Pelicans vs. Celtics preview: Tim Frazier needs to try to keep pace with Isaiah Thomas

If you’re a Pelicans fan, how lame was Saturday night? A 27-point #BEATEMDOWN at the hands of the baby Lakers — two nights after getting your first win of the season! Life comes at you fast. Oh and Anthony Davis hurt his back Saturday, which is great, everything’s fine, exactly the way they are going, why am I sad?

Now, the Pelicans need to make like the songbird of my generation Taylor Swift and shake it off because the Celtics are coming to town, and if you’re still acting all dazed Mr. Krabs like you can find yourself on the receiving end of another one of those butt kickings.

The Celtics haven’t gotten off to as hot a start as many would’ve expected the team pegged as the best threat to Cleveland in the East, but they’re staying the course despite injuries. Al Horford’s aiming to return Monday night after going through the league’s concussion protocol; Jae Crowder, however, won’t be available as he’s still dealing with a left ankle sprain. The Celtics could be down as many as two excellent players which is promising but do the Pelicans have a dominant big that can take over games?

...I got it! Omer Asik!

Wait... no that’s not right. Oh right, sorry I meant Anthony Davis. I get the two mixed up all the time. But seriously, if Horford is either out or slowed from his ankle sprain and this is on top of Boston not having Crowder, Davis should be primed to have a big night provided his back isn’t bothering him.

Just because Boston is out at least one of their two semi-stars, it doesn’t mean they’re going to struggle to score. The Celtics come into tonight’s game as the eighth leading team in points, 108, fifth in shooting, 46.5 percent, and, if you can believe it, fourth in three point shooting checking in at a shade over 37 percent. Boston may not have the Crowder-Horford front court twosome, but Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley are good to go and they’re the team’s two leading scorers. Thomas’ 25 points a game average puts him in the top-10 for the entire league.

Boston has eight players shooting at least 35 percent or better from three and Isaiah Thomas isn’t that far off at 33 percent. New Orleans had better be ready to either run those shooters off the line or match them shot for shot. Boston isn’t a great rebounding team, and not having Crowder and maybe Horford helps, so for New Orleans to keep Boston’s three point shooting in check they’ll have to grab as many of those misses as possible and prevent second looks at the basket.

New Orleans is 1-9 and owners of the worst record in the entire NBA. Whether or not you think their season is over is entirely up to you. Me, I say as long as there are games to be played, the season isn’t over, but the only way you can get yourself out of a 1-10 hole is by winning.

Might as well start tonight.