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New Orleans Pelicans: The Return Of Their Swiss Army Knife

By Colby Giacubeno

Oct 9, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Kent Bazemore (24) defends New Orleans Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans (1) during the third quarter at Veterans Memorial Arena. The Atlanta Hawks won 103-93. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Kent Bazemore (24) defends New Orleans Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans (1) during the third quarter at Veterans Memorial Arena. The Atlanta Hawks won 103-93. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New Orleans Pelicans have struggled thus far, but the return of Tyreke Evans should help them get back on track.

It is safe to say that the New Orleans Pelicans have be one of the most disappointing teams in the 2015-16 NBA season as they sit in 14th place in the Western Conference with a 4-14 record.

To their defense, between a new head coach in Alvin Gentry and being plagued by injuries to Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans, and Omer Asik, a slow start can almost be expected. But in the daunting Western Conference, there isn’t much time to let pass by.

Holiday continues to be limited in minutes after undergoing offseason knee surgery, but fortunately the acquisition of Ish Smith is paying off immensely as he is having one of the best seasons of his career.

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Asik has been battling a number of different injuries that has kept his time on the floor limited, but even when he has played 16-20 minute range, he hasn’t been effective as he was in the past.

There is good news though. Evans made his return Tuesday night, his first since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery and though the Pelicans couldn’t pull out the win in Memphis, it was good seeing their swiss army knife back in action.

Evans made his impact felt immediately and finished the game with 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 10 assists, and five rebounds.

With Evans back in the lineup, it gives Anthony Davis someone who can post consistent numbers instead of hoping from a career game from Smith or Ryan Anderson just to be competitive. Evans’ versatility is the biggest plus to this specific team because he can now relieve Smith and Holiday with point guard duties when needed.

His playmaking ability was desperately missed throughout the team’s first 17 games.

In terms of competing for a future playoff seed, the return of Evans doesn’t mean that is guaranteed especially in the West. There are many relying factors that include Holiday and Asik returning to the form in which they played last season on top of perfecting how Gentry wants the team to operate.

It will be an extremely difficult task to get back and stay in the playoff picture, but Evans boosts those hopes tremendously.

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Luckily for the Pelicans, the West isn’t looking as dominant as last season. The teams that are currently fourth through sixth are just two games above .500 while the Suns hold the eighth spot at just 8-10. You can’t count the Pelicans out just yet, but they have very little time to waste if they want to return back to the playoffs this season.

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