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New Orleans Pelicans: 5 Reasons To Stay Optimistic

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 18, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) talks to guard Ish Smith (4) during a timeout from action against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) talks to guard Ish Smith (4) during a timeout from action against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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5. The Lay Of The West

Starting off a season with a 2-11 record isn’t a great way to position yourself for the playoffs in the Western Conference, but it’s worth mentioning that so far, the West hasn’t been as brutally competitive as it has for the past few years. A quick look at the standings reveals that the Pellies’ staunchest competitors for one of those last few playoff spots haven’t exactly blown anyone away.

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Pelicans getting the fans involved with their upcoming festival
Pelicans getting the fans involved with their upcoming festival /

Pelican Debrief

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  • How many games can the Pelicans afford Williamson and Ingram to miss? Pelican Debrief
  • Jonas Valanciunas shocks his New Orleans Pelicans teammate Pelican Debrief

    • The Dallas Mavericks starting off the year with a surprising 9-4 record obviously hurts, since few outside of Big D had them competing for a playoff spot. It’s also a little concerning that the Memphis Grizzlies (7-7) have started to find their rhythm after a 3-6 start, winning four of their last five games.

    But the Houston Rockets (5-9) have seen a major backslide and their head coach is gone, the Los Angeles Clippers (6-6) sit at .500 after losing six of their last 10 games and the Utah Jazz (6-6) are still waiting for Gordon Hayward to wake up.

    The Phoenix Suns (7-5) are better than people think, but they’re prone to lapses in consistency, and though a healthy Oklahoma City Thunder team (7-6) is a legitimate title contender, they’re just a borderline playoff team when Kevin Durant can’t stay healthy.

    Are the Grizzlies due for regression? Are the Clippers and Rockets not as good as we thought they were? Are the Thunder in trouble if Durant’s injury problems persist? Are the Jazz, Suns and Mavs capable of continuing their strong starts and challenging for a playoff spot?

    It’s too soon to answer these questions, but you have to think a few of them would lean in favor of the Pelicans if NOLA could just stay healthy and start stringing together some wins. It’ll take an unbelievable turnaround to get New Orleans back in the playoff picture with so much ground to make up, but it’s not impossible either.

    Next: No. 4

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