Here is what you need to know before the Lakers take on the New Orleans Pelicans.
1) The Lakers have altered their starting lineup by inserting Ronnie Price and Ed Davis. Head coach Byron Scott made the change primarily because he wants a better defensive effort from his starting five. Davis (111) and Price (114) are the team’s two leaders in defensive rating*.
2) This game features two of the NBA’s top scorers, as Kobe Bryant (25.8) and Anthony Davis (25.3) rank first and second in points per game this season. Bryant has been on a tear recently, averaging 23.5 points, 7.8 assists and 5.8 rebounds in his last four games. Meanwhile, Davis has been arguably more impressive in that same span, piling up 27.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.0 blocks per game.
3) Davis has evolved into one of the league’s best, as he places near the top in several statistical categories, including blocks (first, 2.9), player efficiency rating** (first, 33.5), points in the paint (first, 13.9), steals (second, 2.2) double-doubles (second, 12) and win shares*** (second, 4.1).
4) After a hot start to the season, Tyreke Evans has been frosty in his last 10 games. Though he is averaging 14.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists, Evans is shooting just 40.5 percent from the field, 57.1 percent at the free throw line and 15.4 percent from 3-point range.
5) Omer Asik remains a difficult challenge on the glass, as he ranks fifth in total rebounding percentage (20.7) and third in offensive rebounding percentage (15.0). He is pulling down 10.4 boards per game, which makes him and Davis the NBA’s leading rebounding teammates.
6) New Orleans is averaging the second-fewest passes per game (263.4), which begins with its point guard, Jrue Holiday, who often dictates the tone of the game. When Holiday dishes out nine or more assists, the Pelicans are 6-0. However, they are just 2-9 when he has seven assists or fewer.
7) New Orleans has five former top-three high school recruits on its roster. Davis was the No. 1 signee in 2011, while Austin Rivers was second that year. Holiday was also second overall out of North Hollywood’s Campbell Hall in 2008, while Evans was ranked third that season. The currently injured Eric Gordon (left shoulder subluxation) was No. 3 the year before.
8) Led by Davis and Asik, the Pelicans are averaging a league-high 47.8 paint points, which could cause problems for the Lakers, who are allowing the third-most points in the paint (47.2). However, it is not only the bigs that are scoring down low, as New Orleans is also averaging the third-most points on drives (33.8).
9) The Pelicans are grabbing the third-most rebounds (44.7) per game and earning them more than any other team. New Orleans is averaging a league-high 18.1 contested rebounds**** per game, and has pulled down the second-fewest uncontested rebounds (25.1).
10) The key to beating the Pelicans this year has been simple: outshoot them. New Orleans is undefeated in the eight games it has had a higher field goal percentage than its opponent — but it is also winless in the nine games it has been outshot. The Pelicans have also yet to win a game without scoring 100 points, falling in the seven games that they were held below the century mark.
*Defensive rating is an estimation of points allowed per 100 possessions while a player is on the floor.
**Player efficiency rating is a calculation of per-minute production with the league average set at 15.
***Win shares are the estimation of wins contributed by a given player.
****Contested rebounds are rebounds gathered with an opponent within 3.5 feet.