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Playoff Picture: New Orleans Pelicans

By Luke Duffy

Apr 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) stands on the court against the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter at the Smoothie King Center.The Pelicans won 108-103 to earn the eight seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) stands on the court against the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter at the Smoothie King Center.The Pelicans won 108-103 to earn the eight seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; The Pelicans mascot Pierre the Pelicans makes a angel in streamers following a win against the San Antonio Spurs in a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Spurs 108-103 to earn the 8th seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; The Pelicans mascot Pierre the Pelicans makes a angel in streamers following a win against the San Antonio Spurs in a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Spurs 108-103 to earn the 8th seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Verdict

Although this team will go home in round one, it’s great that they’ve even made it this far. For Davis in particular, who does it all for this team, it’s proof that his career and this team is headed in the right direction. For the short term, yeah they’ll probably lose 4-1 to the Warriors, but it’ll give the whole world of basketball a chance to see Davis and the monster that he is.

For the longer term, free agents will now consider New Orleans a destination if they’re serious about potentially winning big. Having the next great superstar of the league, and a team that made the playoffs in the brutal West thanks to some major heavy lifting from that star, will also cause them to think twice.

This is a team that is clearly on the rise. Missing the playoffs this year wouldn’t have been the end of the world. But making it back there gives this team and their fans a needed boost going forward.

It also buys Monty Williams some time in the hot seat as well you would have to think. Their postseason adventure may not last long, but they were there, and that’s more than half the teams in the league can say. Davis will put up huge numbers too.

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