13/14 Pelicans...are they the 12/13 Mavs?

[moylana25]

I'll preface by saying I've been a bit of a Hornets/Pelicans fan for about the past two years. Not sure why I initially followed them because they were so bad but the Rivers draft pick certainly helped.

Anyway, I've been scanning through fanposts at the Pelicans blog and I just have a bad feeling that the fans may be duped this year.

Within the past two weeks the Pelicans have added:
Tyreke Evans
Jrue Holiday
Greg Stiemsma
Jeff Withey via PDX

And have shed:
Roger Mason Jr
Lance Thomas
Robin Lopez

I'm not the most up to date on their other minor moves but the guard rotation is looking pretty adequate with Jrue, Evans, a hopefully improved Rivers, and the often injured Eric Gordon.

Something just screams 12/13 Mavs though when I look at this as a reloading roster for a team that wasn't even a contender for the championship in the first place. Yes, I think the new Pelicans roster has potential but I've read posts at the Hive where fans think the Pelicans can jump to as high as sixth in the West all of a sudden.

Is it just me, or do I see the Mavs experiment of adding serious guard depth last year (Fisher, Mayo, Collison) in an attempt to reload become repeated in NOLA with similar aspirations of actually making a run? I hope not, I've recently relocated from CT to AL for work so now the closest team to me is NOLA.

[PhoSita]

Well, the key difference is that they didn't "reload" by adding a bunch of veterans and journeymen on short term deals.  They've got a lot of young depth on that team now, and it will be interesting to see how those players can grow together.

I don't really see Tyreke as a good fit with Eric Gordon and Jrue Holiday.  I think they'll have to choose between Gordon or Evans.  Tyreke is not a 3 unless you're playing small-ball.

I like their big man rotation, though.  Davis can play either big spot, Ryan Anderson spreads the floor, Withey and Stiemsma should function as capable backup rim protectors.  Unless they want Davis to start at the 5, though, they're going to need to add a quality starting center, somehow.  In the meantime, though, they can do worse than starting Anderson next to Davis.

I think they're still missing a starting quality small forward, too.  All they really need is a decent 3 and D guy.  Aminu still could be that player, though I think he's probably a combo forward off the bench ideally.

Anyways, I think they'll be significantly better than last year, and Holiday and Davis should be a solid pairing to build around for years to come.  If either Tyreke or Gordon can deliver on his promise as a 18-20 ppg scorer within the flow of that offense, they could really have something.

[syfy9]

The Mavs were a veteran team. Oldish. The Pelicans have garnered a lot of young talent.


I would much rather have the 13/14 Pelicans over the 12/13 Mavs.

[Smutzy#9]

Aminu at the 3 isnt terribly bad. the way the guard rotation would work is having Tyreke play the point when holiday rests, as he did in SAC in his rookie and best year to date. Have rivers off the ball with a little bit of it but not running the point when Gordon rests. They can make it work.

[Who]

I got them 9th or 10th in the West.

Playoffs -- 6 teams -- OKC, HOU, SAS, LAC + MEM, GSW
Fighting for 7th and 8th seeds -- MIN, DEN, POR, NOH
Lottery -- LAL, DAL, UTA, SAC, PHO

[snively]

I got them 9th or 10th in the West.

Playoffs -- 6 teams -- OKC, HOU, SAS, LAC + MEM, GSW
Fighting for 7th and 8th seeds -- MIN, DEN, POR, NOH
Lottery -- LAL, DAL, UTA, SAC, PHO

I think Dallas should be in that 7th and 8th seed race - Dirk should be a little healthier this year and Calderon stabilizes the position that gave them a lot of problems last year.

Not sold on Portland being any better this year either.  I don't rate Lillard so highly.  I'd put them down with Lakers as the best of worst.