New Orleans (27-22) has played at the NBA’s sixth-fastest pace this season (101.57 possessions per 48 minutes, via NBA.com), but over the final 30-plus games, the Pelicans’ tempo may increase even further. With DeMarcus Cousins sidelined for the remainder of 2017-18, Dante Cunningham moved into the starting lineup Sunday at power forward vs. the Clippers, while Anthony Davis slid over to center. Cousins’ absence also means a likely domino effect for the bench, with players such as Darius Miller potentially seeing more minutes at power forward, instead of a wing position.
“I’d say we will try to run more, especially if we have small lineups on the floor like we did against the Clippers,” New Orleans reserve guard Ian Clark said after Tuesday’s shootaround, when asked if the Pelicans might try to slow down sans Cousins.