The New Orleans Pelicans open the Zion Williamson era on 10/20/19 with a trip to the Scotiabank Arena and a showdown with the defending champions Toronto Raptors. You can check the betting odds for this and any other NBA match in our top NBA betting sites.
The New Orleans Pelicans lost star center Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers in a trade but they got Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball and a first round pick in return. They also signed J.J. Redick and Derrick Favors in free agency but their biggest find was Zion Williamson, the #1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft.
Williamson is the most hyped draft pick since LeBron James and in the preseason, the former Duke Blue Devil has been balling. Williamson was officially listed at 6-6 by the NBA’s new measurement system but despite that, he has shown the ability to play above the rim in preseason. Whether that translates to success during the regular season, it remains to be seen.
New Orleans also lost Julius Randle to free agency and with AD gone as well, their frontline is thin. Derrick Favors should team up with Williamson up front but that combination lacks ceiling. J.J. Redick gives them the outside threat that is going to open up the middle for Zion to operate while the three former Lakers players will be terrific pieces for the future. With Jrue Holiday providing leadership, this Pelicans team looks good on paper.
The Toronto Raptors won the Kawhi Leonard sweepstakes last season and traded for the disgruntled Spurs star. But the Klaw turned out to be a one year lease as he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers last summer. Despite losing Leonard, the Raptors will open the season as NBA champions. However, they will be hard-pressed to defend the title without the 2019 Finals MVP.
Toronto will return guard Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, Fred VanVleet and 2019 Most Improved Player Pascal Siakam to lead the way. The Raptors will also get OG Anunoby back from injury and the team signed Derrick Favors from the Utah Jazz and former Pistons lottery pick Stanley Johnson. Overall, Toronto has plenty of talent. But whether that will be enough to win the title is another story.
The torch of leadership has been passed to Siakam. The Cameroonian forward had his breakout year last season. Siakam averaged 16.9 points and 6.9 rebounds and was the most consistent player other than Leonard. Gasol is coming off a win at the 2019 FIBS World Championship. VanVleet and Lowry would make an interesting backcourt pair although Norman Powell will likely start opposite Lowry.
New Orleans is 3-13 SU in their last 16 games played. The Pelicans are 0-6 SU in their last six games against the Eastern Conference and 0-7 SU in their last seven games played against the Atlantic Division. Toronto is 8-2 SU in their last 10 games played. The Raptors are 12-4 SU in their last 16 games played at home and 15-5 SU in their last 20 games against the Western Conference. Head to head, the Raptors are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games played against the Pelicans. Toronto is also 3-1 SU in their last four home games against New Orleans.
Zion Williamson has looked good and the Pelicans are 4-0 in the preseason. New Orleans may have lost Anthony Davis but not only did they get three good young players from the Los Angeles Lakers, they were also lucky to get the #1 pick of the draft. That pick became Zion Williamson and there is plenty of hype surrounding him. No question, Zion is a physical specimen and an ultra athletic player. However, I think he will take some time to adjust and it will take some games before this group becomes a team.
The Toronto Raptors lost Kawhi Leonard to the Clippers. But they still have Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam. Siakam was the NBA’s Most Improved Player awardee last season and at 25, I expect him to even get better this year. Toronto not only has enough talent but they have more than enough experience to win games. I’m picking the Toronto Raptors to beat the New Orleans Pelicans on 10/20/19.
PREDICTION: TORONTO RAPTORS
The Pelicans are 4-12 ATS in their last 16 games played. New Orleans is 0-6 ATS in their last six games against teams from the Eastern Conference. The Raptors are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games played and Toronto is 5-0 ATS in their last five Tuesday games played. Head to head, the Raptors are 5-3 ATS in their last 8 meetings. Toronto is also 4-1 ATS in their last five home games against New Orleans.
The Raptors have outscored the Pelicans by an average of 6.7 points per game in their last 10 games played and 5.33 points per game in their last three meetings. I think the Raptors have more than enough on their side to win this game and cover the spread. New Orleans has plenty of new pieces but the Raptors have the chemistry to win this one.
PREDICTION: TORONTO RAPTORS -5.5
The total has gone over in five out of the last seven games played by the Pelicans. The total has gone over in four out of the last five games played by New Orleans and the over is also 5-2 in their last seven October games played. The total has gone over in nine out of the last 11 games of Toronto against the Southwest Division and the over is 7-1 in the Raptors’ last eight games played in October. Head to head, the over is 7-3 in their last 10 meetings.
These teams have combined to score 211.5 points per game in their last 10 meetings and 236 points per game in their last three games played. The Raptors averaged 114.4 points per game last season. Although they lost Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, they have added the likes of Stanley Johnson and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to help fill the statistical void. OG Anunoby will also be returning so scoring won’t be an issue. The Pelicans are scoring over 120 points per game so far and although it’s just the preseason, it’s an indication of what they are capable of. The opening line here was set at 227.5 points and I’m expecting these teams to score a combined 230 points. Any total under 230 would be ok with me.
PREDICTION: UNDER 232.5
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