Opponent Scouting: New Orleans Pelicans. (3-1)
Tonight at 8:00pm EST the Detroit Pistons are on the road in New Orleans to face the Pelicans. Both teams are on the second night of a back to back, with the Pistons having lost to the Blazers and the Pelicans defeating the Thunder.
The Them:
The Pelicans are back and better than ever. Time will tell if they can actually stay healthy, more more accurately if their best player can stay healthy, but for now they are which means they are playing well.
The Pelicans are, of course, led by Zion Williamson who is one of the most enigmatic players in league history. His body type doesn’t match up with his explosive athleticism, what he does isn’t flashy, and yet he always gets to the hoop and the ball keeps going in. He actually hasn’t been that awesome to start this season, 21.5 points while shooting 50.7% from the field and 4 assists per game, the efficiency is not where we expect from him but my guess is that it will come with time. He still doesn’t really shoot threes but he is unstoppable inside, a capable passer, and is impossible to keep off the offensive glass when he crashes it. Especially if Duren is out again this may be a nightmare for Detroit. Brandon Ingram has been listed as day to day but did not play yesterday, if he is healthy he isa wiry athlete who can shoot and finish from just about anywhere, he will never fulfill the Kevin Durant projections from when he was drafted but he isn’t doing a bad impersonation, and the reality is that “poor mans Kevin Durant” is still a really good player. CJ McCollum is still buzzing along here doing his thing, McCollum is one of the game’s best shooters and can score from anywhere and has really filled into a positive role as a facilitator with the Pelicans as he’s averaging 21 points and nearly 6 assists per game. As a veteran shooter he brings a certain calming influence to their offense that is, at times, needed. Jonas Valanciunas is big and skilled, he never puts up numbers as gaudy as it seems like he should given how easily he scores at times, but he is a great interior precise and while he isn’t an awesome defender he’s at least big enough to be a tough rim protector if he doesn’t have to move around too much.
After the top-level guys the Pelicans secret sauce is actually a really nice collection of role players. Herbert Jones is one of the NBA’s best defensive players, and while he doesn’t do a lot on offense he is a terror attacking the glass and will find some buckets through movement alone. Rookie Jordan Hawkins is a 6’5 swing type who theoretically is a shooter although he hasn’t shot that well so far this year. Larry Nance Jr. is big, athletic, and smart, which makes him an effective connecting player on offense and generally a high-level defender. 2nd-year player Dyson Daniels isn’t that good at anything but he’s got solid size and work rates, ditto for journey-man Matt Ryan. Kira Lewis is a point guard who can’t really shoot but he isn’t the worst guy to have as a backup PG.
It’s hard to say what the best roster to put around Zion is, but this team is good. The top-level talent is legit, and role players like Jones, Valanciunas, and Nance bring real juice to the team and they seem well-coached.
Matchups to watch:
Pistons vs. The Pelicans’ bulk: At the time of writing there has not been a new development with regard to Duren’s availability. But assuming he is out or even if he plays but isn’t all the way right, this is likely to be a huge problem. Valanciunas will likely eat the Pistons other bigs alive and when put in tandem with the likes of Zion and Herb Jones, who collect more than 6 offensive boards per game between them, the Pistons simply don’t have the defensive girth down low to hold up. Stew will give it an honorable attempt but he’s just not big enough to effectively clean the defensive glass, and neither Bagley or Wiseman are good enough at all. There is a good chance this game is just the Pelicans repeatedly bludgeoning the Pistons to the hoop. If Duren is healthy though the Pistons will have a shot and would be a great test for Duren.
Cade vs. Decision making: I have firmly planted my flag that the problem is not Cade, the problem is the lineups around him. That said, the roster isn’t getting an overhaul this season and even if he’s being set up to fail, some of the decisions from Cade simply are not good enough. Don’t settle for jumpers before you need to, and don’t try to make passes that simply are not there.
Stew vs. Aggression: The numbers were fine last game but I felt like it was Stewarts worst offensive outing. He must attack the space defenses give him, he can’t be passive or hesitant.
Monty Williams vs. Rotations: There are not many good options with this roster and the injuries currently plaguing it. That said, there does come a point that having Killian/Ausar/Stew on the floor together just isn’t tenable. Killian is the most obvious one to dump but it just isn’t working and the lineup data is backing it up.
Other guys vs. Defending: The various options who could possibly be featured more over those three need to defend if they are going to win their way into the starting lineup and tonight will be a good chance to prove it. The Pelicans have guys at each level that will be a handful.
So in conclusion…
Run for the hills if:
The Pelicans are scoring in the paint at will
Cade is triple-teamed every possession
The trio of Killian/Ausar/Stew is still playing major minutes together.
Wink knowingly at your friends if:
“My god is that Jalen Duren’s music??”
Cade finally starts getting some calls (plz)
Jaden Ivey plays more than 25 minutes.
Opportunities for me to look stupid:
The Pistons get slaughtered on the interior on both ends
Monty injects more shooting to the game in general
Cade gets back on track with a big game
Pistons 108 - Pelicans 105.