Sportsbook Prediction On Pelicans' Win Total
New Orleans, LA - Now that the NBA Summer League Tournament is complete, the New Orleans Pelicans' focus shifts to training camp and the upcoming season. New Orleans finished last season with a 42-40 record, missing the playoffs after losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Play-In Tournament.
Sportsbook DraftKings sets the Pelicans' over/under win total at 43.5. New Orleans had not won that many games since the 2017-2018 season when they finished with a 48-34 record. Last season's win total projection was 45.5.
The Pelicans are betting on a clean bill of health for success this season. Their two-star players, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, missed a combined 90 games last season. The combined trio of CJ McCollum-Zion Williamson-Brandon Ingram has only played ten games together since McCollum joined the team late in the 2022 season.
Jan 7, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; (from left) New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson and forward Brandon Ingram watch the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the New Orleans Pelicans at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
New Orleans hasn't done a significant upgrade to its personnel this season. Jaxson Hayes and Willy Hernangomez were lost. The team did sign Herb Jones to an extension and draft sharpshooting guard Jordan Hawkins in the first round of the NBA Draft. The Pelicans also signed former Miami Heat center Cody Zeller to a deal this offseason.
While these may be minor roster moves, Zeller possesses NBA Finals experience from last season. Those championship aspirations aren't quite what the betting lines at places like aGamble have for the Pelicans now, but consistent season success will have expectations there one day.
Despite minimal personnel changes, there have been changes to the coaching staff. Former Charlotte Hornets coach James Borrego returns to New Orleans as an associate head coach to Willie Green. Borrego's offensive philosophy will be a welcome addition to a team who needs more creativity in getting open three-point shooters good shots.
In Borrego's last season with Charlotte, his team was fifth in three-point attempts and eighth in offensive rating. Last season, the Pelicans were 29th in three-point attempts and 21st in offensive rating. New Orleans did suffer the loss of assistant coach Teresa Weatherspoon, who the team parted ways with in June.
The Pelicans are back in action for preseason on October 10 in the Smoothie King Center. Until then, Brandon Ingram will join Team USA, and Jose Alvarado will compete this summer for the Puerto Rican national team. The FIBA Basketball World Cup takes place from Aug. 23- Sept. 10.
