The New Orleans Pelicans tip against the San Antonio Spurs tonight at 7:30 CT in San Antonio. The game is on 105.3 FM, Fox Sports New Orleans, and NBA TV.
Both the Spurs and Pelicans are 2-2. Digging more deeply into the shallow pool of games played by each team yields very little insight, sadly. More telling is that the Spurs will be without Belinelli (groin) and Splitter (calf). The Pelicans’ list of potentially unavailable players is much less troublesome: Babbitt, Salmons, Miller.
This game seems like it will boil down to the star big men and guards on each side, which is pretty simple, and shooting. Neither team is setting the world on fire, but the Pelicans are out-missing the Spurs through 4 games. In fact, they are shooting pretty much exactly like the vocals on Yellow Ledbetter. You can’t understand it in too many places be comfortable talking about it, you know something good is underneath it all, the meter is just off from what you expect, and there are enough high spots to keep you tuned in.
Another truth from Pearl Jam there: I don’t know whether I was the boxer or the bag.
An unsung aspect of the Pelicans’ ability to counter their poor shooting is their limiting of turnovers (2nd best in NBA in TOV% on offense) while playing decent defense in that respect. This is despite the repeated and repeatedly-unfounded mentions of the ball-handlers turnover problems. Again, for a lead guard, turnovers are the cost of being in the assist business. The Pelicans’ assist leaders (Evans, Holiday, Rivers) have an AST/TO of 59/24, which is nearly 2.5. This is quite good. Holiday, the assist leader, is at 25/7, or nearly 3.5. Small sample sizes, to be sure, but the evidence is still in favor of Jrue and the Gang. That said, when the turnovers are high, the team struggles, so they get highlighted, so it’s understandable why, at first blush, this would be a first impression. Still, no need to punish the team for one of its better aspects; punish them for their shooting, instead.
The Spurs do not have great success on either side with respect to turnovers. Those turnovers are similar to a 0% shot attempt and 0% rebound rate off it. The Pelicans likely have to protect themselves by playing to their strength here. This may be the womp-rat-sized whatever to target, the pair of Hobbits sneaking around the scary mountain (with Gollum sneaking behind them), the animal-style not on this In-N-Out menu, whatever turns Rocky from the Bag into the Boxer . . . whatever.
We’ll update this post with any news, relevant articles, or great comments, of course.
My questions to start the chit-chat:
- How will the Davis Duncan battles go (when they happen)?
- (Reprise) How will Jimmer Fredette score his first field goal for the Pelicans?
- The Pelicans are among the worst shooting teams in the NBA (27th in FT% and 2P%, 30th in FG% and 3P%): Can they get their mojo in game 5?
- How great is Pearl Jam?
On a weekend, I wanna wish it all away?
3 responses to “New Orleans Pelicans @ San Antonio Spurs: Yellow Ledbetter Open Thread”
1) I think it’s imperative for the man Duncan is guarding to be an active screener tonight. Duncan is smart and long, but he isn’t mobile. Set good screens and you exert a lot of pressure on the helpers, b/c Duncan isn’t stepping out to defend 20 feet from the basket without giving up something.
2) Jimmer’s first make will be off the midrange curl that Monty has run for Belinelli, Darius Miller, Roger Mason, and others for years now. Easy shot for a good shooter, gets his confidence up.
3) If the Pelicans are going to get their shooting going, it better be early. The Spurs can blow a game wide open if you struggle early, and then you’re virtually helpless.
4) Pearl Jam is really good.
hey 42, liked your topics so i will shortly answer them:How will the Davis Duncan battles go (when they happen)?
This will be few…dont think Pops will allow exposing TD with Davis. At this stage of their careers, Duncan is still great, but the speed would kill him. Davis would just fly past him (Reprise) How will Jimmer Fredette score his first field goal for the Pelicans?
It has to be a three…but he should start shooting to make a FG…and ill stop here or i’ll be silenced by the Secret Society The Pelicans are among the worst shooting teams in the NBA (27th in FT% and 2P%, 30th in FG% and 3P%): Can they get their mojo in game 5?
Math may say that it will go up to average with a larger sample, but Pop and the Spurs may say otherwise How great is Pearl Jam?
Great great GREAT!!
Eddie Vedder may score a field goal before Jimmer.
Love Pearl Jam. Red Mosquito.
Geaux Pelicans!!!