After third-year small forward Darius Miller started at the “3” spot during New Orleans’ three-game road trip that opened preseason, Pelicans Coach Monty Williams indicated that 13th-year veteran John Salmons will draw that assignment tonight vs. Houston. Salmons came off the bench in the previous three games for New Orleans (1-2 in preseason).
“We’re going to look at John tonight, (then) maybe Luke (Babbitt) in that backup role,” Williams said.
Miller, Salmons and Babbitt each played minutes at small forward in every game of the road trip, but Salmons played the fewest total minutes (37). Miller had 32- and 27-minutes outings as the starter. Tyreke Evans is also an option at small forward, but he’s sidelined for now with a strained right hamstring. He said earlier this week that he hopes to play at least two preseason games, possibly beginning with Thursday’s home game vs. Oklahoma City.
“They’ve all had a great shot,” Williams said of Miller, Salmons and Babbitt, “but John hasn’t had a chance to play with the starters. We want to see how that goes, before Tyreke (Evans) gets himself ready to play.”
Later asked specifically if the decision has been made to start Evans at small forward, Williams said no, adding, “I’m thinking about it.”
Other notes from pregame at the Smoothie King Center:
- Williams said the Pelicans expect to schedule some practices in the Smoothie King Center prior to the regular season, to better acclimate themselves to the building. The 17,000-seat facility was renovated in the offseason and includes a new, unique hardwood floor.
- One goal for the remainder of preseason is to get the team’s regulars prepared for the conditioning of the regular season, when the schedule gets much more hectic and in more of a pattern. “Get the minutes up, and also playing even better on the defensive end than we’ve played,” Williams said of some of his goals the rest of the exhibition schedule.