In the 2013-14 season, the New Orleans Pelicans won 34 games and finished as the 12th seed in the harsh Western Conference. Looking at that for what it is, you might think the Pelicans do not have much going for them and are likely doomed for the West cellar against.
But when you look deeper into the issue, you realize New Orleans was just destroyed by injuries last season. Anthony Davis, one of the best players in the whole league, only played 67 games. Tyreke Evans was able to play even more, participating in 72 contests. But Ryan Anderson (22 games, crippled by a brutal back injury), Eric Gordon (64 games) and Jrue Holiday (34 games, leg injury) were not as lucky.
Those five guys are all pretty good NBA players and would be a formidable starting lineup if they were ever able to be healthy at the same time for once. Also, the Pelicans picked up Omer Asik from the Rockets this summer and traded for Russ Smith’s, of Louisville, draft rights in attempts to strengthen a roster that — on talent — is probably a playoff one.
Monty Williams has had a difficult task managing his team through injuries the last few seasons. Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
However, since the NBA plays its games in reality as opposed to just on paper, New Orleans is no shoo-in for the postseason in the 2014-15 season. Monty Williams has six really good players but after that, it gets a little rough. And if those six players are not healthy to even be on the court, it’ll be impossible for them to contribute in the way the team is relying on them to.
As Bourbon Street Shots notes, this team (when still called the Hornets back in 2007-08) faced a similar situation awhile back. That Hornets team was very talented — Chris Paul and David West — just like this Pelicans team. And like this Pelicans team, they suffered a ton of injuries and missed games from key players.
That post notes how so many writers were very wrong about that year’s team, predicting for it either barely make the playoffs or miss it entirely. In fact, the Hornets that season were the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference and nearly made the conference finals.
The reason for the big surprise? They were able to stay healthy.
The key for success for the 2014-15 Pelicans is the same as the 2007-08 Hornets: health.
Just imagine 75-82 games of Anthony Davis, Gordon, Evans, Holiday, Anderson AND Asik, along with some complementary pieces? I do not see how that team could miss the playoffs and make some noise in the postseason when there.
It is easy to rag on Monty Williams for questionable rotation decisions and for the lack of scoring efficiency from Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon, but there is no debating this is a scary lineup to defend.
The defensive side of the ball will not be as easy for New Orleans, but Anthony Davis is a dominant force in blocking and Tyreke Evans can guard the opposing team’s best scorer. The rest are relative liabilities but a great offense and so-so defense wold be more than enough for 45-50 wins.
