Pelicans have a painfully clear game plan for Monday night’s showdown with the Celtics

I understand that the New Orleans Pelicans are only two games into their season, so I hate to say that tonight’s game against the Boston Celtics feels like a must-win, but to me it does. If the Pelicans lose tonight, they’ll drop to 0-3, and in the Western Conference, that could be a start that’s nearly impossible to come back from.

After two heartbreaking losses, including blown leads against the Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans should play with great urgency tonight. But that also applies to the Celtics, as they have started 0-3 for the first time since the 2013-14 season. This makes you wonder what the Pelicans can do to separate themselves and win this game. Dominate the rebound battle.

After having Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis in the five last season, the Celtics now have a rotation of Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman. That’s no shade on Boston’s new big tandem, but it is a clear drop in talent, and it shows this season as the Celtics have been a rebounding team in the bottom four. All three of their losses this season have come from not being able to close out defensive possessions as they continually give up offensive rebounds.

So if the Pelicans want to win tonight, they have to crash that glass and fight hard for every rebound.

Zion Williamson is in a great position to feast tonight

As I mentioned earlier, the Celtics’ front court is weaker than at any time in the last ten seasons, which opens the door for Zion Williamson to dominate tonight. To start the year, the Pelicans faced two elite rim protectors: the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama and Jaren Jackson Jr. with the Grizzlies.

Despite these matchups, they lead the league in percentage of points scored in the paint, with more than 50 percent of their baskets coming from there. A big reason for this is that Williamson has averaged 27 points per game through the team’s first two games and downhill is a problem.

However, Williamsons can’t be the only ones trying to take advantage of Boston’s weak rim protection. Head coach Willie Green needs to get Trey Murphy, Jordan Poole and Herb Jones to buy in and do the same tonight. This team cannot afford to settle for jumpers tonight; they need to get to the rim and finish if they want to have any chance of beating this Celtics group.

Even though I’ve made it clear that Boston lacks talent on the front court that the Pelicans can exploit, this is still an extremely experienced, strong team. They still have Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, new signings like Anfernee Simons and Josh Minott, and smart vets like Chris Boucher. You mix this core group of guys with head coach Joe Mazzulla, and you’re looking at a group that goes out every night and competes against each other.

So it’s going to be difficult tonight. But if the Pelicans want to get their first win of the season, rebounding and scoring in the paint will be key.