this or not. David Griffin, however, was able to salvage everything he possibly could have when sending the star Power Forward to Los Angeles before this years NBA Draft. Not only did the former Cavaliers General Manager net three future first round picks, but he also landed a Lakers trio who are young and hungry, still trying to find their way in the league.

Lonzo Ball’s career has gone everything but planned as the number two overall selection has had injury concerns, production concerns as well as the drama that went on between him and his family regarding Big Baller Brand earlier this calendar year. Being traded to New Orleans, however, is a new beginning for the young Point Guard who has an opportunity to step in to a new-look roster and potentially grab a starting guard position. He will have competition for playing time, however, in veteran free-agent signing J.J. Redick who averaged 18.1 points per game for the Sixers last season.

Lonzo and Jrue Holiday being paired in the backcourt will definitely cause teams offensive frustrations as both are known league-wide as great perimeter defenders, however J.J. provides the team with an offensive spark and three-point shooting that is difficult to replicate when the team needs crucial buckets down the stretch.

Seeing whether Alvin Gentry decides to start Lonzo alongside Jrue in the early going will be interesting, as if he decides to go with a more veteran-based starting five, pairing Redick with Holiday would make more sense from an offensive perspective. Having Lonzo on the floor with J.J. at times will also be a treat to watch, as Lonzo is great at finding teammates and can draw defenders before kicking out to the sharp-shooting vet out of Duke.

It will also be key to note how Lonzo’s jumpshot mechanics have improved from the videos that have surfaced over the summer and into training camp. This will be Lonzo’s first real game action with the ability to display his new and improved stroke while giving Pelicans fans something to be excited about.

Brandon Ingram, who was another piece in the Davis trade will also be a key story line to follow throughout preseason. Ingram could see playing time at both the Small Forward and Power Forward position this season depending on if Alvin Gentry wants to play big or small. Whether Ingram will play alongside Zion in small lineups or separately coming off the bench is something that remains to be seen, however we will get a better idea from coach Gentry in the coming weeks.

Ingram provides a scoring punch and has improved on his efficiency over the last couple of seasons. It will also be interesting to note whether Gentry uses Ingram and Lonzo in the same lineup as they have familiarity and chemistry from playing together for the Lakers. Josh Hart, the final piece in this trade will most likely begin the season off the bench providing energy and defense when he can.

He will also have the opportunity to get run while the main guards get crucial rest in games down the stretch of the season where the Pelicans hope to remain in the playoff hunt and minutes from role players will be key. Hart can put the ball on the floor, however with the plethora of scoring options this Pelicans team has, look for Hart to be an energy guy off the bench who can help bridge gaps in terms of minutes for this Pelicans team.

How well will Zion adjust to the NBA game?

The wait is over. Zion Williamson has played  in his first-ever NBA game, albeit preseason, and an impressive debut it was. With eyeballs being glued to the opener vs. the Hawks this past Monday, many around the league had questions answered regarding Zion’s adjustments to the NBA game.

Naysayers question Zion’s cardio and ability to play an 82-game season at the endurance level NBA players do given his weight and size. This will not be necessarily answered in preseason however we will definitely get an idea of how Zion’s cardio is looking early as Alvin Gentry has preached the transition game throughout training camp and the idea of running and gunning. Many of us have seen this recently in video form, as film surfaced of Zo’ hitting Zion for an oop at Pelicans open scrimmage this past weekend.

Minutes will be a question early as many players need to get their feet under them, though you can expect Zion to have an early impact and get a lot of looks for this young Pelicans squad as the new face of their franchise.

Zion has a wide range of ways to score, most of which involve using his body to bully his way into the paint and dunk or lay it in at the hoop. The question of will he be able to do this at the NBA level compared to college will also be something many will be looking to have answered during preseason play.

Obviously, with bigger, stronger, faster players in the NBA, Zion’s athletic gap will be closed a bit however his ability to leap and get out in transition is something that will translate to the Association beautifully. Posting up will also be something to look out for as Zion can use his 285-pound frame to back his way to the rim, however his court vision and ability to recognize double-teams will be tested with NBA coaches game planning around stopping the 6’6” unit. Zion is not expected to take many threes early as his form and consistency is a work in progress, however it is expected that he will clean up a lot of the rebounds around the rim on both ends of the floor.

Pushing the ball off of defensive rebounds is something coach Alvin Gentry has preached and it will be intriguing to see how Zion handles this in the early going. Seeing how polished Zion’s offensive game will be in the NBA environment is a key development this preseason and something all Pelicans fans should look for. Finishing at the rim against bigger, stronger bodies is a key question for Zion as 6’6” is not very tall for an NBA Power Forward. He will have to use his strength and athleticism to find his way early and it is expected Jrue Holiday, J.J. Redick and Derrick Favors will play key roles in guiding the rookie sensation through his first few games from a vocal standpoint.

