New Orleans Pelicans
Many may not believe that the New Orleans Pelicans are facing pressure this season but I’d like to make an argument that they are. Looking objectively, Zion Williamson, who is finally healthy again, will be entering year four of his career. He missed all of his third season, but there is some added pressure considering it all.
Add that to the fact that the Pelicans finished on an upward trend last season, there is a level of expectation that Zion is only going to make this team better. That means that, at the very least, the Pelicans must make the playoffs. But with how deep the Western Conference is, that may be easier said than done.
The Pelicans have a talented core in Zion, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum. That’s a core that should be a playoff team and probably much more. We’ll see if New Orleans can live up to that potential.