Game Preview: New Orleans Pelicans try to redeem loss to Philadelphia 76ers

Dec 8, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ersan Ilyasova (7) drives past New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the first quarter at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Pelicans (9-20) go into Philadelphia with hopes of avenging their early-December loss to the Sixers (7-20).

The Philadelphia 76ers represent one of the only matchups in the league in which the New Orleans Pelicans can credibly look across the sideline and know they have a more talented roster.

Sure, Joel Embiid has wreaked surprising havoc in his “rookie” season after two years of rehabilitation. The other rookie, Dario Saric, is a matchup nightmare, and rotation players like Nik Stauskas and Sergio Rodriguez have impressed. Bah.

The Pelicans boast one of the best individual players in the league, a matchup nightmare in his own right, and a two-way dominator. Around him, there are defensive-minded stoppers and a point guard capable of orchestrating a top-15 offense. On their best nights.

The Sixers are constructed similarly, playing around their interior scorers and counting on individual defenders to hold the fort. They play fast, but not as fast as the Pelicans, or as fast as they have been in recent years. Clogging the inside with big men like Embiid and Jahlil Okafor means things haven’t been as energetic in Philly so far this year.

The “scrappiness” and “hustle” that both Alvin Gentry and Anthony Davis mentioned as the Pelicans’ go-to style will be a perfect foil for this version of the 76ers.

If all goes well, the Sixers should be overmatched. As the Pelicans return to full health with the return of Tyreke Evans and Dante Cunningham, they are nearing their best selves. Fully actualized, and with no more excuses.

Beating a bottom-five team, one whose mere existence has become an over-told joke in NBA circles, is the first step a fully-actualized team ought to take to prove themselves. One night at a time.

Dec 8, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) knocks the ball away from New Orleans Pelicans forward Terrence Jones (9) during the second half at the Smoothie King Center. The 76ers defeated the Pelicans 99-88. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Who, When, Where and How to Watch

When and Where: The game will be played at 6:00 p.m. CT in Philadelphia.

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

Injuries:

New Orleans: Tyreke Evans (Right Knee/Rest) is questionable. Quincy Pondexter (Left Knee) is out.

Philadelphia: Nik Stauskas (Knee) is questionable. Ben Simmons (Foot) is out.

Probable Starting Lineups:

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

Philadelphia: PG Sergio Rodriguez, SG Gerald Henderson, SF Robert Covington, PF Joel Embiid, C Jahlil Okafor

Other Players to Watch:

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

Philadelphia: T.J. McConnell, Ersan Ilyasova, Dario Saric, and Hollis Thompson

What’s Next for the Pelicans?

The New Orleans Pelicans will travel back home after tonight’s game before facing the Oklahoma City Thunder at 7:00 p.m. CT in the Smoothie King Center.

Dec 8, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Asik (3) and forward Solomon Hill (44) during the second half at the Smoothie King Center. The 76ers defeated the Pelicans 99-88. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Are the Pels’ defenders enough to stop the 76ers’ multi-headed attack?

The December 8th contest between the New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers qualifies as one of the worst of the entire Pelicans season thus far. Both narratively and statistically, it was an abysmal performance; one representative of the problems that have plagued this team in 2016.

There was Anthony Davis struggling against the athletically inferior Ersan Ilyasova. Buddy Hield, in one of his first starts all year, going 2-12 from the field. And the Sixers bombing away in the second half (12-40 on threes overall) to win despite a mediocre performance from Joel Embiid and Robert Covington, two of their best players.

The Pelicans can’t count on those two to struggle tonight, which means this is the third consecutive game with a tough matchup on the wing (James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and now Covington). Alvin Gentry has opted to go with E’Twaun Moore in the starting lineup without Solomon Hill around, and the results have been unsatisfactory. Playing all three of Moore, Hield, and Jrue Holiday together simply doesn’t bring enough size onto the court.

Instead, the Pelicans will have to hope Hill returns, and that Dante Cunningham’s recovery process is close to finished. Those two can surely keep Covington in control. If Anthony Davis is in better defensive form, his presence will help harness Embiid’s scoring ability. The Pelicans will have to hope that is enough.

As for the Sixers’ hot shooting, the Pelicans can hope that a more focused defensive approach, centered around the presence of Holiday, will help. Nik Stauskas and Sergio Rodriguez pulled the offense with some lucky shots in the second half last time around, but running them off the line and avoiding holes in their rotations should be enough for the Pelicans to keep this team in check.

Talent-wise, their defense is more talented than the Sixers’ offense.