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New Orleans Pelicans: 2017-18 NBA season preview

By Simon Cherin-Gordon

NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 02: Chicago Bulls guard Rajon Rondo (9) has a shot blocked by New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the against the Chicago Bulls on April 2, 2017, at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA. Bull won 117-110. (Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 02: Chicago Bulls guard Rajon Rondo (9) has a shot blocked by New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the against the Chicago Bulls on April 2, 2017, at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA. Bull won 117-110. (Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images /

Best-case scenario

The Pels tied for the league’s No. 8 defense last season. With the addition of Allen, continued growth from Davis and an engaged effort from Cousins, that number could jump into the top five.

If that happens, the offense only needs to be average. That is not inconceivable for a team that can have an elite offensive big and a capable lead ball handler on the floor at all times, especially if Gentry finds a way to maximize minutes for his shooters (Clark, Moore and Miller) without compromising his top-five defense.

They should also be a far-better rebounding team than they were last year, when they finished an abysmal (and inexplicable) 29th in rebound rate.

None of these improvements are far-fetched. If they all occur, this team could win 50 games and finish fifth in the West, beating out upstarts like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets.

Worst-case scenario

Even with Allen, the defense might get worse. Solomon Hill is probably lost for the season, and the Rondo-Holiday backcourt is undersized. Cousins at the 5 will simply mean less minutes for Davis at the 5, while switching the two and having Cousins defend in space is even more troublesome.

This offense finished tied for No. 25 in the league last year, and improvement is not guaranteed. The floor will be gummed up even worse than before, with below-average shooters at three or four positions at all times.

Injuries affect every team’s worst-case scenario, but few teams are as likely to be afflicted as New Orleans. There’s the maligned training staff, as well as the checkered medical histories of Davis, Cousins, Holiday, Rondo and Allen. Moreover, any injury could tank this team; it has below-average-to-dreadful depth at every position other than point guard.

With no growth on either end and their typical bumps and bruises, the Pels could finish as low as 13th in the West, winning only 32 games.

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