Pelicans schedule: Breaking down the projected wins and losses
By Tim Burke
New Orleans Pelicans schedule: Opponents on a back-to-back
The second piece to look at when predicting wins and losses just from the dates of games played is how many times the Pelicans catch an opponent on the second night of their own back-to-back. New Orleans gets some luck here, the Pels will be the second opponent of a back-to-back 16 times. The scheduling Gods were kind the Crescent City in this regard. Below is a table like the one before but for the Pels opponents.
| Game 1 | Home | Away | Game 2 | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/2 | Jazz | Kings | 11/3 | Kings | Pels |
| 11/12 | Grizzlies | Suns | 11/13 | Pels | Grizzlies |
| 11/18 | Grizzlies | Clippers | 11/19 | Pels | Clippers |
| 11/19 | Hornets | Pacers | 11/20 | Pacers | Pels |
| 11/26 | Jazz | Pels | 11/27 | Jazz | Pels |
| 11/28 | Warriors | Clippers | 11/29 | Pels | Clippers |
| 12/11 | Spurs | Nuggets | 12/12 | Spurs | Pels |
| 12/22 | Hawks | Magic | 12/23 | Magic | Pels |
| 1/5 | Mavericks | Warriors | 1/6 | Pels | Warriors |
| 1/25 | Pistons | Nuggets | 1/26 | Pels | Nuggets |
| 1/30 | Pistons | Cavs | 1/31 | Cavs | Pels |
| 2/11 | Hawks | Spurs | 2/12 | Pels | Spurs |
| 2/24 | Thunder | Suns | 2/25 | Suns | Pels |
| 3/8 | Magic | Suns | 3/9 | Pels | Magic |
| 3/31 | Jazz | Lakers | 4/1 | Lakers | Pels |
| 4/9 | Spurs | Warriors | 4/10 | Pels | Warriors |
That’s 16 expected wins against teams that will be tired from the night before. The busiest stretch for the Pels comes in November. They catch six opponents on the back half during that month, more than a third of the Pels opportunities in one month. Interestingly the Pels face a third of their own back-to-backs in November as well.