Pelicans vs. Magic Preview: Pelicans Adjust Lineup to Play Small, Magic Continue to Highlight Defensive Abilities

On October 8th, the NBA preseason continues with a matchup between the Pelicans and the Magic showcasing an East vs. West battle.

The Pelicans achieved a regular-season record of 49 wins and 33 losses last season, ranking 7th in the Western Conference. After a series of injuries, the Pelicans were swept 4-0 by the Thunder in the first round of the playoffs through the play-in tournament.

In the offseason, the Pelicans acquired Dejounte Murray via trade but lost two centers, Valanciunas and Nance Jr. The only remaining center, Theis, who stands at 2.03 meters, became the new interior center for the Pelicans. In the draft, the Pelicans selected center Meechy in the first round and guard Reeves in the second round.

After a summer of operations, the Pelicans’ perimeter strength has been further enhanced, but with the departure of Valanciunas and Nance Jr., their interior strength has noticeably declined.

The Magic had a regular-season record of 47 wins and 35 losses last season, ranking 5th in the Eastern Conference. In the first round of the playoffs, the Magic went to a Game 7 with the Cavaliers but ultimately fell short with a 3-4 loss.

In the offseason, Fultz and veteran Ingles left the team from the Magic’s main rotation, while veterans Pope and Joseph joined the team. In the draft, the Magic selected German forward Da Silva in the first round.

In summary, both teams have undergone changes compared to last season, but there hasn’t been a significant increase or decrease in overall strength. Pelicans head coach Green stated that after Valanciunas’ departure, the Pelicans will need to adapt to playing without a traditional center. Magic player Isaac has no more restrictions on his playing time this season, and Head Coach Mosley said that after gaining weight, Isaac’s defensive abilities have become even more prominent, capable of guarding from the one to the five positions.

In terms of injuries, Pelicans player Murphy will miss this game due to a hamstring strain.

The results of preseason games are not as important. For these two teams, the most crucial aspect is blending the lineup, testing new players, and evaluating rotation players.

>>”>More predictions for this game can be found here>>>