New Orleans Pelicans: 3 things to watch in preseason game vs. Bucks

New Orleans Pelicans: Rotation battles to watch against the Bucks

Rotation Battles

The New Orleans Pelicans should have their full roster available against the Bucks, though Gabriel is still a game-time decision.

Redick and Bledsoe will return to the lineup, so we will get a better idea of how Stan Van Gundy plans to use his bench.

Here are some battles to keep an eye on:

Melli vs. Gabriel: Nicolo Melli hasn’t played well since February of last year and things didn’t look any different against the Heat. Melli went just two of seven, including one for four from behind the arc, mirroring his numbers from late last season. Most concerning is that most of his shots are wide open and Melli just isn’t knocking them down.

Gabriel should get a shot if he is healthy, as he can at least defend and get on the boards, two things that Melli does not do. Neither of these guys are likely to play big minutes if Zion Williamson is on the floor for 33 minutes a game, but it will still be interesting to see how they are deployed. Their minutes could change night to night depending on the matchup but I am looking forward to seeing what Gabriel can do.

Hayes vs. Hernangomez: Hayes didn’t play particularly well in game one and Willy Hernangomez didn’t play at all. I thought Hernangomez might challenge Hayes for some backup center minutes, and if Hayes doesn’t play better defense, he might. I am also starting to think that the Pels might not play either of them and instead just go with no center when Steven Adams is on the bench. Until Hayes proves he can defend, I am perfectly happy for Zion to be the backup center and for the Pels to try and run teams off the floor with smaller lineups.