76ers vs. Pelicans: Key Talking Points

Coming off a blowout victory over the LA Lakers, the Philadelphia 76ers hit the road to face off against the Pelicans. New Orleans enters Wednesday in ninth place in the Western Conference with a record of 9-9. They are also on the wrong end of a two-game losing streak.

As for the Sixers, the win over LA helps them get back on track following a two-game losing skid. They now find themselves tied for third place with the Orlando Magic for third place in the Eastern Conference.

Joel Embiid and company are 5-2 on the road this season, and they'll be looking to keep that momentum rolling. Here are some of the key talking points heading into Wednesday's matchup.

Is Marcus Morris finally breaking out?

Since coming over from the Clippers, Marcus Morris has been off to a slow start with his new team. However, some of his recent performances suggest he might be turning a new leaf.

On Monday night against the Lakers, Morris came off the bench and provided instant offense. He notched 16 points in 19 minutes, including going 4-for-5 from beyond the arc.

Fresh off a strong performance, Morris will be a player to watch in this matchup. If he is able to find a groove with the Sixers' second unit, it will only strengthen their case as being one of the deepest teams in the league.

Can the Sixers slow down Zion Williamson?

Looking at the Pelicans' roster, there is one key player the Sixers need to zero in on if they want to come away victorious. That being two-time All-Star Zion Williamson. Containing the Pelicans' star forward is going to be their biggest key to victory on Wednesday night.

So far this season, Williamson continues to play at a star level. Through 14 games, he is averaging 23.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, and 4.8 APG.

In the past, the Sixers are a team Williamson has had great success against. The sample size is small, but he's managed to dominate them on multiple occasions. Across the three games he has faced the Sixers, Williamson averaged 33.0 PPG and 8.7 RPG and shot 64.4% from the field.

Williamson likes to do almost all of his damage around the rim, making Joel Embiid the main person who will be tasked with slowing him down.

Can the Sixers stay hot from beyond the arc?

One of the biggest takeaways from the Sixers' blowout win against the Lakers was their efficiency from beyond the arc. Following such a strong shooting performance, if they'll be able to stay hot is a storyline worth following.

It goes without saying how important it is for the Sixers to prioritize the three-point shot. The more they're able to stretch the defense, the easier life gets for Embiid.

With the wide range of shooters on the roster now, the Sixers have the talent to be a strong three-point shooting team. It all comes down to how aggressive they'll be to take the open looks when the ball comes their way.