NBA: 3 teams that exceeded expectations during the 2017-18 regular season
By Bronson Hope
New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans season has definitely been one to remember, and improve on next season. In its first full season with DeMarcus Cousins, the Pelicans were hopeful to make the playoffs this year.
Through 48 games with Cousins, the Pelicans were doing that with a solid record of 27-21. Unfortunately, after he went down for the season with a torn Achilles the rest of their season looked bleak.
To start, the Pelicans managed to keep playing well winning 11 of their next 16 games without him. Overall they are 19-13 since his injury which is essentially the same they were playing with him. The Pelicans record is currently 46-34, a great improvement from last season finishing 10th in the conference.
Currently, the Pelicans sit as the 5th seed in the West. However, that could still change over the last couple games as just one game separates the 4-8 seeds. With Anthony Davis and “playoff Rondo”, the Pelicans will be a tough out for anyone in the first round.