Promotional electronic billboards around the Crescent City haven’t featured this sibling rivalry, but Larry Nance Jr. joked after Wednesday’s shootout that the interconference game between New Orleans and Cleveland was “less about Pels -Cavs, and more on Nance vs. Nance”. That’s all that worries me.
Larry’s younger brother, Pete, is a first-year forward/center on Cleveland’s roster, having been promoted from the G League in January. Pete has briefly played in three games for the Cavaliers since his call-up, raising the possibility that the 24-year-old could be on the field Wednesday along with his 31-year-old brother. Larry vowed during the preseason that despite the logistical challenges of the NBA schedule, he would do everything in his power to see Pete play in person at least once during Pete’s rookie season; it could happen Wednesday, but with a younger brother wearing the opposing team’s uniform.
“I didn’t even imagine this,” Larry said of this once-in-a-lifetime potential opportunity. “The fact that he’s here (in the NBA) right now, I’m so proud of him. It’s a one chance in several to achieve this.
Larry joked that he also wanted the chance to face Pete directly and test his defense: “If for some reason (Pete) can play tonight, I’ll get back in the game and go to iso all over the field (against him). “Get out of my way, I’m going to work.” » »
The Nances had dinner together Tuesday night, before Pete returned to the Cleveland team hotel. Back in Ohio, Pete lives in a house Larry owns. Larry has followed the Cavaliers closely all season – Larry is a former Cav, originally from Ohio, and the brothers’ father, Larry Sr., had his number 22 jersey retired by the franchise – giving him additional insight before the Wednesday’s game.
“It’s a little advantage,” Larry Jr. said of his ability to explore Cleveland in depth. “I know their play calls and stuff like that. It’ll be fun.”
Other notes after filming:
Larry Jr. on his deep interest in the Cavs, with his brother playing for them: “I want them to go 80-2, win every game except when they play us.” …
New Orleans’ bench ranks second in plus-minus this season, behind only Boston. Nance on the group’s philosophy and defensive approach: “It’s who we are, it’s what we do. When we check the game, all hell breaks loose. That’s what we try to do, just change the momentum, change the pace of the game, make stops, run, throw lobs. We’re just trying to have fun. For us, it’s being scrappy, it’s being concrete, it’s just outplaying the other team.
Nance on how the Pelicans’ cast and backups complement Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum: “We have some really good main characters. The rest of us are here to help them create their story. I think we do a really good job of protecting them defensively and also adding to what they do offensively. It’s a good balance.
Cleveland Scouting Report
Offensive Effectiveness Rank: 16 (115.2)
Defensive efficiency ranking:3 (111.0)
Net Ranking: 7 (+4.2)
The guy to consult: Shooting guard Donovan Mitchell earned his fifth straight All-Star Game appearance last month and his second straight with Cleveland, but he is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game. Averaging 28.0 points this season, which is just below a career high, Mitchell has missed the Cavaliers’ last seven games with a bruised left knee bone. In addition to Mitchell’s questionable status, key contributors Evan Mobley, Max Strus and Dean Wade are all listed as out for Wednesday.
Rising: Whether Mitchell plays Wednesday or not, fifth-year guard Darius Garland is an integral part of Cleveland’s offense, averaging 18.8 points and shooting 38 percent from three-point range. The Vanderbilt product has 30-plus points in two of Cleveland’s last three games, including 34 in an overtime win over Minnesota on Friday.
Starting lineups from previous match
CLEVELAND (41-24, 3RD EAST)
Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, Georges Niang, Jarrett Allen
Notes: The Cavaliers are a half-game behind second-place Milwaukee. If the season ended now, Cleveland would host No. 6 Indiana in the first game of a first-round playoff series, but the race in the East for the 4-8 seeds is so tight that the opponent potential can change daily. … If New Orleans wins on Wednesday, it would be the fourth time the Pelicans have swept a season series against the Cavs since 2018-19, a span of just six seasons.
NEW ORLEANS (39-25, 5TH WEST)
CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas
Notes: The Pelicans came within two games of the fourth-place LA Clippers (41-23). If the season ended now, these teams would face off in the 4-5 series of the first round of the playoffs. New Orleans is 1.5 games ahead of sixth-place Phoenix (38-27). … NOLA’s most common starting lineup is 23-13 this season. Willie Green used 15 different starting five combinations, compared to JB Bickerstaff’s 16 combinations.
KEEP STARTING QUICKLY
New Orleans would love to continue its recent talent of jumping on opponents right after the opening jump ball. The Pelicans outscored Toronto, Philadelphia and Atlanta by a combined 63 points in the first three halves of a perfect road trip against the East.
STRENGTH ON STRENGTH
Scoring is up across the NBA this season, but these are two defenses that are making it harder to generate offense. Cleveland ranks third in defensive efficiency, while New Orleans is sixth. Wednesday will be the first time the Pelicans face an opponent currently ranked higher than them on defense since Jan. 29 in Boston.
MATCH TO WATCH
While New Orleans’ bench outpaces the shooting prowess of Trey Murphy (24.0 points per game on the road) and several quality defenders, Cleveland’s group of reserves has been constantly changing of late due to DNP of important rotation members. This has propelled some rarely used Cavs into bigger roles.
