Game Preview: New Orleans Pelicans Look To Snap Losing Streak vs 76ers

Apr 5, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Tim Frazier (2) dribbles around center Alexis Ajinca (42) and Philadelphia 76ers guard Isaiah Canaan (0) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 107-93. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Pelicans will look to snap a three-game losing streak, as they host the lowly Philadelphia 76ers Thursday night.

After three straight losses, including a double-overtime loss to the Grizzlies two nights ago, frustration is high for the New Orleans Pelicans.

New Orleans will get their chance to release that frustration against a team that’s lost eight in a row…

The Philadelphia 76ers.

For Philadelphia, this season has once again been a collection of excitement for rookies and anger for their lack of execution. The Sixers are now 4-18 this season, which is the worst record in the NBA. They played the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday night and lost their eighth straight game in a row.

Once again, New Orleans will be tested with a team on an eight game losing streak. The Pelicans lost to the Dallas Mavericks just over a month ago, who had lost eight straight prior.

The New Orleans Pelicans can not afford to lose this game. This is a team that has had massive struggles throughout the season. For the Pels, a team with aspirations to make noise this year, the 76ers are a team that must be beaten.

New Orleans has already developed a problem of losing to teams that the they should realistically beat. In games against teams under .500, the Pels are 3-6. That includes losses to the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns, teams who have worse records than New Orleans.

The New Orleans Pelicans also need to reinstall some confidence in Anthony Davis. While AD has been putting up fantastic numbers, it has not resulted in the expected victories. This is a team that’s looking to prove to their superstar that they can build a contending team around him. Wins against teams like Philly are needed.

Against the Sixers, he’ll once again get his chance at a favorable matchup. While Philadelphia has talented bigs like Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor, neither can realistically guard AD. Neither will end up playing tonight, leaving Ersan Ilyasova as the likely center for the 76ers. It’s a dream for AD and the Pelicans frontcourt, as they should be able to develop a huge advantage inside.

Philadelphia is dealing with an injury bug as big as the Pelicans in recent time. Many key pieces are missing from the team and losses are piling up. This is a very winable game for New Orleans. While Jrue Holiday and E’Twaun Moore may not play tonight, the Pels still come into tonight’s game with the more talented roster.

With an upcoming schedule that includes the Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors on the horizon, beatable teams are going to be hard to come by. The Pelicans need to take advantage of this win, to give themselves momentum for the rest of a very difficult month.

Jan 26, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (4) talks with New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the second half at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans won 99-74. 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: Quincy Pondexter (Left Knee), Tyreke Evans (Right Knee) and Dante Cunningham (Right Fibula Fracture) are all out. Jrue Holiday (Left Turf Toe) and E’Twaun Moore (Right Toe Contusion) are both questionable.

Philadelphia: Jerryd Bayless (Wrist), Ben Simmons (Foot), Robert Covington (Knee, Illness) and Jahlil Okafor (Illness) are all out.

Probable Starting Lineups:

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

Philadelphia: PG Sergio Rodriguez, SG Nik Stauskas, SF Gerald Henderson, PF Richaun Holmes, C Ersan Ilyasova

Other Players to Watch:

New Orleans: E’Twaun Moore, Buddy Hield, Terrence Jones, Anthony Brown and Langston Galloway

Philadelphia: Dario Saric, Hollis Thompson, T.J. McConnell, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot

What’s Next for the Pelicans?

The New Orleans Pelicans will head on the road for the beginning of a back-to-back in Los Angeles, against the Clippers. Tip is scheduled for 9:30 PM CST.

Dec 28, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) reacts after an apparent injury during the third quarter of a basketball game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans Pelicans Need to Care for Anthony Davis’ Long-Term Career

The New Orleans Pelicans are playing a risky game with Anthony Davis.

Yes, we all know the team is looking to win now. This is a roster that’s been rebuilt a few times, just to prove just that.

The current roster construction still weighs heavily on Anthony Davis putting up big numbers every night. That is not necessarily the concern, mostly because Davis wants to be that guy.

Anthony Davis has been putting up fantastic numbers all year. He averages 31.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 1.7 steals per contest. His usage is leading to fantastic stats and giving the Pelicans chances in games they would not be in without him.

The problem comes when you start to watch Davis’ play on the court.

The stats show just how much he is doing and what he means to the Pels’ success. The problem shows in his body language and the nagging injury issues becoming more and more apparent.

In the past few games, Davis has looked tired late in each contest, mostly due to just how many minutes he’s playing. In the past five games, which spanned just nine days, Davis is averaging 40.8 minutes a game.

While it’s good that AD wants to make such a difference on the team, his body is wearing down. Davis has been taken out of games several times over the past few weeks with nagging injuries. Since November 23rd, he’s been diagnosed with a knee, shoulder and foot injury that has forced him off the court at some point.

That’s three different injuries in two weeks. The playing time is getting to him and starting to wear him down significantly. However, the answer will not come from Anthony Davis himself, mostly due to his own pride.

The truth of the situation is no one is going to keep a player as driven as AD from fighting through injuries. Davis is going to want to play every game, because he knows just how much the Pelicans need him to win. Davis has a usage percentage of 31% this year, which is ridiculously high. Without him, the Pelicans stand a much tougher road to victory, even when Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday and the rest of the team are healthy.

Terrence Jones is trying to become a force as the backup power forward. However, putting him in for AD will have drastic differences on the defensive end more so than offense. Davis’ athleticism, smooth jumper, exquisite passing skills and awareness on both ends can not be replaced.

That does not mean the Pelicans should not sacrifice some short term success, to make sure AD is good for the long term. It’s easy to look at Davis’ injury history and be worried about his future. The usage rate is fine in moderation, yet failing to give him any rest is a problem.

Alvin Gentry has certainly not pushed the rest on AD. There are plenty of times Gentry has had opportunities in blowouts, whether New Orleans is winning or losing, and yet still plays his star until the end. Maybe he does not want to take Davis out for safety of the team’s lead or ability to fight back, or trusts his superstar to know his health. However, with how much he means to the franchise, it might be time to start playing it safer than sorry.

It may seem like throwing in the towel on a game or two, but giving Davis the night off once a blue moon may not be the worst idea. The Pelicans do believe they are a playoff team and the coaching staff does not want to send a “white flag” message to their fans by sitting AD. Still, with the injuries to every one else on the roster, it might be smart to give him one night off, when the rest of the team returns to health.

If the New Orleans Pelicans want to look out for the team’s future in Anthony Davis, they need to think about getting him more rest. Even if that costs the team immediate results, the games are affecting his mojo and energy on the court as well. It might be a story of him looking and playing better, with proper rest. He’s still putting up fantastic numbers, but who is to say he can keep up the pace, with the schedule continuing to become more of a gauntlet. Anthony Davis has given it all to his team early into this season. Whether it comes from games off or a cut in his minutes, Davis needs a break from the monstrous workload he has had to deal with in the first 22 games of the campaign.