Pelicans Bringing 'Sense of Urgency' vs. Magic: 5 Questions Ahead of Matchup

ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic begins a three-game road trip tonight against the New Orleans Pelicans.

To learn more about the Pelicans, we spoke with Pelicans Scoop contributor Terry Kimble.

1. The Pelicans have struggled as of late, losing the first two games after the All-Star Break. What's the reason behind the struggles and what needs to be done to turn around the ship in a crowded Western Conference?

It starts and ends with defense on this team. Coach Willie Green constantly preaches attention to detail on that side of the floor and unfortunately since the calendar flipped to January, the effort on that side has been lacking. Since January 1st, the Pelicans defensive rating in 19th in NBA (116.1). They have a 7-18 record since then. Before January, they ranked 5th in the NBA in defensive rating (110.0) and had a 23-13 record. With Zion Williamson out of the lineup, this team must focus defensively first in order to help out their offense.

2. Which player from the Pelicans has surprised you the most this season?

I would have to say Jose Alvarado. He’s truly everyone’s People Champ down here. Here’s a guy who went undrafted out of Georgia Tech, was sent down to the G-League during the middle of the season, and no one knew quite what his contribution to the team would be. Then he gets called up because of injury and next thing you know he’s going toe-to-toe with Chris Paul in the playoffs. He enlisted the help of Spurs great Tony Parker in the offseason and you can tell that’s paid major dividends for him. The confidence to shoot and run the offense is present on a nightly basis. He had a career-high 38 points versus the Nuggets earlier this year, a franchise record for an undrafted player. He won the Rising Stars MVP during All-Star weekend, and signed a shoe deal recently. His play and his star continues to rise day by day it seems.

3. What's one thing people should know about the Pelicans that cannot be found in a box score?

You wouldn’t know looking at their overall record, but this is a really good home team. The only teams in the West that have a better home record are the Nuggets, Grizzlies, Suns, and Warriors. The old adage of how young teams play better at home probably applies to the Pelicans with their influx of young talent, but honestly the Pelicans are a completely different team on the road versus at home.

4. If the Pelicans win tonight, what would be the reason?

The Pelicans will have to shoot the 3-pointer better. In 3 of their last 4 games they've shot 30% or below from beyond the arc. In the game in Orlando last month, New Orleans shot just 28% from 3 while the Magic shot 50%. With 26 points a game in Zion Williamson sitting on the bench, the shooters need to open the floor up for Brandon Ingram to operate in the midrange. If teams don't respect your shooting ability, then things become even harder for Ingram to score in the spots he likes.

5. What's your prediction for tonight's game?

The Pelicans must have a sense of urgency in this game. With the West playoff race as tight as it is, the Pelicans can ill afford to go on another losing streak. They are playing at home for the first time in 17 days and then they quickly head back on the road. This should be a game Ingram and McCollum look to dominate early to set the tone. It won't be easy as the Magic are a long and disruptive team because of their length. I think the home arena plays a factor and I think the Pelicans eek out a close one.

You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.

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