2.) Limit 3-point attempts
In addition to being one of the fastest paced teams in the league, the Pelicans are also top-10 in three point attempts, averaging around 35 attempts per game. They has a number of threats from outside, most notably J.J. Redick, who leads the team in both attempts at 7.2 per game and percentage, a scorching 47%.
Surprisingly, Brandon Ingram is the their second best shooter, averaging 45.9% on 5.7 attempts per game. Guard E’twaun Moore and forward Nicolò Melli are also above the 40% mark as well, so to make a long story short, they have plenty of shooting.
If the Pelicans want to win this game, it’s going to be on the back of a good shooting night, as their big man situation is, shall we say, not ideal at the moment. Injuries to Jahlil Okafor and Derrick Favors have left their big man rotation pretty much non-existent so the Pelicans are going to be leaning on their perimeter players.
The Lakers don’t have enough perimeter defense to keep all of thees guys in check, so players like LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma, and Rajon Rondo are going to have to give extra effort on top of Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope who are already looking like they’re gonna have a full workload defensively.