New Orleans Pelicans: 3 players who need to step up after All-Star Break
By Willie Lutz
The New Orleans Pelicans are trying to chase their way into the NBA playoffs, but a few guys on their team need to step up into bigger spots.
Heading into the final two months of the regular season, the New Orleans Pelicans are entering an exciting time for their young core, though they’ll need to push. While they’re currently on the outside looking in, their team is within striking distance of an NBA playoff birth.
Despite finally having health on their side, the Pelicans need more from this roster if they want a chance to make the playoffs as the eighth seed.
Though the team will have the schedule on their side (they have the easiest slate of games left in the league), the team will have to battle hard to make up ground on the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies, who stand 5.5 games ahead of New Orleans.
Granted, it won’t be much easier getting ahead of the ninth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers or tenth-seeded San Antonio Spurs, both of whom have hefty resumes and experienced players to help their own teams make that push.
It’s put up or shut up time for the New Orleans Pelicans, or at least if they’re serious about making a run over the next two months.
Riding a 13-game losing streak through the middle of December, the team has seen quite a few players on their team step up in the months since.
Jrue Holiday has been much better, Lonzo Ball has come into his own, Brandon Ingram played his way to an All-Star birth, and Zion Williamson has been even a little better than expected through his first 10 games of NBA action.
However, there’s still room on this team for guys to step up, from the starting lineup through the back of the bench. Whether it’s rookies or veterans, the Pelicans need a little extra edge if they really want a fighting chance to make a run ahead of Memphis.