New Orleans Pelicans: How should fans feel about the team’s 3-2 start?

Evaluating how New Orleans Pelicans fans should feel about the team’s 3-2 record through 5 games

The New Orleans Pelicans have played 5 games so far this season. Sometimes it can be tough to evaluate a team based on such a limited sample size, but in this case, we’re just looking at the 5 games for what they are, the start of the season.

Through five games, the New Orleans Pelicans have a 3-2 record, and if you ask me that’s a solid start to the year, especially given the circumstances. The Pelicans are trotting out a brand new starting five with two new starters on their roster while trying to master new coach Stan Van Gundy’s system.

A 3-2 record doesn’t put this team into some elite stratosphere, but no record through five games really does. A 3-2 start indicates that the Pelicans are moving in the right direction, and towards their goal of making the postseason. What is impressive though, are some of the Pelicans’ numbers to start the year.

The New Orleans Pelicans are holding their opponents to the second-fewest points in the NBA on a per-game basis, only allowing 99 points a game. Even if it’s unrealistic for the Pelicans to maintain that stout level of defense, it’s a good indication that this defense is a far cry from the putrid one of last year!

I will say ironically, the Pelicans offense is looking pretty concerning in this start though. For the season so far, the Pelicans are only scoring 101 points a night, good for 27th in the league. It’s a far cry from last season’s high-scoring attack, even with Brandon Ingram becoming a top-flight scoring threat!

Part of that concern comes from 3-point shooting, where the Pelicans are second to last in the NBA when it comes to 3 point shooting percentage, shooting a horrendous 31 percent! Another reason for the offense’s dysfunction comes from their lack of a rotation.

So far this season, Josh Hart has been the only reliable rotation player on the team. J.J. Redick has been streaky, while Nicolo Melli has been god-awful. Simply put, the Pelicans rotation is not up to snuff.

So to the original question, how should Pelicans fans feel about the team’s 3-2 start? I’d say they should feel optimistic about it. The team’s defensive turnaround has been stunning but their offense needs some work. They’re too reliant on winning gritty games, but not every game will be like that. I’d say right now that this team is a playoff contender, but I think they could benefit from upgrading their shooting and rotation just a little!