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The New Orleans Pelicans will be ultra shorthanded again — no Jrue Holiday, Derrick Favors, Brandon Ingram, JJ Redick, Kenrich Williams, Zion Williamson or Darius Miller.
So, you know what this means — the 17th different starting lineup!
From @ESPNStatsInfo:
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) January 13, 2020
The Pels have used 133 starting lineups under Gentry - most in the NBA in that span. That’s 13 more than the team behind them (Memphis).
Pels’ lineups by year:
19-20: 16 (T4th most)
18-19: 31 (2nd)
17-18: 16 (21st)
16-17: 28 (T4th)
15-16: 42 (1st) https://t.co/ZOGjvMejNH
The obvious takeaway here is that New Orleans has been snakebitten with injury in nearly every season Alvin Gentry has been at the helm. The one year the head coach enjoyed plenty of continuity, his squad destroyed the Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs and made it to the Western Conference semifinals.
For a bit of good news, sentiment is growing that Zion Williamson will make his first appearance of the season this coming Thursday against the Utah Jazz.
The Pelicans will know a lot more after practice this week, but it sure sounds like we’ll get the long-awaited NBA debut of Zion Williamson on Thursday vs. the Jazz. That’s the plan, anyway, per sources.
— Mitch Lawrence (@Mitch_Lawrence) January 13, 2020
The date makes sense. The Pelicans are scheduled to hold practice tomorrow and on Wednesday, giving the team another two days of seeing Zion go through 5-on-5 sessions.
In addition, Lonzo Ball was credited with a triple-double in the game against the Boston Celtics when an assist was removed from E’Twaun Moore’s stat line and given to Ball.
The #NBA has awarded an additional assist to Lonzo Ball from NOP’s loss at BOS 1/11, giving him 10 on the night, and his second triple-double of the season...Ball becomes the seventh player in franchise history with multiple triple-doubles in a New Orleans uniform.
— Pelicans PR (@PelicansPR) January 13, 2020
For more on tonight’s matchup, please give Preston’s preview a read.
Let’s geaux, Pels!
Where To Watch/Listen
What: New Orleans Pelicans (14-26) at Detroit Pistons (14-26)
Where: Little Caesars Arena - Detroit, MI
When: Monday, January 13th, 2019 6:00 PM CST
How: FSNO, FSDT