5. New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans have been one of the better feel-good stories in the NBA this season, specifically in the Western Conference. They’re currently one of the more consistent teams in the West and have made quite the jump from last season. That said, I don’t believe that they’ll finish as a top-four seed in the West.
Part of that will be due to injuries (Zion Williamson is currently out for a few weeks, at the least) and part of that will be due to inexperience. Nevertheless, as long as the Pelicans take a step up this season, it will be considered a success.
Finishing as the fifth seed and entering the playoffs somewhat healthy, the Pelicans are going to pose a problem for some teams in the West playoffs. Despite their inexperience, this is not a team you want to see in the first round of the playoffs.