Although Eric Gordon had started the first 12 games at shooting guard for the New Orleans Pelicans this season, his indefinite absence from the lineup actually will most greatly impact the team’s small forwards. As a result of Gordon (left shoulder subluxation) being unavailable to play, Tyreke Evans is shifting to Gordon’s vacated spot in the lineup, creating an opening at small forward.
None of the Pelicans’ other options at small forward have logged major minutes so far in 2014-15, but one of them likely will see a substantial jump in role. Darius Miller, who is expected to start Tuesday vs. Sacramento, has played only 29 minutes, though he was away from the team for a stretch due to the birth of a daughter. Veteran wing John Salmons has totaled 46 minutes, while Luke Babbitt has been on the floor for 108, but a sliver of those have been at power forward.
“Darius is obviously a guy who is prepared (to contribute),” Pelicans Coach Monty Williams said prior to Tuesday’s tip-off. “Our (player development) program is important to us because you never know when you’re going to get your name called. Darius, Luke, Tyreke, all those guys have played the 3 position for us. I think Darius would have to be a guy ready to play minutes… It’s on me to make the right decision to put guys in the game. The difference is putting someone in that small forward position who can be consistent. That’s something we have to work out.”
Other notes from pregame:
- An hour-plus before tip-off, it was announced that New Orleans center Omer Asik is expected to play. He was listed as questionable this morning. Williams: “He feels better.”
- Sacramento forward Rudy Gay is out due to right Achilles tendinitis.
- Williams on Gordon, who was 16-for-32 shooting in the past three games, after a rocky start to this season: “Eric is a guy who can shoot the ball. He was starting to get his rhythm back. Without Eric, it takes away some of our shooting. He’s a big-time player, so you have to make adjustments.”