New Orleans Pelicans: Probable Lineups and Rotation vs. Utah Jazz

New Orleans Pelicans’ Rotations: Shooting Guards

Shooting Guard Rotation

Starter: Jrue Holiday

Backup: J.J. Redick

Reserve: E’Twaun Moore

Shooting guard was probably the most interesting part of the Pelicans’ rotation, as they were often sharing the floor together.

When the Pelicans go small, either Redick or Moore are slotted into small forward, which worked effectively against the much larger Nuggets and Bucks.

Both Redick and Moore can hold their own defensively, though they’ve both lost several steps. Redick has a high defensive I.Q. and uses positioning to disrupt plays and get his hands on the ball.

Moore has the size and strength to body small forwards and seems to have Gentry’s trust defensively, which is why he was featured in small ball lineups with Ingram at power forward and Zion Williamson at center.

Holiday played well in the scrimmage games and looked ready on both ends. He took over the game in the first half against the Bucks when the offense came out flat and showed that he can get into the lane at will.

Holiday’s dribble penetration will be important, especially when the offense stagnates in the half court.

Holiday also showed he can defend much larger opponents, as he had stints guarding Jokic against Denver and took on some of the long wings of the Bucks.

Holiday’s defense will prove to be important, as it makes the Pelicans so much more versatile and gives Gentry a ton of lineup options.

The shooting guards playing forward will be a theme in the Orlando restart. All three need to defend well for the Pelicans to be able to go small effectively.