New Orleans Pelicans: 4 Potential Rivalries That Can Start in 2021
By Nick Alvarez
The Memphis Grizzlies are building a contender right in the New Orleans Pelicans’ division
The Memphis Grizzlies are building a young contender right in the New Orleans Pelicans’ division
I’ll start with the team that inspires this entire article for me, the Memphis Grizzlies. I recently wrote that I believe 2021 will start an intense rivalry between the Grizzlies and Pelicans, and here’s a recap.
The Memphis Grizzlies are a team building themselves up just like the New Orleans Pelicans. They have their own impressive young core that features Ja Morant, Brandon Clarke, Justice Winslow, and Jaren Jackson Jr. That’s talent that can rival any of the young players the Pelicans put on the court.
Then the Grizzlies have Taylor Jenkins. In just his first season as a head coach, Taylor Jenkins started showing the potential to be one of the best coaches in the NBA. He’s brought excellent schemes to Grizzlies while putting the ball in his young star’s hands.
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Next year, the Pelicans will have their own first-year head coach and no one knows what that’ll mean for the team in 2021.
Finally, the Ja Morant-Zion Williamson rivalry within these two teams is a major factor. Williamson and Morant were picks 1 and 2 in the 2019 NBA Draft, with a history dating back to their AAU days. There’s no doubt that they’ll be out to prove who’s better.