5 questions for the remainder of the New Orleans Pelicans’ season
The New Orleans Pelicans have 23 games remaining in their 2021-22 season, and while they have answered some questions, others have sprung up in their place.
It’s been a weird season, as the Pels have been hit with injuries to Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, which led to a slow start and lack of chemistry.
When Ingram came back from injury it was a turning point in the season and the Pelicans went on a run, but that was quickly ended by the CJ McCollum trade, which once again put the Pels back to square one when it comes to chemistry.
McCollum has been fantastic so far, but the Pelicans’ rotation has some issues, particularly with guard depth, and Willie Green doesn’t have much time to figure them out.
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The Pels are still very much alive for the final play-in spot, and we’ll start there in the five questions the New Orleans Pelicans need to answer in the remainder of their season.
5 questions for the New Orleans Pelicans to answer in final 23 games
#1: Will the Pelicans make the play-in tournament?
The New Orleans Pelicans are currently in 12th place in the Western Conference, two games behind Portland after losing their final two games before the All-Star break.
The break will hopefully give the Pels some time to regroup and practice with their new teammate, so I expect them to come out with energy in the final 23 games.
The problem is the Pels have the 8th most difficult remaining schedule in the NBA, while the Trail Blazers have the 29th and the Spurs have the 15th.
The Pelicans are going to have to play the toughest schedule of the three while they are still trying to iron out their rotation problems and incorporate a new leading scorer into the lineup.
Portland has won four in a row but just traded away two key players and Lillard is still out with injury, so the Pels have a chance to chase them down. New Orleans still has two remaining games with both Portland and San Antonio and their chances at the play in will largely come down to how the do in those games.