How good can the Pelicans be?

[LarBrd33]

They are kind of a wildcard team, right?

Anthony Davis seems to be right on track to be the 2nd coming of Kevin Garnett.  Still only 20 years old and over the first 6 games he's averaging 23 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 steals ...  So far, he looks better than KG at the same age.

They are finally looking like they might be getting some good production out of Eric Gordon.  Holiday is a solid PG.  Ryan Anderson should be coming back soon.   They currently have Tyreke Evans off the bench.

They are only 3-3 right now, but does anyone else think they could be a sneaky team this year if stuff breaks right?

[Who]

They have been a four man team, well five once R.Anderson comes back, whenever I have seen them this season. The rest of their lineup is going to have contribute more if they are going to get to the playoffs.

[arctic 3.0]

They are kind of a wildcard team, right?

Anthony Davis seems to be right on track to be the 2nd coming of Kevin Garnett.  Still only 20 years old and over the first 6 games he's averaging 23 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 steals ...  So far, he looks better than KG at the same age.

They are finally looking like they might be getting some good production out of Eric Gordon.  Holiday is a solid PG.  Ryan Anderson should be coming back soon.   They currently have Tyreke Evans off the bench.

They are only 3-3 right now, but does anyone else think they could be a sneaky team this year if stuff breaks right?

Second conning of KG?
When can we get him?

[hardlyyardley]

Rivers is getting either token minutes or DNPCD

[mgent]

They are kind of a wildcard team, right?

Anthony Davis seems to be right on track to be the 2nd coming of Kevin Garnett.  Still only 20 years old and over the first 6 games he's averaging 23 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 steals ...  So far, he looks better than KG at the same age.

They are finally looking like they might be getting some good production out of Eric Gordon.  Holiday is a solid PG.  Ryan Anderson should be coming back soon.   They currently have Tyreke Evans off the bench.

They are only 3-3 right now, but does anyone else think they could be a sneaky team this year if stuff breaks right?

If they stay healthy I think they could fight for an 8 seed.  In the West there's:

1. San Antonio
2. Houston
3. Golden State
4. OKC
5. Clippers
6. Memphis
7. Portland

Other than Minnesota, I don't really see any other serious teams.  And their bench sucks too.  At least NO's bench has some potential to not suck with Evans, Morrow, Ryan Anderson, and Steimsma.

[saltlover]

They are kind of a wildcard team, right?

Anthony Davis seems to be right on track to be the 2nd coming of Kevin Garnett.  Still only 20 years old and over the first 6 games he's averaging 23 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 steals ...  So far, he looks better than KG at the same age.

They are finally looking like they might be getting some good production out of Eric Gordon.  Holiday is a solid PG.  Ryan Anderson should be coming back soon.   They currently have Tyreke Evans off the bench.

They are only 3-3 right now, but does anyone else think they could be a sneaky team this year if stuff breaks right?

If they stay healthy I think they could fight for an 8 seed.  In the West there's:

1. San Antonio
2. Houston
3. Golden State
4. OKC
5. Clippers
6. Memphis
7. Portland

Other than Minnesota, I don't really see any other serious teams.  And their bench sucks too.  At least NO's bench has some potential to not suck with Evans, Morrow, Ryan Anderson, and Steimsma.

I'd put Dallas above Portland, Minny, and the Pelicans.  The Lakers can't be forgotten depending how quickly Kobe comes back and how much they can tread water in the meanwhile.

Pelicans certainly have a real chance at the 7 or 8 seed, but I think it will be more of a 5-way battle for the last two spots (or 6-way for three spots depending on your opinion of Memphis) rather than. 3-way battle for two spots.  The West is still the stronger conference.

[D.o.s.]

Tyreke's in a prime position to win SMOTY. Hope he makes the best of it.

[Kane3387]

Davis is a gem. The persona of Tim Duncan and the game of Kevin Garnett.

[Boris Badenov]

If I were them I'd be trying to make one more move.

Maybe something like this?

Asik
Donatas

for

Anderson
Stiemsma
Rivers

This gives NOP a starting lineup of Asik/Davis/DoMo/Gordon/Holiday and a decent bench. Or they can still start Aminu.

For HOU it pairs Dwight and Anderson and solves the Asik/Howard logjam, replaces Asik with a decent backup, and gives them another young asset in Rivers.

[Quetzalcoatl]

I could totally see Portland or even Memphis to be honest missing the playoffs this year.  The league is way deeper than I thought it was going to be.  I wouldn't be that surprised if Dallas, The Pellies and Minnesota all made the cut

[fandrew]

If I were them I'd be trying to make one more move.

Maybe something like this?

Asik
Donatas

for

Anderson
Stiemsma
Rivers

This gives NOP a starting lineup of Asik/Davis/DoMo/Gordon/Holiday and a decent bench. Or they can still start Aminu.

For HOU it pairs Dwight and Anderson and solves the Asik/Howard logjam, replaces Asik with a decent backup, and gives them another young asset in Rivers.

I think this would be an interesting development. Asik is going to be in demand come the trade deadline I think. Clippers could also use him if they could work something out... would really shore up their defense.

[mgent]

They are kind of a wildcard team, right?

Anthony Davis seems to be right on track to be the 2nd coming of Kevin Garnett.  Still only 20 years old and over the first 6 games he's averaging 23 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 steals ...  So far, he looks better than KG at the same age.

They are finally looking like they might be getting some good production out of Eric Gordon.  Holiday is a solid PG.  Ryan Anderson should be coming back soon.   They currently have Tyreke Evans off the bench.

They are only 3-3 right now, but does anyone else think they could be a sneaky team this year if stuff breaks right?

If they stay healthy I think they could fight for an 8 seed.  In the West there's:

1. San Antonio
2. Houston
3. Golden State
4. OKC
5. Clippers
6. Memphis
7. Portland

Other than Minnesota, I don't really see any other serious teams.  And their bench sucks too.  At least NO's bench has some potential to not suck with Evans, Morrow, Ryan Anderson, and Steimsma.

I'd put Dallas above Portland, Minny, and the Pelicans.  The Lakers can't be forgotten depending how quickly Kobe comes back and how much they can tread water in the meanwhile.

Pelicans certainly have a real chance at the 7 or 8 seed, but I think it will be more of a 5-way battle for the last two spots (or 6-way for three spots depending on your opinion of Memphis) rather than. 3-way battle for two spots.  The West is still the stronger conference.

Dallas doesn't have anyone outside Dirk and Ellis, Lakers don't have anyone outside Kobe and Pau.  At least Portland, Minny, and NO have full teams.  There's also much more potential in guys like Lillard, Davis, and Pekovic than there is in Jae Crowder and Xavier Henry.

An even bigger problem is the fact that Dallas and LA might have the two worst defenses in the league.  Ellis, Dirk, Calderon, Blair, and Carter?  Way too much age on that team, and eventually Marion is gonna lose it (35 now).  The Lakers on the other hand have Nash, Kaman, Steve Blake, Meeks, and Nick Young.  A lot of age on that team too.

[PhoSita]

Davis reminds me more of Tim Duncan than Kevin Garnett.

As others have said, though, perhaps he's more like a mashup of the two.

In any case, he was already really good last year when he was healthy.  This year he's taking the league by storm.

The Pelicans are going to be just fine long term.  Holiday is a perfectly fine point guard, and Davis, as long as he stays healthy, is a superstar big man.  Defensive stud who can also score. 

The NOPEs just need to add some depth, especially on the wings, and they'll be golden.

I think they probably need to trade Gordon for a couple more reliable pieces though.