Pelica Debrief
Fansided

3 Takeaways From Released New Orleans Pelicans Schedule Dates

By Christopher Dodson

Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images
Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images /
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New Orleans Pelicans
NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 8: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors shoots the ball during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on March 9, 2019, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, the user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) /

Both the New Orleans Pelicans and the Toronto Raptors lost their cornerstone stars this summer. Zion Williamson will get his first taste of NBA regular-season action against the defending champions.

The Toronto Raptors made a bold trade to acquire Kawhi Leonard, who had demanded a trade away from San Antonio. Kawhi has since signed with the Clippers, finally achieving his goal of going home. Toronto has a championship trophy as the greatest memory of Leonard’s lone season in Canada.

The New Orleans Pelicans have to hope the trade package received for Anthony Davis can lead the team to a championship. If not, David Griffin has to raise their trade value so they can be packaged for a star that can help Jrue Holiday win another playoff series.

Toronto cannot replace Kawhi, no team could. Even the Gregg Popovich led Spurs, the premier model of consistency, had a hard ceiling on their seasons with Leonard on the court. The Raptors will not be as formidable as last season, but they will be dangerous.

Paskal Siakam and Kyle Lowry will keep the Raptors in playoff contention. OG Anunoby will have no more appendix related issues. Fred VanVleet will want to prove he was not just on a new father hot streak in the NBA Finals. The Raptors players have plenty of reasons to play with purpose to prove themselves as legit champions.

Zion Williamson’s first taste of regular-season intensity is going to come against the defending champions. The Raptors will play with the urgency of a team being disrespected, as they should. Not many give Toronto a chance to repeat.

Elton John or not, the defending champions have not started in the road in decades. The arena booking agent did not see a purpose to hold the date a few months ago. Surely the tour was booked after the Kawhi Leonard trade was announced.

More telling though is that it is the New Orleans Pelicans hosting the champs. Of all the teams that could have been chosen, the NBA picked New Orleans for a reason. The Pelicans are an upstart hoping to become a champion with Zion Williamson this year.

Just Zion versus the Champs makes for good billing in his debut, regardless of the Pelicans playoff expectations. None of the major markets made sense concerning hosting the Raptors on NBA Opening Night. The Pelicans make sense for all of the right reasons.

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