Last week, the new NBA season tipped off, and with the new season comes new expectations. The New Orleans Pelicans fell short of last season’s expectations due to injuries that sidelined All-Stars Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson. Now, the Pelicans have their team healthy and have a 2-1 start to the season.
Overreaction Time: New Orleans Pelicans Week 1 Takeaways
Fans all around the world have already started talking about their hopes for their perspective teams. Fans of the New Orleans Pelicans might have had some uneasy feelings since Williamson was drafted. The Pelicans star has played in all of the team’s games so far in the early part of the season. His ability to get anywhere inside the paint was on display in a 13-second sequence on opening night. At the top of the key, Williamson split the double team and then went on to put Jaren Jackson Jr. on a poster. He then caught a half-court alley-oop pass from Ingram on the next possession.
The Pelicans shot 43.8% from deep on their opening night. In the two games since the Pelicans averaged 26.45% from beyond the arc. Williamson and Ingram are both averaging about 22 points per game to start the year. Even after three games, the Pelicans have averaged just 103 points a night as a unit. Their defense has been a catalyst so far.
Availability is key
Ingram played in 45 games, and Williamson in 29 last season due to injuries. Ingram sat out Monday’s game against the Golden State Warriors with knee soreness and is considered day-to-day. Jose Alvarado, who has an ankle sprain, will be re-evaluated next week. When healthy, the Pelicans are one of the top teams in the Western Conference. At the time of Williamson’s injury, New Orleans was at the top of the standings. There is also chemistry between the veterans and the younger players on this team.
Avoid the Play-In Tournament
The Play-In tournament is something that the Pelicans have been too familiar with. Since the tournament initially started in 2021, only the Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets have appeared in more Play-In games. The goal is to get to the postseason as healthy as possible. One key way of doing that is avoiding the Play-In by being a sixth seed or better. The Western Conference is tough, and thanks to the James Harden trade, the conference just got even tougher.
The Last Word on the New Orleans Pelicans’ Week One Takeaways
The Pelicans have shown their ability to bully and play smothering defense to annoy their opponents. That was put on display against the New York Knicks last week. The topic of the locker room should be shooting efficient shots and crashing the glass. This week will provide more chances to solidify their identity this season with games against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Hawks, Detroit Pistons, and the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets.
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