SAN ANTONIO – During live TV news updates from the floor of the AT&T Center tonight, a few San Antonio-based sports reporters asked the same question: Why have the Spurs had such trouble against the Pelicans over the past two seasons, with a 1-4 record?
From New Orleans’ perspective, the Pelicans are encouraged by their success against the Spurs but know they need to register an outstanding performance Wednesday to have a chance to end a 35-game home winning streak. New Orleans (18-29) nearly won twice on San Antonio’s home floor last season, prevailing in November and losing in overtime on New Year’s Eve. For the Pelicans to be competitive again tonight, one of the big keys is to play precise basketball on the offensive end. New Orleans has done well in limiting turnovers all season, entering Wednesday tied with San Antonio and Cleveland at just 13.0 per game, seventh-least in the league. The Pelicans committed only 10 in their 14-point home victory against the Spurs on Nov. 20.
“You can’t turn the ball over against these guys,” Alvin Gentry said of the Spurs, before referencing elite wing defender Kawhi Leonard. “They have the premier defensive player in the league at any position. You’ve got to be real aware of the surroundings. You can’t make lazy passes. You can’t just put a dribble out in front of you. Everything’s got to be very protective. They thrive off of turnovers, running and getting the crowd into it. So we have to do a good job of controlling that.”
Other notes from pregame of the divisional matchup:
Tyreke Evans (right knee tendinitis) will miss his fourth straight game for the Pelicans, while Tim Duncan is out again for the Spurs. …
A strength all season, New Orleans’ bench piled up 59 points vs. San Antonio on Nov. 20, outscoring the deep Spurs 59-26 in reserve points. Ryan Anderson turned in one of his best games of 2015-16, tallying 30 points, highlighted by 6/11 three-point shooting. Anderson has had several similar performances of late, mostly in the Smoothie King Center. …
Gentry on the importance of execution for New Orleans in its upset bid tonight against the NBA’s second-best team record-wise: “Executing your offense against these guys is paramount. You’ve got to set good screens, come to the ball. On the other end, you’ve got to play 24 seconds of really good defense, because the minute you relax is when they really hurt you. This team led the league in passes per game last season – they don’t hold the basketball. They move the basketball, get everyone involved and have guys that come off the bench who are very capable. A guy like Patty Mills, who is capable of getting 20 to 25 points.” …
Gentry on the Spurs’ excellence and somewhat-overlooked status due to the record-setting Warriors (44-4): “You can’t win 40 games before the All-Star break, with still more games left, without being a very good team. They would be the talk of the league if Golden State wasn’t doing what they’re doing right now.”