The Pelicans must give Nate Robinson and Kendrick Perkins big minutes in their season opener. Uh oh.

The New Orleans Pelicans entered training camp with high expectations thanks to a playoff appearance last season and the expected improvement of otherworldly big man Anthony Davis. But while Davis looks ready to go scorched earth on the NBA this season, the Pelicans' expectations have been tempered thanks to a rash of preseason injuries that has veteran journeymen like Nate Robinson and Kendrick Perkins set to see significant playing time in the season opener against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night.

The biggest blow came last week when Tyreke Evans had to go under the knife for arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. With starter Jrue Holiday on a minutes restriction due to his own health problems and backup Norris Cole out indefinitely with a high ankle sprain, Evans was set to soak up the majority of the minutes at point guard. But now with Evans out nearly two months and Holiday on that minutes restriction, it'll be up to Robinson and the recently claimed Ish Smith to pick up the slack. Yikes.

Small forward Quincy Pondexter is also working his way back from knee surgery, and there remains no timetable on his return. Pondexter became an important part of the Pelicans' starting lineup last season after coming over from the Memphis Grizzlies, thanks to his ability to knock down threes and defend at a high rate. Another three-point sniper, Luke Babbitt, is also dealing with an injury (strained hamstring), although he's hoping to play against Golden State. Dante Cunningham and Alonzo Gee will be the beneficiaries of these injuries.

At the center position, Omer Asik (calf) and Alexis Ajinca (hamstring) promptly went down with muscle strains early in the preseason. Asik is expected back soon and Ajinca could play against the Warriors, but this still opens the door for Perkins to get minutes in games that matter after he started and played over 16 minutes a game in the preseason.

Robinson is no stranger to filling in for high-profile players in the past. His performance with the Chicago Bulls throughout the 2012-13 season when Derrick Rose was hurt was nothing short of admirable. The diminutive point guard even won two playoff games for Chicago!

However, that Nate Robinson has been nowhere to be found since he tore his ACL with the Denver Nuggets in 2013-14. He made under 35 percent of his overall shots and under 28 percent from three last year between the Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers. Nobody signed him this offseason until the Pelicans got desperate with these injuries, and now he's going to have to play a key role until the injured point guards return. Perhaps the 31-year-old Robinson can recapture that magic from a few years ago, but that's a long shot given how he's looked of late.

As exciting as Davis and the Pelicans may be this year, the early season is going to be a real chore thanks to all these injuries. Ten of their 17 games in October and November are on the road, and three of the home games come against the Warriors, Atlanta Hawks and San Antonio Spurs.

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