We’ll learn a lot by how the Pelicans deal with Donovan Mitchell

The New Orleans Pelicans have had an up and down preseason so far, winning one of three games with wildly inconsistent play.

That is to be expected from such a young team in the preseason but there are still some troubling trends from the first few games.

With Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram out it is difficult to gauge where the team is at, but they still have plenty of time to make adjustments and find lineups that work.

But the preseason finale against the Utah Jazz will offer an interesting early challenge to see if the Pelicans have improved in one area in particular and that is their defense against guards.

With a trio of talented guards in Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson (depending on who plays), this will be a good challenge to see where the Pels are defensively and how they are going to handle explosive guards this season.

The New Orleans Pelicans vs. guards

The Pelicans’ guard defense was terrible last season. They were 28th in the NBA in defensive rating at the guard spot and allowed some huge games to opposing guards.

Eric Bledsoe, Lonzo Ball and J.J. Redick have been traded out for Devonte’ Graham and Trey Murphy III, along with Naji Marshall and Herb Jones, versatile wings who will hopefully improve the Pels’ team defense overall.

They have two smaller guys in Graham and Kira Lewis Jr. to go with Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Tomas Satoransky, and other than NAW, none of them are plus defenders, though Lewis Jr. can be a pest on the ball.

Josh Hart will probably get more time on guards this season since the Pelicans shouldn’t be asking him to guard up as much as he did last year, when he was often on wings and even power forwards.

The Pelicans are hoping to get more defensively from their wings, and that an increase in length and athleticism will improve their defense overall, including against guards.

It will be interesting to see who the Pelicans put on Donovan Mitchell, whether the Pels go small to utilize their versatility or if they try to go “jumbo” and push the Jazz guards around.

I expect we’ll see a multitude of defenders thrown at the Jazz guards as the Pels try to use their length to get in passing lanes and cut off drives.

The Pelicans have to do better at defending the guard position this season and will get an early challenge tonight against the Jazz.