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3 reasons the New Orleans Pelicans are trending upward

By Luke Duffy

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 17: CJ McCollum #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts against the Dallas Mavericks during a game at the Smoothie King Center on February 17, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 17: CJ McCollum #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts against the Dallas Mavericks during a game at the Smoothie King Center on February 17, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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3 reasons the New Orleans Pelicans are trending upward
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – MARCH 08: Jose Alvarado #15 of the New Orleans Pelicans and Willy Hernangomez #9 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on March 08, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) /

If you are a fan of the New Orleans Pelicans, and there are apparently a few of you out there, then at this stage you probably deserve a medal for your continued support. In recent years, you have watched the franchise draft Anthony Davis, mess around and do nothing, and then watched him win a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers.

This was followed up with drafting Zion Williamson, which should have been amazing. Except after only playing in 85 games since being drafted, he is looking more like the Greg Oden to Ja Morant’s Kevin Durant from that draft class. In short, times are tough, and New Orleans has never exactly been known as a basketball hotbed, either.

Whisper it quietly, though, but the Pelicans have snuck into the play-in tournament and right now look the favorites to nab that final spot.

Finishing 10th in the West is hardly a cause for celebration, but if it means the Pelicans have a meaningful game at the end of the season, and maybe two if they can beat the Minnesota Timberwolves or LA Clippers (sorry Lakers fans), then that is reason enough to believe they are trending in the right direction.

Actually making the playoffs over either of those two teams seems unlikely at this point, but if Williamson could come back for the play-in tournament, it would reignite the fan base. Then again, given that Zion isn’t even seemingly part of the marketing future in New Orleans, perhaps bigger changes are coming. Either way, here are three reasons the Pelicans are trending upwards.

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