New Orleans Pelicans: 3 teams that will be the Pels’ biggest rivals
The New Orleans Pelicans don’t have a long history in the NBA, so they don’t have any deep-rooted rivalries based on tradition.
Without having had many playoff clashes, Pels fans have had little chance to build up the kind of intensity that you need to sustain a rivalry.
The constant movement in the NBA also makes this a reality, as fans have more attachment to their teams than the players, who all seem to change teams these days.
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But the New Orleans Pelicans are on the cusp of being good and have a young team that has a chance to realize sustained success, and when they do, the rivalries will form.
Here are three teams to circle on your calendar this season, as they have a chance to form some long-term rivalries with the Pelicans.
New Orleans Pelicans: The Houston Rockets are a team to watch
One team that has a chance for a long-term rivalry with the New Orleans Pelicans is the Houston Rockets.
The Rockets are in the Pels’ division, so they are very familiar with each other, but both teams will have some new faces that could ratchet up the intensity.
The Rockets are rebuilding around youth, just like the Pelicans and have a brash new rookie in Jalen Green who is not shy about talking trash or making predictions.
He’ll be fired up to show he can be a superstar like Zion Williamson. The Rockets also feature Christian Wood, a player the Pelicans cut, who has since gone on to become one of the most improved players in the league.
He’ll be eager to show the Pelicans that they made a mistake, so I expect the Rockets to bring it against New Orleans this season, which will lead to some intense games.