Game Preview: New Orleans Pelicans Stay Home to Host the Indiana Pacers

Oct 4, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis and Indiana Pacers forward Paul George talk following a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pacers defeated the Pelicans 113-96. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Pelicans will look to use the momentum from the near-win Tuesday night to grab a home win against the physical Indiana Pacers.

After a tough loss to the Warriors Tuesday, the New Orleans Pelicans have a point to prove.

They will look to make it known, that their fantastic show against Golden State was no fluke, and that they’re ready to become a consistent team in the NBA.

Step one of that task is Thursday night, against the Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers are currently 13-13 after a loss last night against the Miami Heat. Indiana will be on the second of a back-to-back, with both being on the road.

To put it simply, the Pelicans have a great chance at a “schedule win”, as New Orleans will be rested up for the game.

New Orleans has shown some real positives against the Eastern Conference so far, posting a 4-3 record against the East squads of the league. Those wins are against the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets and Atlanta Hawks.

The Pelicans nearly beat one of the best teams in the league in the Warriors Tuesday night. Tonight will be a new challenge for them, as Paul George enters the arena. George is averaging 21.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and just under two steals a game into this season. The Pacers are in the thick of the playoff picture, so this will not be a game they take lightly.

For Anthony Davis, the Pacers will bring athleticism to counter his game. Thaddeus Young and Lavoy Allen are both physical bigs with good speed and defensive skill sets. They will do their best to make life difficult for the Pels’ superstar. Still, neither are on AD’s level in overall basketball ability.

In terms of Jrue Holiday, he will duel against Jeff Teague, the former point guard of the Atlanta Hawks. Teague is a fast guard, who is smaller in stature. On paper, Holiday has an edge. His defensive footwork and hands will make life tough for Teague, who relies on his speed to get past his opponent. Jeff is not known as a particularly strong defender and Holiday should be able to take advantage on the break.

Indiana has won the past 10 matchups against New Orleans. It was April of 2011 that New Orleans last won against the Pacers, four and a half years ago. The matchup has been heavily in favor of Indiana, who have been contenders out East for a long time now. New Orleans has not had a true answer to the Pacers’ defensive backbone and slow-paced expertise.

Morale is back to a higher point for the Pelicans. They gave one of the best in the NBA a run for their money and handled every punch they brought with fire and a “never-give-up” attitude. However, they need to be just as strong in their execution tonight and turn spirited play into victories.

This is a challenge that can dictate the rest of the month. New Orleans is finally getting some confidence back. A good stretch of games with wins in the upcoming schedule, that includes six games in the next nine days, would do wonders. The Pelicans want to show just how good they can be. Being 10 games under .500 just 26 games into the year, this needs to be the stretch that changes it all.

Oct 4, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) blocks a shot by Indiana Pacers forward Thaddeus Young (21) during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pacers defeated the Pelicans 113-96. 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.

Indiana: Monta Ellis (Groin) is out. Rodney Stuckey (Hamstring) is questionable.

Probable Starting Lineups:

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

Indiana: PG Jeff Teague, SG Glenn Robinson III, SF Paul George, PF Thaddeus Young, C Myles Turner

Other Players to Watch:

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

Indiana: C.J Miles, Rodney Stuckey, Al Jefferson, Aaron Brooks and Lavoy Allen

What’s Next for the Pelicans?

The New Orleans Pelicans will head on the road for a duel with the rival Houston Rockets Friday night. Tip is scheduled for 7:00 PM CST.

Dec 23, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) dunks against Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats New Orleans 96-84. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans Pelicans Bigs Need to Step Up Big Versus Indiana

The biggest key for a New Orleans Pelicans’ victory Thursday night will be in the frontcourt battle. To win that key part of the game, the Pels need to understand the new Pacers frontcourt and how to attack it.

In years prior, the Indiana Pacers have focused on a frontcourt of big, strong players that can command the boards and back down their defenders for the easy buckets.

This Pacers team is a bit different.

Indiana is banking on a starting frontcourt of Thaddeus Young and Myles Turner. Both, while very versatile and strong, are not the prototype bigs the Pacers are used to.

Thad Young likes to play as a stretch power forward, making on average a three-pointer per game. While he can attack the glass with authority, he’s not necessarily a master in the back-down game. Thad can space the floor well for a team and play aggressive offense and defense.

Myles Turner is a project for the Pacers, who has impressed in just his second year in the NBA. The 20 year old is averaging 15 points and over seven rebounds a contest. However, Turner is not the “brawler” big inside many associate with Indiana basketball.

Off the bench comes the one true “old school” Pacers player in Al Jefferson. Big Ally J bases his game on getting position inside and posting up, while being a defensive rebounding specialist as well. It will likely be a battle Omer Asik or Alexis Ajinca have to take on when he enters, as AD will likely struggle against Jefferson’s game.

Past that, there is no other “bigs” Indiana regularly uses. Lavoy Allen gets minutes, but not consistently. Someone who could be at the four position is none other than Paul George. The Pacers, like the Pelicans, have adapted to going more for smaller lineups. Whether that be George or another of their small forwards filling that role.

Still, New Orleans will need a huge game from their bigs, due to the frontcourt being a glaring weakness of Indiana’s. The Pacers are tied for 25th in the NBA in rebounds per game and 19th in points in the paint per game. They also give up the fifth most offensive rebounds per contest, which is a green light for Anthony Davis.

Davis will likely log a ton of minutes tonight, mostly due to the dream matchup. The Pacers do not have players to guard him and will likely struggle to box him out.

Where the real extra work needs to be done is in the hands of Terrence Jones. New Orleans has not done a lot of gameplanning with Asik or Ajinca, both logging less than 20 minutes per contest. They have limited roles, whether it’s Ajinca’s scoring or Asik’s rebounding. If they fill that role, they’ll be fine. Jones is a vital part of their scheme, due to his consistent rebounding numbers and decent offensive game.

In an odd way, Jones’ best offensive sets are the old Pacers style. He loves to find position on a switch or against a favorable matchup and work them down in the paint. It’s bully ball and it has worked so far for New Orleans’ bench scoring. To beat Indiana, Jones will have to assert that style even more than usual.

Indiana can be a strong shooting team. They can also be a good team in transition and moving the ball. This is their transformation. What New Orleans will need to do is show their adaptability and prove they can adjust to the Pacers’ new style and beat them, with the teams old M.O. That involves taking control of the paint and being the bigger, stronger team. In an odd change of pace, the Pelicans have the players to do that against this opponent.

For the New Orleans Pelicans to win this game, they need to win the battle in the trenches. Not only does Anthony Davis have to be his superstar self, but Jones and the duo of old-school bigs need to contribute to the game too. Winning a game and starting a streak is vital for the moral of the Pels. If they can be bigger and tougher inside, they can grab a key victory versus a strong Eastern Conference foe.