There aren’t many teams that finish a season 34-48 and are instantly expected to be a playoff team the next year, but the New Orleans Pelicans may very well be one of them. Injuries and inexperience were the story of the Pelicans season last year, and with added inside help and healthy players, the end of the tunnel is extremely bright for the fans of New Orleans. It will be tough to battle their way into the top-8 in what is once again an extremely tough Western Conference. If they’re to do it, the Pelicans must remain healthy and play to the potential their roster holds.

My Starting Five

Jrue Holiday (PG), Eric Gordon (SG), Tyreke Evans (SF), Anthony Davis (PF), Omer Asik (C)

The Good

Anthony Davis is coming home with a gold medal after playing great in this summer’s FIBA World Cup. Davis is quickly approaching top-3 player in the league status and is one of the most unique players in basketball. Jrue Holiday remains an All-Star point guard in this league and Eric Gordon seems like he’ll finally be able to play uninjured. The biggest addition to this team has to be Omer Asik, as Anthony Davis played out of position nearly all of last year. With perimeter shooting big man Ryan Anderson heading to the bench, the inside becomes much more powerful, seeing as Asik is a giant 7 footer. The bench might not be as strong as New Orleans wants it to be, but this starting five has the potential to be one of the best in the NBA.

The Bad

The bad is obviously the bench, as I previously stated. Ryan Anderson and Austin Rivers will be the top 2 bench players and that’s not saying much. A wildcard player resides on this team in the form of former college basketball star Jimmer Fredette. Jimmer can be a fantastic scoring punch off the bench or a nearly useless body just wandering around the court. One key injury can easily be the downfall of the entire New Orleans team. The inexperience will also hinder this team as most Western Conference powerhouses tend to have veterans and chemistry together.

Can the Pelicans shock the NBA and sneak into the playoffs? Yes, their starting five is strong enough to carry them!

No, there's not enough experience on this squad! View Results