New Orleans Pelicans: 4 players who need to step up stagnant start

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- NOVEMBER 2: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket against the New Orleans Pelicans on November 2, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The New Orleans Pelicans are off to a 1-5 start to the NBA season, in which a noticeable number of players have underperformed.

After an offseason of exciting changes brought a lot of attention and excitement to the New Orleans Pelicans’ organization, the team has underwhelmed through six games.

Falling to 1-5 after losing on the road to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a real let down of a 104-115 finish, the team has some questions to answer if they want to find a way to push for the playoffs at the end of the season.

While the season is just 7.3% complete thus far, the team is trending the wrong way to start the campaign, despite the incredibly impressive start from fourth-year player Brandon Ingram.

Certainly, some of this falls on the coaching staff. Head coach Alvin Gentry is supposed to be known to run one of the most high-tempo offensive teams in the league, though the team ranks ninth in pace, but having the fifth-best offensive rating.

So far, Genty’s coaching performance has left something to be desired from excited fans expecting more from the new-look New Orleans Pelicans.

More troubling is the defensive start from the New Orleans Pelicans. While the team had fairly robust ball-stopping units during the Anthony Davis seasons, the employment of Jeff Bzdelik from the historically impressive Houston Rockets‘ defenses of the past few seasons hasn’t reflected on the hardwood.

Currently, the New Orleans Pelicans rank 28th in the league with a 113.8 defensive rating. The only teams worse are the depleted Golden State Warriors and the defensively-inept Houston Rockets.

Despite any credit the coaches have to take for this slow start, there are a few players who haven’t been playing up to their abilities during the start.

From key veterans to first-year players, there are players on this roster who need to provide more consistency as the season progresses this winter.

When the team takes the floor against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night, they’ll have a chance to play another squad who has stumbled out of the gate. It will also be a morale boost if the Pels can take down Kyrie Irving and a Nets team many see in the playoffs.

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