By Justin Batiste
Now that the New Orleans Pelicans have a new roster what should we expect from them this year?
The last time my home team, the New Orleans Pelicans, made it to the NBA playoffs was during the 2014-2015 season. That was two years ago, and now it’s time for them to make their return.
Last season the Pelicans finished 10th in the western conference with a record of 34-48, which resulted in them missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season. This year, however, I’m expecting a different result for this Pelicans team.
Last season played well for the Pelicans, averaging 15.4 ppg and 7.3 apg, but this summer the Pelicans upgraded at the point guard position by adding four-time All-Star . I believe the savvy veteran will make all the difference this season for New Orleans.
Even though and are the best two players on the team, they’ll still need someone to get them the ball. That’s where Rondo fits in as he’s still one of the best PGs at doing just that. Because Rondo is so good at passing and Davis is so good at scoring around the rim (by catching lobs for example), I can see the duo bringing Lob City to New Orleans.
The West did improve from last year but so did the Pelicans, and that’s why I think they can make a playoff run this season.
I’ve said in the past that in order for a team to be good in the NBA today, they’ll need at least three stars, and the Pelicans have a talented trio in Davis, Cousins and Rondo. Not to mention that 2/3 of that trio are two of the most dominant big men in the league. The pairing of Cousins and Davis will give any team a chance to win on any given night. This season should be a very exciting and interesting one for the Pelicans and Pelicans fans. Hopefully come April Louisiana will be able to witness something we’ve been missing for two seasons now–a playoff appearance.
