If you think the New Orleans Pelicans are going to get out to a fast start you will probably be disappointed.
My “way too early” prediction for the 2020-21 season is that the New Orleans Pelicans will get off to a slow start and probably not make the playoffs.
I know, I know. I’m a fun and optimistic guy!
Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty to be excited about for Pelicans’ fans. We have one of the most exciting players in the league in Zion Williamson.
Brandon Ingram just signed a max extension, Lonzo Ball is going to make a leap and Steven Adams is going to bring some toughness to one of last season’s softest teams.
The Pelicans could put it all together, gel quickly and surprise some people by making the jump into the playoffs, but it’s more than likely that they won’t.
Here’s why.
Why the New Orleans Pelicans will start slowly in 2020-21
The New Coach
The Pelicans were looking for a culture change when they fired Alvin Gentry and hired Stan Van Gundy.
Van Gundy has a history of teaching his teams how to take care of the ball, how to get back and commit on defense and how to prevent easy buckets at the rim.
These all happen to be areas where the Pelicans struggled last year, so having a new coach who is focused on defense and taking care of the ball should strengthen those weaknesses.
But that is going to take time.
Stan Van Gundy’s system is much different than Gentry’s particularly on defense, where Van Gundy preaches not selling out, not overcommitting to offensive rebounding and getting back to prevent fast breaks.
SVG won’t be afraid to bench someone for not running back, so the Pels could spend the beginning of the season learning the hard way.
Stan Van Gundy is going to ask some of the Pels to do different things on offense as well. Zion will handle the ball more. Ingram might initiate the offense from the perimeter. Lonzo could play more off the ball.
All of these changes are going to take time to implement and the Pels are running out of it already.
The New Orleans Pelicans will have a slow start in 2020-21
Time flies during a pandemic
These last nine months have just flown by, eh?
In some ways, the day-to-day grind of a pandemic slows everything to a stop, but the weeks do seem to tick off rather quickly.
So quickly that the New Orleans Pelicans will be back to playing basketball in THREE WEEKS.
As a hoops junkie, this worked out well, as I didn’t have to pretend to care about baseball or football for very long, but as a Pels fan, I am concerned.
How is SVG supposed to get to know his roster (which is still fluid), implement his system and figure out his rotations in such a short turnaround?
Does SVG even know for sure who is going to be on the team? And what about the guys who definitely are?
It seems like Zion was just limping around my living room yesterday, are we sure he’s even ready to play?
How about J.J Redick? Sindarius Thornwell?
Did Nicolo Melli remember how to shoot? Did NAW figure out how to take care of the ball?
It was a short offseason for rest and improvement, which will hurt the young Pelicans, especially as they are trying to get to know a new coach and his system.
But the system isn’t the only thing that’s new.
New Orleans Pelicans: Who is the new starting five?
A lot of new faces
The Pelicans lost two of their key veterans when they traded Jrue Holiday and elected not to re-sign Derrick Favors.
Holiday was the team leader, the guy the young players turned to when they needed a bucket or a stop. Favors was the anchor of the defense (albeit a terrible defense) and the only grown adult the Pels had in the paint.
The Pelicans will be working two new players into the starting lineup and considering Zion only played a handful of games, you can count him as the third.
Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams are both veterans who should be able to adapt quickly to their new roles, but when you factor in the new coach, the short turnaround and the fact that they are learning to play next to Zion’s unique talent, it is going to take some time.
Bench players like Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Sindarius Thornwell and Wenyen Gabriel could have expanded roles this season.
Rookie Kira Lewis Jr. was a lottery pick and will expect to play even though he is only 19-years-old.
Jaxson Hayes still has a ton to prove and will have to compete against veteran Willy Hernangomez for minutes.
There are a lot of potential chemistry issues on a young team with this many new players, especially as guys adjust to new and possibly uncomfortable roles.
Pelicans fans are going to have to show some patience, as this team is not likely to start fast and will take some time to find a groove.
In a shortened season time is not a luxury they have, so fans might have to wait another season to see New Orleans in the playoffs.