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Pelicans Have 25 Games To Save Season

The New Orleans Pelicans are without Zion Williamson but they do have the easiest remaining NBA schedule.

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New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans, La- The New Orleans Pelicans were battling for the top spot in the Western Conference going into the New Year. Now they are sitting in 7th place and fighting for a play-in spot with just 25 games remaining to try and save the season. Making matters worse, the team does not know when Zion Williamson will be able available to return to action.

Zion Williamson

The Pelicans were in first place in early December thanks to a seven-game win streak while Brandon Ingram was out due to a toe contusion. The Pelicans lost four, then won four, before losing on New Year's Eve. They were doing more than treading water while Ingram was out but Williamson's hamstring injury on New Year's Day crippled the team during their most challenging month.

Following a ten-game losing streak, New Orleans fell below the playoff play-in line. The team then notched three straight wins before a home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers got them back into the jumbled-up Western Conference royal rumble. They are now two games behind the fourth-place Dallas Mavericks but only one game ahead of the 11th-place Oklahoma City Thunder.

New Orleans played the toughest schedule in January, going 3-13 to start off the 2023 calendar. Ingram returned toward the end of January and, having knocked off some rust in losing efforts, has helped lead the team to a 3-2 February so far.

But Ingram has said in several different ways since Media Day that this team expects to be in title contention, not sitting at home watching playoff games.

Brandon Ingram

Remaining Schedule Set Up For Success

The Pelicans have two road games before the All-Star break against two other squads (Thunder, Lakers) look to squeeze into the postseason. They have only one home game between February 11 and March 8, against the surprising Orlando Magic (Feb. 27).

The Oklahoma City Thunder have the second-easiest remaining schedule and, with 27 games remaining, are just 1 game behind the Pelicans. New Orleans has the easiest slate but Lebron James and the Lakers have the 7th easiest schedule remaining. New Orleans is 9-18 on the road but needs to at least split these last two contests before the All-Star break.

New Orleans plays the top-seeded Denver Nuggets, second-place Memphis Grizzlies, and the currently in fourth Dallas Mavericks just once more each, plus two more games against the Sacramento Kings (currently 3rd).

Willy Hernangomez

The Pelicans also have two more games against the Lakers, Clippers, and Knicks. Getting at least four wins from these six games would almost ensure a play-in spot. 538's projections currently have the Lakers and Pelicans meeting in the 9th vs. 10th elimination game. According to the projections, that game would be in New Orleans.

Arguably the most important two-week stretch remaining is between March 11 and March 27. Those nine games provide a great opportunity to create some separation in the standings and even jump back into a top-6 spot. Avoiding the play-in stress and getting some extra rest would be huge for a team constantly battling the injury bugs.

  • Mar 11: Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Mar 12: Portland Trail Blazers
  • Mar 14: Los Angeles Lakers
  • Mar 17: @ Houston Rockets
  • Mar 19: @ Houston Rockets
  • Mar 21: San Antonio Spurs
  • Mar 23: Charlotte Hornets
  • Mar 25: @ LA Clippers
  • Mar 27: @ Portland Trailblazers

Coach Green has talked about the importance of protecting the home court numerous times. The Thunder, Trailblazers, Spurs, and Hornets could all be out of contention before the middle of March. Getting wins against the bottom half of the standings in the Smoothie King Center is paramount to a playoff push.

Brandon Ingram

Getting the Rockets twice in three days should help the team get back into a rhythm, even on the road. The Pelicans have only 9 road wins all season but Houston have the worst record in the NBA and seem to be close to firing their head coach.

The Pelicans play four road games from March 25-30, all against contenders. The Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets await following trips to LA and Portland. After seeing Steph Curry and Nikola Jokic, who will both be waiting in the playoffs, the Pelicans only have five games left. 

Those five? The Clippers, Kings, Grizzlies, Knicks, and Minnesota Timberwolves, all of which have better records than the Pelicans. Leave it late for such an uphill battle is similar to last season's run, but it is not a sustainable trend for a locker room with championship aspirations.

Williamson had a rehab setback and aggravated the hamstring injury, extending the timeline for his return to “multiple weeks past All-Star break,” basketball operations chief David Griffin said before the Superbowl kicked off Sunday. Wille Green is going to have to lean on Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum down the stretch.

Ingram has stepped up since returning to a team without Williamson, creating good looks and dishing out 16 assists over his last two games. The former All-Star has scored over 25 points in the last four games, including a 35-point gem against the Lakers earlier this month.

McCollum and Trey Murphy III have looked more comfortable and confident recently. Murhpy III even posted a 30-point career high against the currently in third place Sacramento Kings. New Orleans will need more of those type of performances to better balance the team's offense until Williamson returns.

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