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NBA: The Big Question Each Western Conference Playoff Team Must Answer

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 17, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) drives to the basket during the third quarter as Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) defends at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) drives to the basket during the third quarter as Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) defends at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 30, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans point guard Tyreke Evans (1) celebrates with teammate point guard Jrue Holiday (11) after hitting a shot to take the lead with 1.2 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the New Orleans Arena. The Pelicans defeated the Trail Blazers 110-108. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Western Conference No. 8: New Orleans Pelicans

Question: Are the Pellies better off without Jrue Holiday?

In the 37 games the Pelicans have played this year with a healthy Jrue Holiday, New Orleans is 18-19. In the other 28 games they’ve played, mostly with Tyreke Evans playing the point, the Pellies are 18-10. Coincidence?

Maybe, maybe not. The Pelicans were decimated by injuries last season, so the time Holiday spent on the court to start this season was largely spent trying to figure out how all the pieces fit together. But it’s also undeniable that the Pelicans have found their stride without Holiday’s help.

When New Orleans first brought in Holiday and then Evans, many wondered how they would fit together, especially on a team that already had the injury-prone Eric Gordon. Gordon’s been playing better recently and his contract would still be hard to move even as an expiring.

Evans has been New Orleans’ second best player this season, averaging 16.8 points, 6.5 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game to make up for some lackluster shooting percentages. Whether Anthony Davis has been in the lineup or not, the Pelicans have been on a tear lately, winning nine of their last 11 games to keep their season alive.

After this season, Holiday has two years and $21.7 million left on his contract. If I were in the Pelicans’ front office, my top offseason priority would be unloading a point guard who’s currently unused and has been injury-prone the last few seasons.

No offense to Holiday, but we need to stop referring to him as a “former All-Star point guard.” He had one good season with the Philadelphia 76ers, and though he’s not a bad player, the Pelicans seem poised to take the next step without him. With the Brow already terrorizing the league, why not flip him for assets to help address this team’s areas of need?

Next: San Antonio Spurs