The New Orleans Pelicans Need a Fast Start Against the Grizzlies

The New Orleans Pelicans’ starters must get out fast against Memphis.

The New Orleans Pelicans have gotten in big holes early in their first two games and can’t let it happen again.

The starting five of the New Orleans Pelicans that features Lonzo Ball, Jrue Holiday, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson and Derrick Favors was the best in the NBA during the regular season, posting a net rating of +26.3, but the bubble has been a different story.

In a small, two-game sample, the starters have a -58.3 net rating with a defensive rating of 144, ouch.

The New Orleans Pelicans need to start fast against Memphis.

The Pelicans can’t let this continue, but they have some things working in their favor against Memphis.

Memphis Should be Tired

All of the teams have shown signs of fatigue after a long break and short training camp, but the Grizzlies will be the first NBA team to play a back-to-back.

They lost a close game to the Spurs yesterday that came down to the last possession and the Grizzlies had seven players that played at least 25 minutes.

Ja Morant played 37 minutes, Jaren Jackson Jr. played 35 and Dillon Brooks logged 36 minutes in the loss.

These are young guys, but those minutes could have an effect on their legs and the Pelicans need to take advantage by starting fast, pushing the pace and not turning the ball over.

If they can make Memphis chase them around and work hard in the half court to get shots, the Pels should be able to wear them down.

Feed Zion Early

If Zion is again on a minutes’ limitation, then the Pelicans need to feed him early and often. He was unstoppable in the Utah game and got to the rim a lot against the Clippers, though he was unable to finish.

The Pelicans need to make the most of Zion’s minutes on the floor by making him the centerpiece of the offense in the half court and looking for him on run outs.

An efficient and productive Zion will get the Pelicans going, so they need to push the pace and feed him when he’s in there.

If the Pels Get Up, They Can’t Let Up

The Pelicans got up by 16 on Utah and it looked like they were going to roll. Then they stopped playing defense and the Jazz chipped away.

If the Pelicans get out to an early lead on Memphis they have to keep playing hard, pushing the pace and run them out of the gym.

They can’t have any long stretches where they don’t score or give the ball away with silly turnovers. They have to take care of the ball and run, run, run every time they can, whether they are up two or twenty.

The Clippers showed the Pelicans how to take care of business when you get up big. You can’t let up in the NBA or big leads disappear quickly.

The New Orleans Pelicans will have an advantage if they can get out to a good start, so they need to run as much as possible, play fast and give Zion the ball.

Things will look a lot different if the Pelicans can win this game, but first they have to get out to a fast start.