New Orleans Pelicans: Scouting Southwest Division Rivals
By Cody Taylor
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 28: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks drives against Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on December 28, 2018 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)
The New Orleans Pelicans young core will battle the Dallas Mavericks for the foreseeable future.
The Dallas Mavericks could have the most similar franchise championship trajectory as the New Orleans Pelicans.
Pelicans 2018-19 Record versus Mavericks: 3-1
2019-20 Dates
Home: October 25th, December 3rd
Away: December 7th, March 4th
Most of the past decade has been mostly disappointing for the Dallas Mavericks, basically since their title run in 2011 when they toppled LeBron and the Miami Heat. With the departure of legend Dirk Nowitzki, it is the Mavericks’ time to also look towards the future.
After trading away 2017 lottery pick Dennis Smith Jr. in the package for Kristaps Porzingis, this is going to be a young Mavericks team being led by budding star Luka Doncic. Both the Dallas Mavericks and the New Orleans Pelicans are heading down a younger route as they aim to fight against the Spurs and Rockets.
We are going to be in for a treat for years to come with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis versus Jrue Holiday and Zion Williamson. The Pelicans have gone 10-6 against the Mavericks over the last 4 seasons. The future of the series looks bright for New Orleans as they still have their veteran leader Jrue Holiday. The addition of Derrick Favors and J.J. Redick should keep this team above water against the first of our Texas rivals.
Everything is bigger in Texas and Zion Williamson versus the Dallas Mavericks will be must-see TV this coming season to watch as Doncic’s development grows to from year one to year two and how Zion Williamson stacks up. With an early-season tilt in the New Orleans Pelicans’ home opener on October 25th on ESPN, we will not have to wait long to see the start of this budding rivalry of young rosters.
Season Prediction versus Dallas Mavericks: 3-1 New Orleans Pelicans