3 Scenarios the Pelicans desperately need to avoid in 2023-24
By Mat Issa
The sport of basketball is a lot like the game of life. Just like is the case with life, in basketball, things happen that are completely outside of our control.
If you lose a game because your opponent shot 25% better from three than they normally do, you can’t control that. If you lose a game because your star player got hurt during the first possession, you can’t control that. If you lose a game because the Monstars kidnapped the entirety of your roster’s talent, you better pray that you have Michael Jordan on speed dial! In all seriousness, though, you see the parallels here, right?
But what happens to you during a given NBA season isn’t completely left up to chance. Akin to how there are things in life you can control, there are variables in basketball that you can control.
With that in mind, while the New Orleans Pelicans will need lady luck to smile in their direction a few times if they are going to reach their full potential as a team, there are also situations they can work to avoid putting themselves into. With that in mind, here are three scenarios the Pelicans desperately need to steer clear of in 2023-24.
1. Don’t let your season be ruined by injuries.
Yeah, yeah, we know what you’re thinking. Didn’t you just say that an injury to your superstar is one of those variables that’s out of your control?
Yeah, we did. But that’s one freak injury, not years and years of injury problems to various players on your roster. At that point, the issue shifts from chance to responsibility. And it appears that the Pelicans have come to terms with their role in the team’s recent injury woes, as they made some sweeping changes to their medical staff this offseason.
Recognizing one’s own fault in a situation is a great first step. Now, it is up to the team’s reformed medical staff to do all that they can to ensure that we don’t see a repeat of last season.