New Orleans Pelicans: Where the rotation stands after game 1

We learned a little about the New Orleans Pelicans’ rotation in their win over the Miami Heat.

The New Orleans Pelicans started the 2020-21 campaign with a 114-92 win over the Miami Heat.

Preseason is the time for coaches to figure out their rotations, how they are going to allocate minutes and to develop some chemistry between new teammates.

So far, so good for Stan Van Gundy’s team, as they looked locked in and ready to go even though they were incorporating some new faces into the roster.

Eric Bledsoe, J.J. Redick and Wenyen Gabriel were held out with minor injuries, so some of the preseason battles are still up in the air.

But we have a better understanding of what the rotation will look like after game one.

New Orleans Pelicans: Where the rotation is after game 1

We know Stan Van Gundy is going to play veterans Redick and Bledsoe, but there are still some interesting battles for those last few spots in the rotation.

Point Guard

Lonzo Ball

With Bledsoe out, Lonzo Ball was the only real point guard to get significant minutes in the first preseason game.

We did get a glimpse of Kira Lewis Jr, who played for ten minutes and scored five points, but he is unlikely to start the season as part of the rotation. He could earn his way into the backup point guard spot at some time, but for now, the Pels will roll with just Ball and Bledsoe.

Brandon Ingram assumed the primary ballhandling duties in the second unit and looked confident and comfortable running the offense. The Pels have enough ballhandlers that they don’t really need a backup point guard, at least not until Lewis Jr. is ready.

Shooting Guard

Eric Bledsoe, J.J. Redick, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Sindarius Thornwell

The most heated battle for minutes will come at shooting guard, where the Pels have at least four players looking for playing time.

NAW was the big story of the first game, netting 14 points and five rebounds and looking much more confident in the process. If he keeps playing like this, SVG is going to have a tough time allotting minutes because NAW looked like he should be there.

We will likely see some second-unit lineups with both NAW and Redick, especially after the way NAW shot last night.

Small Forward

Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart

Josh Hart is going to play all over the place, including some at the backup wing.

He got the start at shooting guard last night with Bledsoe out, but will probably play some minutes at small forward when Ingram goes to the bench.

The Pelicans could certainly use another guy here, preferably someone with some size, but for now they will play mostly positionless basketball.

Power Forward

Zion Williamson, Nicolo Melli, Wenyen Gabriel

Zion tied for the lead in minutes with 33 last night, so Melli and Gabriel may be competing for mop-up duty.

With Gabriel out, we didn’t get to see one of the preseason battles I was looking forward to. Melli played 19 minutes and picked right up where he left off, making only two of seven shots and going one for four from behind the arc.

It’s too early to know if that’s a trend but it was eerily reminiscent of the end of last season when Melli couldn’t hit the side of a barn. Let’s hope Gabriel can get back so there is some real competition for those minutes, as right now, Melli is not the answer.

Center

Steven Adams, Jaxson Hayes

Adams was great in his first game as a Pelican, immediately making an impact on both ends. He is the starter and going to get most of the minutes.

I thought Willy Hernangomez might challenge Jaxson Hayes for backup minutes but that didn’t happen, at least not yet. It might happen in the next game though because Hayes didn’t look much different from last season.

He still needs major improvement on the defensive end but he got all of the backup minutes last night, so Stan Van Gundy must have been somewhat pleased with his play.

The New Orleans Pelicans got their first preseason win behind big games from Zion and Ingram, while also solidifying some of their rotation.