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New Orleans Pelicans 2016-17 Season Outlook: A Return To The Playoffs?

By James Polazzon

Sep 23, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; (editors note: caption correction) New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) and guard Buddy Hield (24) and guard Tyreke Evans (1) and head coach Alvin Gentry pose for a portrait with head coach Alvin Gentry during media day at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 23, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; (editors note: caption correction) New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) and guard Buddy Hield (24) and guard Tyreke Evans (1) and head coach Alvin Gentry pose for a portrait with head coach Alvin Gentry during media day at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 13, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry on the sideline during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 13, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry on the sideline during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Depth Chart

PG: Jrue Holiday, Langston Galloway, Tim Frazier, Quinn Cook

SG: Tyreke Evans, Buddy Hield, E’Twaun Moore, Lance Stephenson

SF: Solomon Hill, Quincy Pondexter, Alonzo Gee, Shane Dawson

PF: Anthony Davis, Terrence Jones, Dante Cunningham

C: Omer Asik, Alexis Ajinca, Cheick Diallo, Robert Sacre

Second-year head coach Alvin Gentry certainly has his work cut out for him with this roster. There are so many possible lineups Gentry could roll out and if this season is anything like last season, he won’t really have a choice at what lineup he’d like.

Instead, let’s imagine everyone somehow becomes 100 percent healthy (excluding Jrue Holiday, who is currently out not injured but supporting his wife who has a brain tumor and just delivered their first child).

Holiday’s out so who starts at point? Galloway? Frazier? Evans? If Evans starts at point guard, will Hield be able to come in straight away and not be a liability? How about Stephenson? Can he find his form in New Orleans and earn a starting gig? What about small forward? Does Hill or Pondexter start? Does Davis start at power forward or center? If Davis is starting at center, who starts at power forward?

These are all questions that Gentry will need to answer and answer quickly if he wants his team to push for a playoff berth.

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