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If the New Orleans Pelicans fall to the San Antonio Spurs, you can’t blame Gayle Benson.
According to Alvin Gentry in a pregame media session earlier today, the Pelicans owner had plenty of fresh seafood flown in from New Orleans and Chef Loving prepared a dinner feast last night for all the players and personnel inside the Orlando bubble.
Mrs. Benson sent the squad some fresh Louisiana seafood to have a bit of New Orleans in the bubble! #WontBowDown pic.twitter.com/iknF9EQnUp
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) August 9, 2020
More importantly, New Orleans head coach also stated that the energy has to be there from tip-off. The defense needs to be up in San Antonio’s faces, eliminating a lot of air space but without leading to breakdowns. Otherwise, expect the well-coached Spurs to take advantage of any holes similar to this:
The Spurs are third in the NBA in three-point shooting since entering the bubble (41.7 percent).
— Preston Ellis (@PrestonEllis) August 9, 2020
Keldon Johnson (60%), Rudy Gay (45.8 %), Derrick White (45.2%), Patty Mills (42.9).
Failing to matchup like this will kill the Pelicans today. pic.twitter.com/u2x5AdvDQ8
After being given the matchup against the Wizards off due to the second night of a back-to-back, Zion Williamson returns to the starting lineup.
One has to believe the return of a fiery rookie, a fun dinner and potentially facing elimination, should provide more than enough impetus to come out of the locker room with plenty of fire.
For more on today’s matchup, please give our preview a read.
Geaux Pels!
Who: San Antonio Spurs vs New Orleans Pelicans
When: August 9, 2:00 PM Central
Where to watch: FSNO, ABC
Where to listen: ESPN 100.3 FM
For more Pelicans talk, subscribe to The Bird Calls podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. You can follow this author on Twitter at @OlehKosel.