Pelica Debrief
Fansided

New Orleans Pelicans: The story of one man’s Pelicans fandom

By Andrew Huff

Oct 26, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) is fouled by New Orleans Pelicans center Alexis Ajinca (42) in the first quarter at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) is fouled by New Orleans Pelicans center Alexis Ajinca (42) in the first quarter at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /
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Being a New Orleans Pelicans fan, like being a fan of any team, is irrational. But when you have the choice, always choose the team with the transcendent big man.

Disclaimer: Being a fan is weird. Being a New Orleans Pelicans fan, for me, is weird. The reason you’re a fan? It’s weird too.

When I was younger, I received a kid’s sized Hornets locker as a hand me down. I found it in my room and proudly declared Charlotte to be my favorite NBA team (did I mention I am from Iowa?). Later on, I was forced to make an unusual decision. Will I follow a team now called the Pelicans? Or will I return to the teal and purple Hornets I admired as a kid?

I chose the team that had Anthony Davis. 

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Advice: In a situation where you can choose the team with Anthony Davis, or choose the team without Anthony Davis, the choice to follow the team with Anthony Davis is right a staggering (if my math is correct) 99% of the time.

Being a fan is weird. Look, if I followed that same process for every other decision in my life I’d still be blasting the original NOW I found in the boom box my cousin gave me and I would have chose to love my aunt’s new boyfriend she left her husband for more than my uncle (all because he has a freakish wingspan and a handsome brow.) *

* Just so we all are clear – in this fictitious scenario my aunt is New Orleans – where most of my memories of the team were made. The husband is the Hornets – a man I made fond memories with. The new boyfriend is the Pelicans/Anthony Davis; a man who wrapped his freakishly long arms a full two times around my body in a desperate (but successful) attempt to win me over while I was still grappling with the fact my family had just suffered irreparable damage.

Related Story: Anthony Davis is redefining the modern stretch five position

My point is this. Fans are irrational. It’s what being a fan is. From the minute you pick your favorite team, to the minute you valiantly fight to announce them as the season’s sleeper, to the minute you boldly predict your latest draft pick is the second coming of (Insert former Hornet and NBA legend here). – I prefer to insert former Hornet, and NBA champion, J.R. Smith in there.

Later on today we will embark on another 82-game season. The season will have its own unique ups and downs. After last season’s lofty goals, ceilings are much more realistic this time around.

Regardless, I’m still optimistic. Incremental progress is reason enough. But, with every good stretch of games this season, there will be a few times where I’ll question the jump I made to a dysfunctional organization with a terrifying mascot.

Being a fan is weird. First it was a kid’s locker, then it was a transcendent big-man. One I will probably always have zero connections to.

So off we go, hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. Ready for moods to fluctuate based on the Pelicans’ nightly performance, all because of a team we fell in love with after (Place your weird reason here).

All of this is important to keep in the back of our mind while we watch a head coach evolve [hopefully], and carve out an identity for a young team, looking to provide a solid foundation for growth. There will be growing pains, but it still has my aunt’s new boyfriend, and I heard he fixed his bum shoulder and will be ready game one.

Also: here are a few of my LOCKS to keep your expectations grounded:

  • Pelicans win 58 games.
  • Anthony Davis has over 150 dunks.
    • At least one is putting your least favorite player on a poster.
    • 22 are a direct result of an Eric Gordon or Ryan Anderson defensive lapse.
  • Buddy Hield wins Rookie of the Year.
  • Darren Erman makes a deal with the devil (with grainy Snapchat video as proof) and the Pelicans reach the top 10 in Defensive Efficiency.

Must Read: Pelicans Season Preview roundtable

Not grounding? I don’t care. Being a fan is weird. It’s hard to explain.

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