While he may struggle or look “raw” in the early preseason games, expect Zion to settle into the pace and speed fairly quickly and continue an upward projection heading into the regular season. His three-point shot against the Hawks seemed to be coming up a bit short, which can suggest fatigue or unfamiliarity with the NBA distance. Per Alex Kennedy, NBA Reporter, Zion predicts he will average around 20 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists on the season.

What is the New Orleans Pelicans rotation going to look like?

There are many possible lineup combinations for this talented Pelicans team, which will promote healthy competition in practice and games for playing time. Expect veteran Jrue Holiday to secure the starting Point Guard spot as the guard is coming off a career season with the Pels’ last year. Starting beside him at the two spot is a bit more of a question as there are options available. J.J. Redick signed with the New Orleans Pelicans in July coming over from the Philadelphia 76ers after spending two years with the Sixers, both in which they made the playoffs.

J.J. also was brought to help mentor the young Pelicans and guide Zion through his early NBA days. Redick can provide a three-point barrage and has the ability to kill teams coming off of screens, which would be beneficial for Holiday in terms of assist production.

Lonzo however, provides more of a stable defensive presence and much better court vision than Redick starting at the two position. Although Lonzo has underperformed up to this point in his career, pairing him with veteran Jrue Holiday as the starting guards would also provide a defensive boost that not many teams can match. Holiday and Ball are both known to harass the offensive handler and with these two starting at guard can force turnovers for the Pelicans which can translate into easy buckets the other way.

Gentry will also have decisions to make in terms of whether to start Zion Williamson at the Small Forward or Power Forward position. Starting Zion at the Small Forward position allows the Pelicans to go a little bit bigger on the floor, which can allow for interesting and unique defensive combinations, though it may also hinder offensive production from Zion as most of his points are based in the paint and starting on the wing could be tough for the rookie first overall pick. Power Forward seems the more likely scenario for Williamson, as it allows Gentry to play a smaller and more versatile lineup and get Zion feeds down in the paint, where he can put his back to the basket and use his size and mobility to his advantage. Opposing teams who drop double teams down low on the rookie will also pay as Zion begins to recognize defenses more as his career progresses, as the Pelicans have no shortage of guys who can knock down open shots on kickouts.

Whether Brandon Ingram will be in the starting lineup or not is also a question to follow heading into preseason, as the former Laker provides instant offense and efficiency. He will be relied on heavily for his scoring and ability to knock down jumpers and buckets in transition when presented the opportunity. His minutes will also depend on whether Gentry wants to play small or big at certain points in the game and it will be interesting to take note of how Gentry utilizes Ingram in each of these scenarios.

Veteran free-agent signings J.J Redick and Derrick Favors will also be expecting significant minutes in this Pelicans rotation. Favors provides size and defense coming from the Utah Jazz over the summer and can also help Williamson adjust to back to the basket play in practices. Favors, spending a majority of his career in Utah will come in expected to do a lot of the dirty work by grabbing rebounds and keeping possessions alive via second chance opportunities. He will share time with former number one overall pick Jahlil Okafor who had a great bounce-back season last year and will compete for time on the floor with Favors and rookie 8th overall pick Jaxson Hayes.

Redick also comes into this Pelicans situation expecting to be a key part of their success this season. Mentoring the young Pelicans will be one part of Redick’s role however he will also be leaned upon as one of the teams top scorers, averaging 18.1 points on the season last year with Philly. Whether he comes off the bench or starts is not important to J.J. as he just wants what every Pelican fan wants; to win.

Rookies Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jaxson Hayes will be looking to compete for minutes in the rotation during this preseason. Alexander-Walker turned many heads in Summer League in Las Vegas, and has the opportunity to come into the league and give the Pelicans a scoring threat that is much needed off the bench. The Florida State University guard will be tested every practice going up against the likes of J.J Redick, Jrue Holiday, Josh Hart and Lonzo Ball and will have to remain ready in case of injury or struggles by any of the previous listed.

Jaxson Hayes will also come into preseason with a chip on his shoulder and a chance to earn valuable minutes right from the get-go. The center out of the University of Texas will come off of the bench behind Derrick Favors and potentially Jahlil Okafor, but can learn a lot from the veteran bigs by asking questions and noting the Forwards positioning on the floor during key sequences. Favors was brought in to rebound and defend but also be a key voice in the development of the Pelicans young core and lead by example on a day in, day out basis whether in a practice or game situation.

For this season to be a success, roles will have to be established early by Gentry and everyone will have to buy into the system in order to be successful. The preseason will be Gentry’s opportunity to play with different lineups and see what works together and what may not before setting a more concrete lineup heading into the regular season.

The preseason may not mean much in terms of standings, however, this particular preseason in New Orleans feels a bit different.

With a new franchise player and aspirations of potential playoff seeding filling the minds of Pelicans fans everywhere, it will be Alvin Gentry and his coaching staffs’ job to put these individual players in the best positions to succeed. One thing is certain in New Orleans though, they “Won’t Bow Down”.