Pelica Debrief
Fansided

New Orleans Pelicans: Scouting Southwest Division Rivals

By Cody Taylor

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 14: Ja Morant (L) of the Memphis Grizzlies and Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans shoot during warmups before a semifinal game of the 2019 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 14: Ja Morant (L) of the Memphis Grizzlies and Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans shoot during warmups before a semifinal game of the 2019 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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New Orleans Pelicans
SAN ANTONIO, TX – FEBRUARY 2: Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans handles the ball against the San Antonio Spurs on February 2, 2019 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The New Orleans Pelicans hope to mimic the NBA’s model of consistency, the San Antonio Spurs.

The San Antonio Spurs have two All-Stars and Gregg Popovich. The likelihood of them making the playoffs is almost a guarantee. It could come down the final regular-season game to decide each team’s fate.

San Antonio Spurs

Pelicans 2018-19 Record versus Spurs: 1-3

2019-20 Dates

Home: January 22nd, March 18th

Away: San Antonio April 5th & 15th

The Lone Star State has a strong trio of teams in a singular division that always seems to end in one of them in the division lead, playoffs, and typically conference championship contenders. But the final of our 3 is the absolute Golden Standard for how you run a team, team above player, one-for-all all-for-one mentality: the San Antonio Spurs.

The one franchise to hold a winning record against all other NBA franchises is what you’d want right next to the number of championships the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers have. The Spurs have a beautiful history of winning since Gregg Popovich’s first full season a head coach and it hasn’t ended. Having never missed the playoffs since 1996-97 is a dream.

Where the Pelicans are concerned, the Spurs have definitely owned them on the court. Just in the last 4 seasons, the New Orleans Pelicans have a lowly record of 6-10 against the Silver and Black. Ever since the retirement of Tim Duncan, the Spurs have treaded strange waters that they weren’t used to but when your team has the best coach possibly in NBA history you find a way to adapt and grow.

Turning the Kawhi Leonard drama into a proven veteran guard/forward in DeMar DeRozan was as good as they could have hoped for and they will always be viable in division and conference standings. With the closing days of the 2019-20 season being at San Antonio, the pressure to perform against the almighty Spurs will be high especially with potential playoff implications on the line.

Season Prediction versus the San Antonio Spurs: 3-1 San Antonio

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