Game 51: Pelicans at Raptors

2013/2014 NBA Season
	at
23-27		26-24
February 10, 2014, 6:00 PM CDT
Toronto, CA
FSNO, TSN2
Projected Starters
Brian Roberts		Kyle Lowry
Eric Gordon		Terrence Ross
Al-Farouq Aminu		DeMar DeRozan
Anthony Davis		Amir Johnson
Alexis Ajinca		Jonas Valanciunas
Advanced Stats (2013/14)
92.3 (23)	Pace	92.1 (24)
106.9 (10)	ORtg	106.8 (12)
108.6 (26)	DRtg	104.3 (8)

GAME NOTES

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  - Check out the game preview HERE.

- Tyreke Evans missed last night's game due to an internal issue. Monty Williams is no stranger to removing a player from the rotation so this isn't a surprise. However, Evans does represent the most expensive and prominent player to date to enter the doghouse. Will it be a 1 game thing or ... ?

- For the past week, rumors have been swirling around that Austin Rivers may be the Pelican guard getting traded away. I have a hard time buying it. I believe that an agreement revolving around playing time might exist but he won't be dealt away before all potential suitors for either Gordon or Evans are exhausted first. Rivers is exactly the character-type Monty loves, he's shown improvement and he has started to take a leadership role this season. The increase in playing time of late is a mere coincidence. (Jrue Holiday injury, anyone?) And for a team that doesn't appear interested in tanking, why would the Pelicans be interested in a future 2nd round pick? Moving his salary wouldn't open that many doors. Plus, they've put in a lot of effort into Rivers' development and unless Holiday is close to returning, why would the team leave Brian Roberts as the only man standing at PG? About the only legitimate reason I can envision is the team AND Monty may be signaling they are willing to give Pierre Jackson a chance?
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  - Geaux Pels!