Cracking the playoffs seems like a realistic goal for the New Orleans Pelicans, but will they have a route to make that jump?
The 2018-2019 NBA season was one that most New Orleans Pelicans fans would like to forget. With the Anthony Davis trade drama of last season and the lack of depth (yet again) the team tailed off.
This season is much different.
Armed with 3 first-round draft picks and a plethora of talented players acquired during the off-season the new-look New Orleans Pelicans look poised to contend for a playoff berth in the Western Conference.
With an early schedule that is extremely top-heavy, one can understand the panic some fans are dealing with after learning of Zion Williamson’s meniscus surgery early Monday morning.
There is no denying Zion is a huge loss and cannot be understated however a .500 record to start the season with our new and improved roster is obtainable while Zion is recovering.
The experience and NBA minutes alone for players that would not have such opportunity had Zion been healthy should return big dividends when he returns two to three months into the season. Adding a top 25 type talent that Zion is could be the extra push and energy the team may need to begin the push to the playoffs just before the All-Star break.
Furthermore, and maybe one of the important pieces to look at is this injury in all likelihood takes Zion away from what could have been a busy All-Star weekend full of festivities that may have put more strain on Zion’s body.
One event, in particular, may end up being a blessing in disguise to miss is the dunk competition. Zion comes into the league with a full highlight reel of dunks and the expectation if he was healthy was for him to participate.
The extra week off due to this injury after playing some games may be a welcomed break and a chance to recharge his batteries while continuing to heal.
For the 2018-2019 NBA season, a record of 48-34 in the Western Conference was good enough to secure the eighth seed in the NBA Playoffs.
This record would be almost an exact flip of what their 33-49 record was last year and for all intents, there is a chance that it could happen. After the additions to the roster and the production witnessed in the preseason, 48-34 is very much attainable.
The young core and veteran leadership should be able to put the Pelicans ahead. Let’s not forget that in the 2017-2018 season the New Orleans Pelicans were the sixth seed with much less talent and even went as far as knocking off the three seeded Portland Trail Blazers during that run.
Anything is possible when it comes to the NBA however an eighth seed is definitely attainable and perhaps getting to the 2017-2018 record of 48-34 gets the boys to the big dance.