2019-2020 NBA Previews – Pelicans Odds
Looking for 2019 New Orleans Pelicans Predictions? It was an unsuccessful and frankly strange year for the Pelicans as Anthony Davis was essentially in limbo for a decent chunk of the year. When the trade finally went through and the Lakers got their big free agent target the Pelicans essentially secured their future. They took the core of the Lakers young talent and a bunch of picks and now will be looking to get going early as chemistry will likely be a bit of a problem for this team, but if they can get going the sky is the limit. The Pelicans have plenty of reason to be optimistic about the future, but will that bright future start earlier then expected?
New Orleans Pelicans Season Preview
Head Coach: Alvin Gentry
2018-19 Record: 33-49
Blazers Odds to NBA Title: +6000
Blazers Odds to Win Conference: +4500
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Players Who Have Left
- G: Dairis Bertans (waived)
- G: Elfrid Payton (signed with Knicks)
- F: Cheick Diallo (signed with Suns)
- F: Solomon Hill (traded to Hawks)
- F: Stanley Johnson (signed with Raptors)
- F: Christian Wood (waived)
- F/C: Anthony Davis (traded to Lakers)
- C/F: Julius Randle (signed with Knicks)
Players Who Have Arrived
- G: Lonzo Ball (trade with Lakers)
- G: Josh Hart (trade with Lakers)
- G: J.J. Redick (free agency)
- F: Brandon Ingram (trade with Lakers)
- F: Nicolò Melli (free agency)
- F/C: Derrick Favors (trade with Jazz)
We can break down this offseason for the Pelicans a million different ways, but we don’t really know exactly what we are going to get from them until the season starts. On paper they look formidable, even without the freak talent that is Anthony Davis. They brought in Derrick Favors who is a very good player coming over from the Jazz. In addition, they got a killer 3 point shooter in JJ Redick as well as basically all the talent the Lakers had.
On the other hand, they did lose some solid players as well. they lost Elfrid Payton who is a serviceable guard as well as Julius Randle who was a very good and versatile center/forward as well as the obvious loss of Davis.
And then there is Zion? Surprisingly the Pelicans won the draft lottery and took the next big thing out of Duke with the first overall pick. It seems like Zion has all the tools to succeed at the NBA level, but it is yet another question mark yet that we will get answers for soon with the NBA regular season just around the corner.
New Orleans Pelicans Strengths:
Defense
No this was not the greatest defense in the world last year, but this is a completely different team in New Orleans this year. Let us start with Zion who is an athletic freak who can just about guard anyone at any position with his insane size and speed. There is also Jrue Holiday who was the starting point guard from last year who likely will still be the starter even with the acquisition of Lonzo Ball.
It really was Holiday’s defensive efforts last year that made sure the Pelicans were not a dumpster fire and remain semi-respectable. We then have the signing of Derrick Favors who is one of the better interior defensemen in the league and was a pivotal piece of the Jazz’s highly rated defense.
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Zion
I tend to believe the hype on this guy just based on what I saw of him in college. He may not click on the offensive side of the ball right away, but that should come in time given his freakish talent, size and athleticism. With that said, one thing that I think will translate right away is his defensive abilities. He seemed to be able to guard any position with ease and with his size he should be a beast of a defender on the interior.
That is a pretty scary proposition for Pelicans opponents this year as he should be on the court at the same time as Derrick Favors leaving opponents little chance for points in the paint.
New Orleans Pelicans Weaknesses:
Chemistry
This all looks fantastic on paper, but how will these guys gel. You have fundamental basketball with guys like Favors and Holiday and then you have a super rookie who almost certainly won’t be playing a fundamental style on day 1. Then we have the guys from the Lakers who obviously have some level of chemistry between them, but we have no idea how that translates over to the big easy.
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Along with the chemistry question, who will hold this team together, who will be the leader? That likely falls on the shoulders of the starting PG Jrue Holliday, but I am not sure he is the leader to bring all these guys together. It will be interesting to see what happens in regards to this question as it is the single determining factor that will define this Pelicans season.
New Orleans Pelicans Betting Prediction: 40-42
I think 20-21 will be the Pelicans breakout year, but I expect them to show plenty of promise this year and to compete for that 8 spot in the playoffs. I see Zion having a solid rookie year and for this defense to be stout. Look for a big year from Jrue Holiday who is supremely talented and now gets an abundance of talent around him. I do worry about the chemistry problems and the leadership. Inevitably a team that is essentially led by a rookie will have its ups and downs and I expect that in 19-20.
I would look for a bit of a slow start before this team gets going to make a charge for a postseason spot. I don’t see it happening, but if this group somehow gels right off the bat this could be a very dangerous team.
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