Game Preview: New Orleans Pelicans Face Rival in Houston Rockets

Mar 2, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) drives against Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) in the second half at Toyota Center. The Rockets won 100-95. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Pelicans will battle against the Houston Rockets Friday, who have two former stars of the Pels in Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon.

For the New Orleans Pelicans, this game means a little bit more than all the others. Why?

It’s a rivalry game.

The Pelicans are heading out to Houston on the second of a back-to-back, to face off against the Rockets. Houston is the new home to former Pelican stars in Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon. The Rockets are also a division rival, which adds to the tension each matchup between these two teams brings.

To put it bluntly, the New Orleans Pelicans REALLY want to win this game for a laundry list of reasons.

The Pelicans have struggled this year against their division foes. New Orleans has an 0-4 record, losing a game to the Spurs, Mavericks and two to the Grizzlies. This will be their first matchup of the year against the Rockets.

Tonight’s duel will also feature the gauntlet of trying to slow down James Harden. Harden is currently leading the league in assists per game, while being fifth in scoring per game and second in the league with five triple-doubles.

The task of slowing him down will be on the shoulders of Jrue Holiday. This is going to be a very difficult assignment for Jrue. While he has a strong defensive game, Harden is a whole different animal. Holiday has to stay out of foul trouble, with Harden having one of the best “foul drawing” games the league has ever seen.

For Anthony Davis, it will be his first chance to duel Ryan Anderson in a long time. While Anderson is a lethal shooter and smart offensive player for sure, his defense is suspect. It’s a game where AD should attack every possession, going towards the basket and going full force on Rhino. The Rockets do have Clint Capela, who they may put on AD. However, if Davis is guarded by Anderson, he should look to score every trip down.

The Houston Rockets have at least tied the season series every year since 2010-2011. Houston won the season series last year, taking three of the four matchups with the Pelicans. The last time New Orleans won in Houston was December 18th, 2014. However, these teams look drastically different since the last time the two franchises faced off.

This game is big for the Pelicans on a personal level. Ryan Anderson took a dig on the Pelicans before the season started and Eric Gordon is completely changed from his time in New Orleans. The Pels want to beat this team to prove a point. That point being that they know their two former stars and how to beat them and are better off without them.

If there is a game that electrifies a team, it’s a rivalry game. While it’s not set in stone, this is likely going to be a budding rivalry for years to come. Houston has won their past eight games coming into this contest. This is the New Orleans Pelicans chance for a statement win, against the surging Rockets. If they can win tonight, it will certain send shock waves throughout the NBA.

Jan 25, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) defends against Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the second quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Who, When, Where and How to Watch

When and Where: The game will be played at 7:00 PM CST in New Orleans.

How To Watch: The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports New Orleans and NBA League Pass.

Injuries:

New Orleans: Tyreke Evans (Right Knee) is questionable. Tim Frazier (Right Wrist) is doubtful. Quincy Pondexter (Left Knee) and Dante Cunningham (Right Fibula Fracture) are all out.

Houston: Ryan Anderson (Eye) is probable.

Probable Starting Lineups:

New Orleans: PG Jrue Holiday, SG Buddy Hield , SF Solomon Hill, PF Anthony Davis, C Omer Asik

Houston: PG James Harden, SG Patrick Beverley, SF Trevor Ariza, PF Ryan Anderson, C Clint Capela

Other Players to Watch:

New Orleans: E’Twaun Moore, Terrence Jones, Anthony Brown, Reggie Williams and Langston Galloway

Houston: Eric Gordon, Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell, Nene Hilaro and Corey Brewer

What’s Next for the Pelicans?

The New Orleans Pelicans will stay in Texas and continue on their road trip to San Antonio, where they’ll battle the Spurs Sunday night. Tip is scheduled for 6:00 PM CST.

Dec 26, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) attempts to shoot the ball as New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) defends during the second half at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans won 110-108. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans Pelicans Must Conquer Old Team Blueprint in Tonight’s Game

The New Orleans Pelicans will play basketball on the court with Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon once again.

Except this time, they will be on the opposite team.

In fact, looking once again at the Houston Rockets team, there is a glaring similarity to what the Pelicans were trying to build just a few years ago. Not exactly, but the central theme is the same, with a minor change to the superstar player’s position.

Instead of the offense running through the power forward Anthony Davis, Houston runs their offense through their point guard James Harden. Past that, the blueprint is a mirror. The Pelicans surrounded AD with shooters in Gordon and Anderson.

Add shooting specialists Luke Babbitt and Quincy Pondexter. Driving threats with scoring abilities in Tyreke Evans and Norris Cole. A big that specialized in rebounding in Omer Asik. Finally, some “grit-and-grind” role players round it out, like Dante Cunningham and Austin Rivers.

Now looking at this Rockets team, Harden replaces the need for driving threats. The Rockets, however, still have the marksman in Anderson and Gordon.

Other shooting specialists for Houston starts with the work in progress of Sam Dekker and former New Orleans’ player Trevor Ariza. Instead of Anthony Davis, the Rockets have a grinder big inside that can make baskets from mid-range in Montrezl Harrell.

Patrick Beverley is a driving specialist alongside Harden and can be a facilitator as well. Clint Capela has become the big inside, that focuses on rebounding and interior defense. Nene is also off the bench to focus that area as well. The “grit-and-grind” players for Houston go back to Beverley, Harrell and especially Corey Brewer.

Looking at their team in general and their coach in Mike D’Antoni, it’s easy to see the similarity in the former gameplan. An offensive juggernaut that can score from all spots on the floor. A team that likes to keep a slower, halfcourt pace and set up plenty of three-pointers for their marksman. When in a bind, give it to your superstar and let them cook.

On defense, it’s a crap shoot. Get your hands in passing lanes. Be physical and gritty, while trying to force the ball into the hands of the opponents’ weaker players. It is not much different than what Monty Williams focused on with his Pelicans way back then.

So the Pelicans of before are the Rockets of now. How does that pertain to tonight’s game?

Well, if New Orleans is able to diagnose this, it could be the key to beating Houston.

The Pelicans could be the perfect team to come up with a plan to beat their old blueprint. Just a few years ago, this was the exact same kind of team that New Orleans put out on the floor. Nearly an identical gameplan. This is a new Pelicans team, that has the knowledge of how the Rockets play.

Houston does not have a defender that can shut down Anthony Davis properly. They do not seem to have great transition defense players. Their offense seems very reliant on making their long-range shots. If New Orleans plays against this properly, uses the knowledge of Anderson and Gordon’s strengths to their advantage and plays a fantastic game of their own, they can win a massive contest.

This is the beginning of the Houston-New Orleans showdown post-Anderson and Gordon signings. It is a chance to put a stamp on what teams has the early edge in a series that could be testy and physical for a long time. The Pelicans want revenge on their former players and their first win against a division rival this year. A battle to keep the Rockets grounded could be a big turning point in the Pels season. It is up to them if they can put together the perfect blueprint and execute it well enough to grab their biggest road victory of the campaign.