Report: Pelicans will open season at Golden State Oct. 27

Every year the NBA makes a tentative schedule and gives it to teams. It’s tentative because they also give it to the television networks that broadcast the NBA and let them make some suggestions, so things can change. But this is usually pretty much it, which is why we get leaks about what teams are playing on Christmas and the like.

Another leak: The New Orleans Pelicans will open the season at the Golden State Warriors, reports the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

But if the game occurs it will be a rematch of last season’s first-round playoff matchup in which the Warriors swept the Pelicans in four games. The game also will feature Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry making his coaching debut against his former team.

The Pelicans are also rumored to be playing the Heat on Christmas Day. That would be two marquee games we know about for New Orleans, a team that was almost nonexistent on national television a year ago.

The NBA is all about marketing its stars, and Anthony Davis is a fast rising one, just like the Pelicans are a fast rising team. It shouldn’t be a shock the NBA is starting to feature them in big-time games, like against the champs on the night they raise the banner at Oracle. Casual fans will tune in to see Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, only to come away realizing Davis is the next big thing in the NBA.