Tyreke Evans Will Likely Start At SF For The Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans head coach Monty Williams utilized Tyreke Evans as a sixth man for his team last year in an attempt to disperse his weapons on offense. According to Nakia Hogan of the Times-Picayune, Evans will be slated to start at the three for the Pelicans this season:
After three preseason games with less than stellar production from the three players – Darius Miller, Luke Babbitt and John Salmons – originally competing for the starting small forward spot, the Pelicans are closing in on moving Tyreke Evans, who practiced for the first time on Saturday after recovering from a strained hamstring suffered this offseason, into the starting lineup.
“Tyreke right now in my head, that’s where he is going to play (at small forward),” Williams said.
Evans won’t play in the Pelicans’ preseason game tonight as he recovers from a hamstring strain. He’s had difficulty remaining healthy, but was able to play 72 games for New Orleans last season.
The Pelicans can have a legitimately complete starting five with Evans at the three. With Jrue Holiday and Eric Gordon in the back court, Anthony Davis anchoring your front court with newly acquired Omer Asik, and Evans as the glue three, there’s certainly sleeper potential for this Pelicans team. Depth will be an issue with Evans in the starting line up, but sometimes it becomes as simple as starting your five best players.
