New Orleans Pelicans: 3 things to watch vs. the Boston Celtics

The New Orleans Pelicans and Boston Celtics are both struggling at the moment and will look to get back into the win column in a Sunday afternoon matchup.

The Celtics have won only four of their last ten and have dropped to the 4th seed in the East while the Pelicans have been up and down all season (mostly down) and are currently out of the playoff picture.

This is an interesting matchup, as there are several subplots going on during the game that will be fun to watch and talk about.

Here are three stories to follow as the Pelicans take on the Celtics.

New Orleans Pelicans: Could the Pels make a trade with Boston?

With Marcus Smart out with injury, the Pelicans and Celtics might actually make good trade partners.

I’ve suggested that Smart would be the ideal player to add around Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Lonzo Ball, as he is a high I.Q. and relentless defender who doesn’t care about his own stats.

He won’t come cheap, even though he is injured, but this is a good chance for the Pelicans to showcase some of the guys Boston might want in return, so let’s hope Eric Bledsoe has a huge game and looks like an All-Defensive player who could help the Celtics.

New Orleans Pelicans: The rise of Lonzo Ball

Lonzo Ball has been playing his best basketball of the season even though the Pels are still losing.

Lonzo has shot nearly 50 percent from 3-point range since returning from injury and is evolving into the exact type of 3-and-D perimeter player the New Orleans Pelicans need.

Trade talk around Lonzo has dimmed a bit, which is a good thing, as the Pels cannot afford to trade their best defensive player unless they are getting an equal or better one in return.

Let’s hope Lonzo Ball can keep up his strong play and cement himself as part of the Pels’ future.

New Orleans Pelicans: Can Kira Lewis Jr. have a big game?

Kira Lewis Jr. has not played particularly well in the last two games but may be able to change that against the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics have a hard time staying in front of quick guards, and recently gave up a combined 71 points to Trae Young in back-to-back games against the Hawks.

Lewis Jr. is certainly not in Young’s category but he is lighting quick and should be able to get to his spots against the slower Celtics’ guards.

This game will be interesting for several reasons and not all of them will be on the court.