Playoff Picture: New Orleans Pelicans
By Luke Duffy
Why They’ll Win It All
It may have been lost in the Davis hype, but this team didn’t exactly struggle when he was out with a shoulder injury earlier in the campaign the way many thought they would.
That the team was also without Ryan Anderson and Jrue Holiday at the time as well when they put together that run (winning nine of 12 during a key stretch after the All-Star break), would have given their role players a lot of confidence.
Tyreke Evans has rediscovered some of the game that made him the Rookie of the Year with the Sacramento Kings in 2010. Gordon, when healthy, can still score in a variety of ways. Anderson stretches the floor really well for a power forward, in the same way a Channing Frye does (34 percent from three point range this year).
Norris Cole was a nice pick up from the Miami Heat midway through the season. He provides scoring pop off the bench (a career high 9.9 points) in a role that suits him well for this team. Alexis Ajinca was a nice find who provides solid contribution on both ends of the floor. Just as well, as the Pelicans’ bench is a bottom-10 unit in most statistical categories.
New Orleans ranks a surprisingly high ninth in the league in offensive efficiency, a fact that may have escaped some casual onlookers. They sit eighth in team assists per game (17.2 per game) too, proof that this team isn’t all about Davis. Obviously he’s the main threat here, but Holiday is a former All-Star and they’re capable of including others on offensive sets.
There’s much to like here, even if they don’t stack up to favorably against other Western Conference powerhouses.
Next: Glaring Holes Apparent In This Team