New Orleans Pelicans: Predictions for all 22 Teams at NBA Disney

New Orleans Pelicans: Predictions for the Western Conference at Disney

The West has been the better conference all season and will be an absolute dog-fight until the end. Seeds 2-6 are still up for grabs, so teams will have plenty to play for and could shift dramatically depending on how things shake out.

Phoenix Suns (0-8)

I predict that the Phoenix Suns will be the only team to go winless in Orlando. Kelly Oubre Jr. will be out after season-ending surgery and the Suns were not very deep to begin with. They could win against the Wizards, but it’s hard to see them getting another W.

San Antonio Spurs (4-4)

The Spurs can never be counted out, but are a half game behind the New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings, so they have their work cut out for them if they want to keep their 22-year playoff streak alive. I predict they will lose to the Mavericks, Pelicans, Rockets and Lakers, but if teams take them lightly, who knows. Could San Antonio pull off the miracle and keep their streak alive?

Sacramento Kings (3-5)

The Kings are being overlooked and disrespected all over the Internet, so they are the likeliest to win a few on anger alone. The Kings have a tough road and I predict they will lose to the Spurs, Mavericks, Pelicans (once), Rockets and Lakers. This could come down to how many of their opponents are at full strength. The Kings were playing well before the break, but it’s tough to find five wins for them on a tough eight game schedule.

New Orleans Pelicans (5-3)

The Pels have the easiest schedule on paper, but if they look past any of their opponents, play sloppy and turn the ball over or miss a high percentage of three’s, they will go home unhappy. I predict the Pelicans will lose to the Jazz, Clippers and Kings (once). Though there is not a game on their schedule they can’t win, the Pelicans are prone to playing down to their competition, so I could see them beating the Clippers and then losing to Orlando or the Wizards. Zion Williamson is rested and at full strength, ready to carry the Pels to the playoffs. The Pels will be favored in all but two games, so can play their way in just by beating the teams they should beat.

Portland Trail Blazers (2-6)

The Blazers remaining schedule is absolutely brutal, which bodes well for the New Orleans Pelicans, who have to beat them by at least one game.

I predict the Blazers will beat the 76ers and Nets, but lose the other six they play. They are finally at full strength (minus Trevor Ariza), so could make some noise if Damian Lillard gets hot, but will they have time to gel and make another run at the Western Conference Finals?

Memphis Grizzlies (2-6)

Grizzlies fans won’t like this prediction, but Memphis has one of the toughest remaining schedules and will be the underdog in nearly every game. I have them beating the Trail Blazers, Spurs and that’s it. Even if they were to drop six, the Grizzlies are unlikely to lose their 8th seed outright, but would then have to play a three game series against the 9th seed. The Pelicans hope this is the outcome, as they would love to get a chance at that three game series.

Dallas Mavericks (6-2)

The Mavericks could end up riding Luka Doncic to a title this year. They are good and can score with just about anyone and are one of the Western Conference teams I like as a dark horse to win the conference. I have the Mavericks losing just two games, to the Clippers and Bucks, but those could easily turn into wins depending on the lineups they run out. This season could be Luka’s coming out party and I predict he will dominate in Orlando and that the Mavs will overtake the Rockets.

Houston Rockets (4-4)

The Rockets are so up and down that it’s difficult to predict what they’ll do. I have them losing to the Mavericks, Bucks, Lakers and Kings to go 4-4 over the last eight. Could Houston get hot from long range and run everyone off the floor? Yep. Could they miss everything and lose six of eight? Yep.

Oklahoma City Thunder (8-0)

My boldest prediction is that the Thunder will win all eight of their games and end up as the 3rd seed in the West. The Thunder have the league’s best crunch time lineup and Chris Paul is fully healthy and ready to slay his playoff demons. Their pick-and-roll and three point guard offense are going to give everyone headaches and Paul has more to prove than any single player remaining in the re-start.

Utah Jazz (5-3)

The Jazz could suffer lingering effects from the Rudy Gobert coronavirus debacle in which Gobert acted like a clown, infected his teammates and potentially angered them enough to disrupt team chemistry. Who knows, maybe this dysfunction will bind the team together and they will rally around the Stifle Tower, but if things start going badly for the Jazz, they could fall apart just as easily. They will also be missing Bojan Bogdanovic, who absolutely killed the Pelicans this season. I predict they will lose to the Thunder, Lakers and Mavericks, but could easily see the New Orleans Pelicans putting the hurt on them in the first game and for disaster to follow for the Jazz. This dynamic will be one of the most interesting sub-plots at Disney.

Denver Nuggets (3-5)

The Nuggets chances will obviously depend on the health of Nikola Jokic after it was revealed that he tested positive for coronavirus. The long-term effects are still being studied, so there is really no telling how Jokic will be affected. If he can play at full strength, the Nuggets are good and very deep, but without their superstar center, they are just deep. I have them losing to the Thunder, Jazz, Lakers, Clippers and Raptors and it’s hard to make an argument for them in any of those games without Jokic.

Los Angeles Clippers (6-2)

The Clippers aren’t going to catch the Lakers, so they just need to hold off the Nuggets to keep their hold on the 2nd seed. They won’t have much to play for, especially if Denver falters early, so may end up resting players down the stretch. Even if they do, I only see them losing to the Thunder and Lakers, though the New Orleans Pelicans will certainly give them a challenge.

Los Angeles Lakers (6-2)

With the 1st seed all but wrapped up and little chance to catch the Bucks for the league’s best record, the Lakers have little to play for. They will likely be working one or two new players into their rotation, as Avery Bradley announced he won’t be participating, but it’s still hard to imagine a fully rested LeBron and Anthony Davis losing too many games. I have them losing to the Thunder and Kings, who will likely be playing a load managed Lakers’ team in the final game.

If things were to work out this way the New Orleans Pelicans would be very happy. Of course, all of these predictions could be wrong, but the Pels will have a puncher’s chance when things kick off in Orlando.