BOSTON – Most NBA teams do not have 20 players on their roster over the course of a regular season. With James Ennis being given the starting nod at shooting guard Wednesday against Boston, the New Orleans Pelicans will start their 20th different player. The five-man first unit tonight – which also includes Toney Douglas, Dante Cunningham, Alexis Ajinca and Omer Asik – will be the 40th different alignment in 78 games for New Orleans (29-48 entering Wednesday).
“We’re not trying to use different lineups,” Alvin Gentry pointed out during pregame at TD Banknorth Garden. “We’re forced to play different lineups.