Pelicans Flying Under The Radar, Future's Still Optimistic
New Orleans, LA - Expectation is the root of all heartache. Although they lost a hard-fought six-game playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, expectations were high for the Pelicans. At the start of last season, New Orleans was the media darlings anticipating Zion Williamson leading them to a breakout season while contending for the Western Conference title.
National pundits took actual notice, with ESPN's Stephen A. Smith proclaiming the Pelicans were the No. 1 sleeper in the NBA. Notably, the Pelicans reached the second round of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, but their performance fell short.
Williamson played in 29 games, but his hamstring hampered his and the team's playoff chances. Brandon Ingram had 45 game appearances, battling an assortment of injuries. CJ McCollum played through a hand injury during the latter part of the season, yet missed the playoffs for the first time in his career.
Unlike last year, New Orleans isn't the media darling this season, and the new season is almost a month away. Major betting sites forecast the Pelicans finishing third in the NBA Southwest division and eighth in the Western Conference. National media favors teams like the Nuggets, Suns, Clippers, and Lakers as favorites to be the Western title contenders.
It's a crowded field. Still, a team with Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum is flying under the radar - it should benefit the Pelicans in the long run.
Unfortunately, the injury bug started to bite the team during the offseason. Rising star Trey Murphy III injured his meniscus, had surgery, and could miss 10 to 12 weeks. Pelicans Nation fan favorite Jose Alvarado recently injured his ankle, with reports projecting him to miss 4-6 weeks.
Aside from injuries, how will the stars gell on the court? Ingram, Williamson, and McCollum have played less than 11 games together on the hardwood. The "Big 3" must stay healthy for New Orleans to fulfill their playoff aspirations. The noise and chatter outside their Pelicans headquarters have yet to affect the team's goals. Willie Green's team remains optimistic about their chances to compete for the conference championship and pursue an NBA title. Ultimately, staying healthy and winning will speak the loudest volume on or off the court for the 2023-24 version of the New Orleans Pelicans.
