A few weeks before the start of the regular season, DNA of Sports begins its traditional presentation, franchise by franchise, of the upcoming NBA season. Like every year, this takes the form of a countdown, from the teams expected at the bottom of the ranking to our favorite for the champion title. Today, we take a closer look at the Pelicans, after another frustrating season following Zion Williamson’s (latest) injury.
At the top of the Western Conference after two months of competition, with a team that revolved very well around its inner phenomenon, the Pelicans exploded in full flight thereafter. Without Brandon Ingram also injured for a long time, Zion Williamson’s new injury completely derailed the train.
The fall was thus terrible, including a series of ten consecutive defeats at the end of January in particular, despite a last stand to secure the Top 12 in the West…
Finally eliminated in play-in by the Thunder, the Pels clearly missed their season, despite the progress of Trey Murphy III and Jose Alvarado. CJ McCollum still in transition from guard to point guard, NOLA is generally groping forward this season, crossing your fingers to avoid injury.
Knowing that several major players, such as Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas, have the possibility of being extended, and with the great unknown of injuries, the current Pels squad has a strong chance of evolving during the season, and even more after! The club’s sporting boss, David Griffin, clearly indicated that this was undoubtedly the last opportunity for this group to prove what they were capable of. Before the explosion?
SUMMER MOVEMENTS
Arrivals: Cody Zeller (Miami)
Departures: Jaxson Hayes (LA Lakers), Garrett Temple (Toronto), Willy Hernangomez (Barcelona), Josh Richardson (Miami)
PLAYER TO FOLLOW: ZION WILLIAMSON
It’s almost the same story every year since his Draft in 2019: Zion Williamson is a potential All-Star, a real terror of the rackets… when he plays!
Gold, out of 317 Pels games over the last four seasons, the former Dukie has only played 114 ! Worse, since the trade to get CJ McCollum, the “Big Three” composed of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and therefore CJ McCollum, have only played 10 games together, for 172 minutes in all…
A hell of a problem, especially when we remember that New Orleans was celebrating at the start of last winter, with its entire team. With 18 wins for 8 losses at the start of the season, the Pelicans even paraded at the top of the Western Conference for a timebefore diving following the injury of their strong winger.
Continually at the mercy of an injury with a still questionable life ethic, Zion Williamson must succeed in spending more time on the court than in the infirmary. In Louisiana, we ensure that the person concerned has (finally) become aware of it and that he worked like never before during the offseason. Hopefully…
Average age: 25.3 years
Payroll: $180.5 million (11th)
THE IDEAL SCENARIO
Zion Williamson has well and truly lived up to his comments from the summer and the boy arrives in Olympic form for the initial half of the season. More mature off the court, he manages to keep up the pace and reaches the mark of 65 matches, a great first for him in his career. In his wake, and thanks to his impact on opposing rackets, the Pelicans are firmly clinging to a place in the leading group of the Western Conference.
Trey Murphy III’s unfortunate injury quickly becomes an ugly memory when he returns to action, with NOLA still lurking in the playoff race. Brandon Ingram also forgot his physical problems and his bitter experience of the World Cup to bounce back with the grace of his mid-distance shot.
In short, Willie Green’s troupe is rather celebrating with its group remaining stable. The “Big Easy” rediscovers the burning atmosphere of the “postseason”, reconnecting with a form of optimism lost in recent years.
THE WORST SCENARIO
Despite all the announcements and declarations of optimism, Zion Williamson gives us the Arlésienne trick again and, like a house of cards, the fragile building collapses again in the Vieux Carré! The strong winger’s contract extension is proving to be an increasingly heavy burden to drag around with physical problems piling up.
At the same time, the McCollum – Ingram traction, although rather efficient, has difficulty compensating for the absence of Trey Murphy (and his outside address) and, despite the valor of Jonas Valanciunas, it still lacks support offensive in a workforce which is stagnating and still reaching its limits.
David Griffin can only resolve to change his mind and begin a new reconstruction…
| WESTERN CONFERENCE | ||||
| 15 – Blazers | 14 – Spurs | 13 – Rockets | 12 – Jazz | 11 – Pelicans |
| 10 – … | 9 – … | 8 – … | 7 – … | 6 – … |
| 5 – … | 4 – … | 3 – … | 2 – … | 1 – … |
