RealGM

The New Orleans Pelicans won their first game of 16-17, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 112-106. The Pelicans began the season 0-8.

The Pelicans debuted a new starting lineup with Anthony Davis at center to go with Terrence Jones and Dante Cunningham at the forward spots. The Pelicans played small except for using Omer Asik whenever Greg Monroe entered the game.

Davis had 32 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots.

"It's about damn time," Davis said with a smile. "We fought all season and we finally came up with a win. We kept fighting. We always had confidence, we just couldn't get over the hump. We can play free now. I'm just glad we finally got one and now we can get this thing rolling."

“It feels good, really,” Alvin Gentry said. “We’ve been close, and I think we played some good basketball, but always kind of came up a little short. I thought tonight down the stretch, although we’ve got to get one of those five offensive rebounds, I thought when we had to come up with the biggest one we did. For us, a win is a win, and I’m not going to look at anything negative.”

Via Jeff Duncan/Times Picayune

"Small starting Lineup"

Davis C 6'11
Terrence Jones PF 6'10
Dante Cunningham SF 6'8
E'twan Moore SG 6'4
Tim Frazier PG 6'1

That' s called a normal lineup. PERIMETER ORIENTED? Maybe. UNCONVENTIONAL? Meh..kinda...but small?

Ettorefm wrote:"Small starting Lineup"

Davis C 6'11
Terrence Jones PF 6'10
Dante Cunningham SF 6'8
E'twan Moore SG 6'4
Tim Frazier PG 6'1

That' s called a normal lineup. PERIMETER ORIENTED? Maybe. UNCONVENTIONAL? Meh..kinda...but small?

Yes, that was not a small ball line-up at all especially since both Jones & Dante typically play PF. So technically they won with a bigger yet more athletic front court.

Well F*** all this small line up hype, the post should've been titled "Pelicans use AD as starting center for first time, win first game of season".

Playing AD at center will have negative long term ramifications given his injury history. They need to get put him next to a center who can run the floor.

"Small?" No. Smaller? Yes.