As the New Orleans Pelicans adjust to life without DeMarcus Cousins, what are three questions that will define their upcoming NBA season?
Coming off of a very successful 48-win campaign, the New Orleans Pelicans head into the 2018-19 NBA season with several new players that will play key roles for the team. Headlined by Julius Randle, New Orleans will look to replace the production from DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo, using its fast-paced tempo to run opponents out of the building on a nightly basis.
Anthony Davis truly blossomed into an MVP candidate last season, particularly after Cousins went down with a torn Achilles. The 25-year-old big man averaged 28.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.3 assists per game for the season, which actually pales in comparison to 35 points and 13 rebounds Davis averaged in February, right after Cousins went down.
A midseason trade for Nikola Mirotic (and convenient salary dump of Omer Asik) allowed Alvin Gentry to unleash Davis at center and surround him with shooters. Led by Rondo and Jrue Holiday on the perimeter and the duo of Mirotic and Davis in the frontcourt, the Pelicans blitzed opponents on a nightly basis, especially in their first round sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Now New Orleans enters the season with Randle and Elfrid Payton instead of Cousins and Rondo, as the team is banking on both young players thriving in the team’s fast pace. With the Western Conference improving for another season, what are the key questions that may end up defining the upcoming season for the Pelicans? Let’s take a closer look.