New Orleans Pelicans: Ranking the Southwest Division
Where do the New Orleans Pelicans rank in the ultra-competitive Southwest Division?
The New Orleans Pelicans improved slightly in the offseason, but will it be enough to win the Southwest Division?
The Southwest will arguably be the toughest division in 2020-21, with every team hoping to make the playoffs.
Related Story. Are the Pels better or worse? A breakdown of each position. light
Last season, three of the five teams made it to the postseason, with the New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs close on their heels.
This division is going to be a dog fight from day one, as nearly every team has gotten better in the offseason.
Let’s take a look at where the New Orleans Pelicans rank.
New Orleans Pelicans: Who will win the Southwest Division?
#5: San Antonio Spurs
Major Additions: Devin Vassell, Tre Jones
Major Subtractions: Marco Belinelli
First off, I would never count out the Spurs and it wouldn’t shock me if they ended up higher than this.
They didn’t have a splashy offseason like some teams but the Spurs got quietly better as they always seem to do. They added two draft picks who definitely fit their culture in Devin Vassell and Tre Jones, and re-signed most of their key free agents.
The Spurs have a good mixture of youth and veterans, and probably still have a trade or two to make if they want to part ways with DeMar DeRozan or Patty Mills.
The Spurs won 32 games last season while missing their best player LaMarcus Aldridge for a significant amount of time.
I expect the Spurs to hang near the playoffs but eventually make a move that might set them back, but don’t ever count out Popovich.