NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Pelicans are 4-1, off to their best start since the 2010-11 season, when they began the year 8-0 before finishing with 46 wins (fifth-best in franchise history).
Standing in the way of a the team’s first three-game winning streak of the young campaign are the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks enter tonight’s matchup winners of three straight following two losses to open the year.
These teams met in the preseason, with the Hawks picking up a 110-105 victory as Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, and Onyeka Okongwu posted a combined 45 points.
A two-time All-Star, Young is shooting a career-worst 32.6 percent from the floor, including just 25% from beyond the three-point line. Young’s shooting effeciency has taken a sharp decline over the past two seasons, dropping from 53.6% in 2021-22, to 48.5% last season, and bottoming out at 37.1% this year.
Despite Young’s struggles the Hawks have a top five offense, trailing only the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, and Philadelphia 76ers. Atlanta averages 122.8 points per game and haven’t been held under 120 since their opening-night loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
During their win streak they’ve beaten the Bucks, Timberwolves, and Wizards by a combined 40 points. The Hawks are also sixth in the NBA in net rating (5.1).
Considering the history between the cities and the teams, expect another hard fought game at “The Blender.”
The good news for the Pelicans is that Zion Williamson returns after some team-mandated rest on Thursday. Williamson is still finding his rhythm as a scorer, averaging 21.5 pts on a career-low 50.7% shooting.
His numbers aren’t too far off compared to his first four games from a year ago, when he averaged 21.8 pts, 8.0 reb, 3.5 ast, 1.8 stls, and 2.5 turnovers. The Pelicans were 3-1 in those games as well.
Keys to Victory
- Stop the pick and roll. As much as defending the three is important against a team like the Hawks, stopping the pick and roll may be just as crucial. Zion has always struggled in PNR defense and the Hawks ran a clinic on Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard, and the Bucks a couple of nights ago. They have to talk and help each other to make the Hawks work.
- Keep Firing. After starting 1-for-21 from beyond the arc against Oklahoma City, the New Orleans Pelicans have made 26 of their last 53 three pointers (49.1%). The Pelicans rank 22nd in 3P% but they’ve made 60 through five games, up from 55 over their first five a season ago. It’s been a slow start, but New Orleans is starting to pick up its new offensive system. It can only get better as Jordan Hawkins finds his stroke and Trey Murphy prepares for a possible late-November return.
- Fix the Third Quarter. Even in their big win over the Pistons, where the Pelicans posted their highest offensive numbers of the season, New Orleans came out flat in the third quarter, getting outscored 34-22. Atlanta currently averages 32.6 ppg coming out of the half, besting opponents by 4.4 points in the period. The Pelicans have a +/- of -5.6 in the third quarter, 4th-worst in the NBA.
- Utilize Valanciunas. With Brandon Ingram missing the last two games, Jonas Valanciunas has gotten more touches on the offensive end. Valanciunas has made the most of his opportunities, averaging 21.0 pts, 11.0 reb, 3.5 ast, and 2.0 blks while shooting 57.7% from the floor and going 3-for-4 from deep. The Pelicans have won four in a row when JV scores 20 or more.
- X-Factors. Matt Ryan scored a career high 20 points and made 6-of-8 threes in his first career start against the Pistons. Dyson Daniels made a clutch three pointer and put together another solid all around game. While the Pelicans get healthy they’ll need different players from the bench to step up every night. Who will it be tonight?
Probable Starting Lineups
| Atlanta Hawks (vs NOP last season) | New Orleans Pelicans (vs ATL last season) |
| G – Trae Young (25.0 pts, 13.0 ast, 23.5 3P%) | G – CJ McCollum (25.0 pts, 8.0 reb, 38.1 3P%) |
| G – Dejounte Murray (20.5 pts, 9.0 ast, 7.5 reb) | G – Jordan Hawkins (N/A) |
| F – Saadiq Bey (N/A) | F – Herbert Jones (15.0 pts, 9.0 reb, 3.0 stl) |
| F – DeAndre Hunter (9.0 pts, 5.0 reb, 18.2 3P%) | F – Zion Williamson (29.0 pts, 8.0 reb, 7.0 tov) |
| C – Clint Capela (17.0 pts, 13.5 reb) | C – Jonas Valanciunas (14.5 pts, 10.5 reb) |
Injuries
New Orleans Pelicans: Jose Alvarado (right ankle sprain), Naji Marshall (right knee contusion), Trey Murphy III (left knee partial meniscectomy) are OUT; Brandon Ingram (right knee tendonitis) is questionable.
Atlanta Hawks: Kobe Bufkin (thumb), Wesley Matthews (calf) are OUT
Who: Atlanta Hawks (3-2) vs New Orleans Pelicans (4-1)
Series history: Hawks lead all-time 22-21, 1-1 in 2022-23
Where: Smoothie King Center
When: November 4, 6:00 PM CT
Where to watch: Bally Sports New Orleans
Where to listen: WRNO 99.5
READ MORE
- After Big Comeback in OKC, Pelicans Come Back to The Blender to Host Pistons
- Pels Host Knicks Seeking First Home Opening Win Since 2020-21 Season
- Brandon Ingram: Can He Elevate From All-Star to All-NBA?
- Matt Ryan: Great Story of Perseverance Now Also Pelicans’ 3-point Back-up Plan
- A Lot On Herb: Jones Remains Keystone of Pelicans Defense
- Dyson Daniels Needed For More Than Defense In Year 2
- Making a Difference: How Larry Nance Jr. Elevates the Pelicans’ Second Unit
- New Orleans Pelicans Better Positioned to Handle Adversity
- Can Jordan Hawkins Be A Real Shooting Option Off the Bench in 2023-24?
- How James Borrego Could Boost Pelicans’ Offense
Just read the article in The Athletic about BI’s struggle with his mental health..OK that makes some sense
the experiment is over
test
Good first quarter. I like the active hands.
Getting cooked in the second quarter…
What a miserable 3rd quarter. Smdh
Kira Lewis and BI on the floor at the same time is prescription for disaster.
Dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble
Giving up 41 points in the third quarter, and it could have been 50..Hideous. We always struggle against athletic centers
Hawks made Val and Nance irrelevant, and their guards have torched our guards..
The difference in coaching ability between Quin Snyder and Willie Green cannot be more clear. But the bigger issue is that Val is useless in pick and roll defense, and players being in and out of the lineup is ruining ability of team to find consistency.
I totally agree with everything you say in this post Deacon.
38 offensive rebounds given up last 2 games. 38. Totally unacceptable. Nobody knows how to box out. Need the bandito Jose’s energy back soon. Nuggets going dominate Monday if we don’t clean up
The Pelicans need to shake-up their starters. I would trade BI (who can’t shoot from deep, doesn’t rebound, and only intermittently plays defense), move Trey into starting lineup when he is healthy, and look for another mobile big. When Val is in the game, we have to use him on the offensive end.
Sad to hear about CJ. Praying all goes well for him
Agree..a true gamer and leader and all-around good guy.
test # 2