Pelicans trending up in the race for the final play-in spot

The New Orleans Pelicans are inching closer to the final play-in spot, currently just 1.5 games behind the Trail Blazers.

The Pels still aren’t at full strength without Zion Williamson, but they are learning to play and win without him, as Brandon Ingram has stepped up in his absence and playing like an All-Star.

They are getting big contributions from their starting five, particularly Josh Hart, Herb Jones and Jonas Valanciunas, and if the Pels can make a minor move to improve their bench, they should be the frontrunner for that final spot even though the rest of their January schedule is brutal.

The Pelicans are 6-2 at home since December 10th and are really starting to build a home court advantage with loud crowds that have been treated to great basketball as of late.

While things are trending up for the Pelicans, the teams around them look vulnerable.

Pelicans trending up while teams around them flounder

The Pels are currently tied with the San Antonio Spurs, and while you can never count the Spurs out, they have lost four in a row and are just 2-8 in their last 10 games. They are entering a tough stretch of their schedule as well, so the Pelicans might be able to surpass them soon.

The Sacramento Kings should be better than they are, but they are the Kings, so it’s not surprising. They’ve already fired their coach and interim head coach Alvin Gentry sounds like he’s about to have a nervous breakdown. They have trade rumors hanging over half their guys and could blow it up soon and go into full-blown tank mode.

The Trail Blazers have won two in a row but just got news that Damian Lillard is going to have abdominal surgery and be out indefinitely. They expect him to come back this season, but any amount of time without their superstar makes them vulnerable to a fall in the standings.

Even though the Pelicans are five games behind the Timberwolves, they just beat them and Minnesota has been up and down all season.

The Pelicans might not even have to be that great to pass all of these teams and if they are buyers are the trade deadline, could find help for their woeful bench. Things are looking up for the Pels after a terrible start and that play-in spot is looking more and more like a realistic possibility.