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The Cavs stay home for the second night of a back-to-back against the New Orleans Pelicans. Both teams are 16-12. The Cavs are 9-6 at home while the Pelis are 7-7 on the road. The Pelicans were off yesterday.
The Pelicans have won 4 of 5, but three of those wins were against Charlotte, Washington, and San Antonio. But they beat the team with the NBA’s best record, Minnesota, at home five games back. In their last game they lost to the Grizzlies at home in Ja Morant’s first game back after a 25-game suspension for waving a gun around. Not exactly consistent with the "NBA Cares" image the league is trying to market.
These teams have yet to play this season.
The Pelicans have some big boys on their roster. Jonas Valenciunas is 6’11”, Brandon Ingram and Trey Murphy are 6’8”, Herbert Jones is 6’7”, and Zion Williamson, finally healthy, is 6’6”, 284 pounds. I won’t be surprised if they try to muscle the Cavs around.
Forward Matt Ryan, who is averaging 9.3 points on 47% on 3’s is out. So is former Cav Larry Nance Jr, although he doesn’t play much. As of last night Valenciunas, Jones, and Zion were all listed as questionable due to illness. That’s their entire starting front line wiped out if these guys can’t go. However, none of them are on the CBS injury report this morning so apparently they will play. The question is whether their minutes could be limited and whether their stamina will be affected.
Donovan Mitchell missed last night’s game to illness so his availability is in question.
The Pelicans are ranked 13th in scoring and 16th in scoring defense. They rank 26th in 3-point rate and 27th in percentage of points scored on 3’s, so they are more of an attacking the rim team. They rank 9th in points in the paint so they use their big fellas to take it inside. The draw a lot of fouls, ranking 5th in free throw attempts per game. This is going to be a very physical game if Zion, Vala, and Jones can play. Vala in particular likes to try and bully opposing players. I don't know if the Cavs have the muscle to keep Vala and Zion from taking it to the rim for buckets and fouls. Vala is the kind of physical center that Allen has trouble with and nobody can stop Zion from getting to where he wants to go.
Surprisingly they are only average in offensive rebound percentage. It’s a matter of staying in front of them and contesting shots without fouling.
Defensively the Pelicans defend the 3-point shot very well, ranking 4th in opponents’ 3-point percentage. As a result, teams don’t shoot from deep against them; their opponents rank 29th in 3-point rate. The Pelicans are the opposite on 2-point shots; they rank 27th. So it would behoove the Cavs to take it inside. The Pelicans rank 25th in blocks, but they do get a lot of steals. They rank 9th in forced turnovers, so ball protection will be important.
After watching the Cavs knock down 23 three-pointers last night I'm sure the Pelis will stress defending the 3 in the game plan. They won't leave Merrill open for uncontested looks. They have height at every position so they can switch all they want on the perimeter to be in position to contest 3's. The Cavs are going to have to beat them off the dribble and take it to the paint.
Brandon Ingram, their 6’8” shooting guard, is averaging 23.5 ppg on 50% shooting and 33% on 3’s. Zion is averaging 22 points and 5.8 rebounds in 30 minutes. He shoots 57.8%. CJ McCollum averages 20.4 ppg on 46% and 44% from deep. Having three players scoring between 20-24 ppg puts a lot of pressure on opposing defenses.
Vala and Trey Murphy, their sixth man, are averaging 14.9 points each, so the Pelis really have balanced scoring; five players between 15-24 points. Herbert Jones chips in 11.2 points on 48%.
These teams seem pretty evenly matched when everybody is healthy but the Cavs are already missing Garland and Mobley and could be missing Mitchell. The Pelicans are down one 3-point sniper off the bench and their entire starting front line is coming off an illness. The Cavs have home court advantage but the Pelicans rested yesterday while the Cavs played. This one might come down to whether Mitchell, Zion, Vala, and Jones are fully recovered and can play or whether they are limited or even out
The Pelicans have won 4 of 5, but three of those wins were against Charlotte, Washington, and San Antonio. But they beat the team with the NBA’s best record, Minnesota, at home five games back. In their last game they lost to the Grizzlies at home in Ja Morant’s first game back after a 25-game suspension for waving a gun around. Not exactly consistent with the "NBA Cares" image the league is trying to market.
These teams have yet to play this season.
The Pelicans have some big boys on their roster. Jonas Valenciunas is 6’11”, Brandon Ingram and Trey Murphy are 6’8”, Herbert Jones is 6’7”, and Zion Williamson, finally healthy, is 6’6”, 284 pounds. I won’t be surprised if they try to muscle the Cavs around.
Forward Matt Ryan, who is averaging 9.3 points on 47% on 3’s is out. So is former Cav Larry Nance Jr, although he doesn’t play much. As of last night Valenciunas, Jones, and Zion were all listed as questionable due to illness. That’s their entire starting front line wiped out if these guys can’t go. However, none of them are on the CBS injury report this morning so apparently they will play. The question is whether their minutes could be limited and whether their stamina will be affected.
Donovan Mitchell missed last night’s game to illness so his availability is in question.
The Pelicans are ranked 13th in scoring and 16th in scoring defense. They rank 26th in 3-point rate and 27th in percentage of points scored on 3’s, so they are more of an attacking the rim team. They rank 9th in points in the paint so they use their big fellas to take it inside. The draw a lot of fouls, ranking 5th in free throw attempts per game. This is going to be a very physical game if Zion, Vala, and Jones can play. Vala in particular likes to try and bully opposing players. I don't know if the Cavs have the muscle to keep Vala and Zion from taking it to the rim for buckets and fouls. Vala is the kind of physical center that Allen has trouble with and nobody can stop Zion from getting to where he wants to go.
Surprisingly they are only average in offensive rebound percentage. It’s a matter of staying in front of them and contesting shots without fouling.
Defensively the Pelicans defend the 3-point shot very well, ranking 4th in opponents’ 3-point percentage. As a result, teams don’t shoot from deep against them; their opponents rank 29th in 3-point rate. The Pelicans are the opposite on 2-point shots; they rank 27th. So it would behoove the Cavs to take it inside. The Pelicans rank 25th in blocks, but they do get a lot of steals. They rank 9th in forced turnovers, so ball protection will be important.
After watching the Cavs knock down 23 three-pointers last night I'm sure the Pelis will stress defending the 3 in the game plan. They won't leave Merrill open for uncontested looks. They have height at every position so they can switch all they want on the perimeter to be in position to contest 3's. The Cavs are going to have to beat them off the dribble and take it to the paint.
Brandon Ingram, their 6’8” shooting guard, is averaging 23.5 ppg on 50% shooting and 33% on 3’s. Zion is averaging 22 points and 5.8 rebounds in 30 minutes. He shoots 57.8%. CJ McCollum averages 20.4 ppg on 46% and 44% from deep. Having three players scoring between 20-24 ppg puts a lot of pressure on opposing defenses.
Vala and Trey Murphy, their sixth man, are averaging 14.9 points each, so the Pelis really have balanced scoring; five players between 15-24 points. Herbert Jones chips in 11.2 points on 48%.
These teams seem pretty evenly matched when everybody is healthy but the Cavs are already missing Garland and Mobley and could be missing Mitchell. The Pelicans are down one 3-point sniper off the bench and their entire starting front line is coming off an illness. The Cavs have home court advantage but the Pelicans rested yesterday while the Cavs played. This one might come down to whether Mitchell, Zion, Vala, and Jones are fully recovered and can play or whether they are limited or even out
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