National Basketball Association

Game Preview: New Orleans Pelicans at San Antonio Spurs

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The New Orleans Pelicans continue to search for their first win of the season, as they travel to play the San Antonio Spurs.

The New Orleans Pelicans are 0-2 to start the NBA season.

However, their second loss of the year looks more like a positive for the young squad.

While the Warriors were clearly the more talented team last night, the Pelicans stood tall with them every second of the game. Even when down as much as 16 points, they never gave up.

It is the kind of performance to look at when wondering how this team can improve.

The supporting cast, alongside Anthony Davis began to show their potential. Tim Frazier continues to show his completely balance of the game. Lance Stephenson may submit his status as the second best scorer on the current healthy roster. Dante Cunningham became the three-point floor spacer, to help the offense execute.

There were positives out of the loss. It still goes on the record books as a loss.

And it is not like the Pelicans have time to sulk. They have to prepare to road trip for the first time this season, to play the San Antonio Spurs.

Davis has combined for 95 points in the first two games of the year. However, New Orleans is still having massive struggles with their fast paced offensive attack.

The defense is not spectacular either. While it has been the montra of the offeseason, the Pelicans are giving up 229 points through two games.

That has to change against the best coached team in the NBA in the Spurs. A team that has already beaten the Warriors, San Antonio will manipulate the weaknesses of New Orleans all night.

Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge have been problems for the Pelicans in the past. Both have a pattern of putting up massive games against New Orleans. Particularly in Aldridge’s case, he’s been a nightmare for Davis on both ends.

The Spurs are also the deepest NBA team. Players like Jonathon Simmons and Dewayne Dedmond are having fantastic starts to the season. For a Pelicans team struggling to find depth, this could be a big problem.

Still, this is team New Orleans has done well against overall. The Pelicans have victories against San Antonio early on in each of the past two seasons.

It will come down to a balanced attack and strong defense to pull off the upset once again.

Who, When, Where and How to Watch

When and Where: The game will be played at 7:00 PM CST in San Antonio

How To Watch: The game will be broadcast on NBATV.

Injuries:

New Orleans: Jrue Holiday (Personal Reasons), Quincy Pondexter (Left Knee) and Tyreke Evans (Right Knee) are all out.

San Antonio: Danny Green (Quad) is out.

Probably Starting Lineups:

New Orleans: PG Tim Frazier, SG E’Twaun Moore, SF Solomon Hill, PF Anthony Davis, C Omer Asik

San Antonio: PG Tony Parker, SG Kyle Anderson, SF Kawhi Leonard, PF LaMarcus Aldridge, C Pau Gasol

Other Players to Watch:

New Orleans: Buddy Hield, Terrence Jones, Dante Cunningham and Lance Stephenson

San Antonio: Jonathon Simmons, Dewayne Dedmond, Manu Ginobili, Patty Mills and David Lee

What’s Next for the Pelicans?

The Pelicans are home against Tuesday Night to host the Milwaukee Bucks

Pelicans Striving to be just like the Spurs

With the Pelicans ready to do battle against the Spurs, it is time for a reminder of how much New Orleans looks up to their division counterparts.

Their plan as a team seems to be quite similar to how the Spurs became an NBA Powerhouse.

Just like the process the Spurs used to gather talents like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili together as a team unit, New Orleans wants to be as deep of a team as possible. Each one of their 15 players on the roster have shown their worth in the NBA somewhere else or in college.

This is a testament away from their old philosophy of grabbing out very talented, one-dimensional players and not worrying about the players on the bench. The new balanced attack from every player on the team is the new goal, something that looks like a mirror of the old and current Spurs.

Just like San Antonio back at the beginning of the 2000’s, New Orleans wants to build this roster together from their youth. Taking guys like Solomon Hill, E’Twaun Moore and Terrence Jones and adding them to the core with Anthony Davis. While it may struggle at the beginning, the team hopes each player will grow with each other and become an overall threat.

Just like Parker, Ginobili and Duncan did together.

Each matchup against San Antonio can give the youngsters insight into how they need to play.

The Spurs play basketball with a mentality of finding the best shot possible. That means a lot of passing up somewhat open looks for a better shot, even if that player is a good shooter. Establishing confidence in guys that are not particularly fantastic shooters is possible, if those players can find rhythm in wide open looks on a regular basis early on.

It’s already been seen a bit this season, however the need to score continues to demand the offense run through Davis. The Pelicans are still trying to establish that confidence in the younger squad members, in order for long term success.

It will not be a quick accomplishment. The two losses already show the struggles this team will be dealing with, as these players progress. The long road will still end up being the best chance for the Pelicans to have success down the road.

In time, this team may find themselves where they want. It’s the Spurs way of doing things to trust those in the system and let them develop. It is something New Orleans has been against with their moves since they got Anthony Davis. However, they have adjusted their process and look to embrace a philosophy that a division foe has used to win multiple championships.

The New Orleans Pelicans seem a long way from the success fans hope for. However, the way they are going about getting to that point is something much more reasonable than attempts before. If the Pels can develop together, just like the Spurs have done in the past, success may not be that much farther away.