New Orleans Pelicans Try to Hold the Magic

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Published: December 28, 2015

The New Orleans Pelicans (10-20) travel to Orlando to see if they can win create another winning streak as they are hosted by the Magic (17-13) tonight. The game is a 6 pm CT (UTC -6) on Fox Sports New Orleans and the Pelicans Radio Network, 99.5 FM locally.

The Pelicans’ depth charts is projected to remain the same, with Davis, Asik, Gee, Gordon, and Evans starting. Pondexter remains Out, though he is edging closer by the day to returning, and Holiday’s restrictions have been restricted as he is also edging closer to an alleged full recovery from the injury he has dealt with since before being dealt.

The Magic are projected to start Payton, Harris, Vucevic, Frye, and Fournier. Watson is Out.

The Magic are a slower team in terms of pace, as they protect the ball and rebound offensively a little better than average. They are average offensively, but above average defensively. Their middlin’ efficiency is rooted in effective jump shooting. They have no strong preference for threes and are not effective at getting to the line compared to other teams, but they shoot the shots given to them well. They also are fair at generating turnovers.

As Michael pointed out earlier, the Pelicans will need to crack their defense with some methodical passing, because individual brilliance can’t be relied upon to win more than an isolated couple of games against a decent defense. Additionally, the Pelicans have shown that offensive aggression serves them will be getting good shots, whether they fall or not, and getting to the line. If they can not be a sieve on defense, not give the ball away at a high rate, the Pelicans can win by pushing on a few vulnerable areas of the Magic: rebounding, turnovers, reliance on two-point jumpers.

This is a winnable game.

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