A fully healthy New Orleans Pelicans team has the potential to be scary good in the Western Conference.
The 5-2 New Orleans Pelicans now have the rest of the Western Conference on notice. Head coach Willie Green should be an early favorite to win the NBA’s Coach of the Year award if he can help lead the Pelicans back to the playoffs.
Zion Williamson continues to improve with each game, while the Pelicans have beaten talented teams even without Brandon Ingram. Through the early portion of the season, the Pelicans already have some impressive wins on their resume, including victories over the LA Clippers and Dallas Mavericks.
What’s different for the New Orleans Pelicans?
The Pelicans look fantastic, becoming elite on the offensive end, averaging 118.5 points per game, ranking fifth behind the Warriors, the Suns, the Pacers, and the Grizzles. The Pelicans continue to be effective from the floor, ranking second in three-point percentage and third in field goals made.
The team is on fire on the offensive end while dominating in the paint with Williamson’s return. While he looks incredible, Jonas Valanciunas continues to be effective on the glass and is a massive part of their inside dominance. Ranking second in points in the paint; they can’t be stopped when they get close to the basket.
Everyone is playing their role well for the New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans may have surprised the league with their success, but the team is playing well together. Six players on the Pels are averaging double-figure scoring this season. Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, and Brandon Ingram are all over 20 points per game, while Valanciunas, Trey Murphy, and Naji Marshall are all averaging over 10 points per game.
Murphy is developing into something special. Against the Mavs, Murphy didn’t miss a single shot, scoring 22 points and winning the game while Williamson was out. Murphy is averaging over 15 points, becoming of the most effective three-point shooters for the Pels. Murphy continues to impress on the defensive side of the ball with his seven-foot wingspan. The big-time shooter will continue to develop and may become a foundational piece for the team.
Zion Williamson is finally healthy and continues to play great. Averaging 22 points, eight rebounds, and nearly two steals is an impressive start for a player who has missed more than an entire season. He had a near triple-double against the Clippers, but he sometimes struggled to score. However, since he receives most of the other team’s attention, he began passing the ball more and had seven assists, along with 12 rebounds. If Williamson continues to improve his game, he’ll become unstoppable.
The Pelicans have been impressive even without Brandon Ingram this season
Brandon Ingram is one of the best scorers in the league, but unfortunately, he’s missed four games already after exiting against the Jazz when he suffered a concussion. The Pels have won two games without Ingram, but they will improve dramatically once he returns.
In the two games where Ingram was healthy this season, he averaged 28 points. The Pelicans are undefeated this season when Ingram is on the floor. Once he returns from concussion protocol, the trio of Williamson, McCollum, and Ingram will be too much for teams to handle.
Ingram can easily average the most points on the team and expect nothing less than an elite season from the former Most Improved Player award winner starving for an All-Star season this year.
How good can the New Orleans Pelicans be this season?
Zion Williamson and the Pelicans are well on their way to another playoff run this season. The Western Conference is competitive, but they will make their way into a deep playoff run this season.
Williamson’s return is massive for this team, as he provides a nearly impossible task for defenses to stop. At the same time, Ingram and McCollum can have their way on the offensive end. The Pels look to be a top contender in the West, and even if something were to happen, the organization is set for the future.
In addition to this impressive start to the season, it’s important to remember that the Pelicans have the Lakers’ first-round selection in the 2023 NBA Draft, which may become a top pick in the draft if the Lakers continue to be a dumpster fire. The future is bright for New Orleans.