From widespread injuries in training camp, to a 1-11 start to the regular season, to a series of additional recent injuries, the first half of the 2015-16 campaign was anything but a smooth ride for the New Orleans Pelicans. In a completely unforeseen NBA development, however, the Western Conference is perhaps at its lowest point competitively over the past two decades, with the current eighth-place team sporting a below-.500 record at the midway point. It’s been 19 years since a West team reached the postseason with a losing mark (the 1996-97 Clippers were an 8 seed at 36-46), but it’s possible that could happen this spring. At 14-27 overall exactly halfway through the 82-game schedule, New Orleans has some serious work to do to get within striking distance of the .500 mark, yet is only four games behind No. 8 Utah (18-23). With 41 games in the rearview mirror and 41 more ahead, here’s an overview of the Pelicans’ season:
TEAM MVP
It’s been easy to get spoiled by what Anthony Davis did on the court over his previous three seasons, including two All-Star appearances and an All-NBA first-team selection in 2014-15. In his fourth NBA year, his individual numbers are down slightly in a few categories, including scoring average (23.1 from 24.4), field-goal percentage (49.1 from 53.5) and blocks (2.4 from 2.9). However, there are a few contributing factors to those statistics, including that in-game injuries have forced him to play fewer than 20 minutes in a game four times, dragging down his per-game numbers. He’s also taken 62 three-point attempts, more than doubling his combined career total of 27. Even with those small drops in effectiveness, Davis has often carried the Pelicans and is pulling down a career-best 10.4 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-10 power forward has registered seven games of 30-plus points and six games of 15 or more rebounds. Davis has scored at least 17 points in every New Orleans win; the Pelicans are 0-5 in the handful of games he’s missed due to injury.
BEST TREND
Despite being forced to use 18 different starting lineup in the first 41 games (it will be 19 on Thursday when the Pelicans have to replace guard Eric Gordon at one of the guard spots), New Orleans has excelled in two areas of the game where fundamentals matter most. The Pelicans are ranked second in the NBA in free-throw percentage (79.6), led by Gordon’s 88.5 rate and Ryan Anderson’s 87.7 accuracy. Gordon is currently 10th among all players, while Anderson ranks 15th. Meanwhile, New Orleans has committed the fifth-fewest turnovers among the 30 NBA teams, averaging just 13.8 per game. Jrue Holiday has recently personified the team’s excellence in taking care of the ball, with 38 assists and seven turnovers over the past four games.
WORST TREND
During a mid-October stretch, it seemed like almost every key Pelican was sidelined by an injury of some kind. The health concerns have gradually lessened as the season has progressed, but only Gordon and Alonzo Gee made it through the first half with an appearance in all 41 games (and Gordon’s streak of 90 straight games will end Thursday vs. Detroit due to a broken finger). In his first season at the helm, Alvin Gentry has constantly been forced to change his plan based on lineup alterations. In addition to being winless without Davis (0-5), the Pelicans were 4-13 by the time Tyreke Evans and Norris Cole made their season debuts Dec. 1. Projected starting small forward Quincy Pondexter, a key catalyst to last season’s playoff berth, will miss the entire season, causing Gentry to currently play Dante Cunningham a bit out of position as the starting 3.
BEST WINS
Despite their current status as the 12th-best team in the West standings, the Pelicans have often shown their potential by taking down some of the NBA’s heavyweights. Here are the team’s three most impressive victories to date:
New Orleans 104, San Antonio 90 (Nov. 20)
One of only six losses for the Spurs – the NBA’s second-best team – the Pelicans led after every quarter and took command with a 26-16 fourth period. Davis led the way in the ESPN game with 20 points and 18 rebounds, as New Orleans continued its uncanny recent success vs. San Antonio. The Pelicans are 4-1 against the Spurs over the past two seasons, with the lone defeat coming in overtime in the Alamo City.
New Orleans 114, Cleveland 108, OT (Dec. 4)
Also an ESPN national game, the Pelicans held the Cavaliers to only three points in the extra period. Davis went for 31 points, 12 rebounds and four steals, logging 46 minutes to help beat the Eastern Conference’s best team. LeBron James poured in 37 points to go with seven rebounds and eight assists, but it wasn’t enough.
New Orleans 105, Dallas 98 (Jan. 6)
The Pelicans’ best road victory of the season (the others were at Phoenix, Utah, Denver and Sacramento) was highlighted by another fantastic Davis performance, consisting of 31 points and 14 rebounds. Dallas made a furious comeback to cut its deficit to 97-96 with 2:03 left, but New Orleans outscored its hosts 8-2 from there.
WEST PLAYOFF RACE
A snapshot look at the teams just ahead of New Orleans in the West standings:
Utah (18-23, 4 games ahead of New Orleans)
Upcoming schedule: The Jazz have three games remaining on a current East road trip, with stops in New York, Brooklyn and Washington, but then play six consecutive at home, mostly against East teams. Utah has been significantly better at home than on the road this season.
Season series vs. New Orleans: Tied 1-1, but the two remaining games are both in the Smoothie King Center.
Portland (19-25, 3.5 games ahead of New Orleans)
Upcoming schedule: Like the Pelicans, the Trail Blazers are ready for some home cooking the rest of this month. Portland’s seven-game homestand at Moda Center opens tonight on ESPN vs. Atlanta. Only two opponents during this favorable stretch sport winning records (Hawks, Raptors).
Season series vs. New Orleans: Portland leads 2-1, with only a March 18 meeting remaining in the Big Easy.
Sacramento (17-23, 3.5 games ahead of New Orleans)
Upcoming schedule: So-so in terms of opponent strength, but of the Kings’ final 10 games before the All-Star break, eight are on the road, including a potentially important Portland/New Orleans/Memphis trek.
Season series vs. New Orleans: New Orleans leads 1-0, with three more meetings remaining.
Denver (16-26, 1.5 games ahead of New Orleans)
Upcoming schedule: Seven of the next nine opponents have a winning record, including all three visitors left on a current lengthy homestand (Memphis, Detroit and Atlanta). Denver also has a Jan. 27-Feb. 26 stretch of 10 road games out of 14 total contests.
KEY PELICANS SECOND-HALF GAMES
Here are a few of the near-future New Orleans games that may hold particular significance in its attempt to become a key player in the West postseason chase:
Sacramento at New Orleans, Thursday, Jan. 28 and Monday, March 7
The Kings have not made the playoffs since 2006, but have emerged as a bona fide threat in recent weeks. Sacramento is 10-8 since a 7-15 start to the season.
Utah at New Orleans, Wednesday, Feb. 10 and Saturday, March 5
The West’s eighth-place team for several weeks, Utah has battled numerous injuries. The Jazz are trending downward, with an 8-13 record since starting 10-10.
Portland at New Orleans, Friday, March 18
The last chance for the Pelicans to tie the head-to-head season series vs. the Trail Blazers at 2-2. These teams have nearly the exact same record vs. the East, with Portland 4-10 and New Orleans 3-10, so the potential next tiebreaking step (the reverse, which is conference record vs. West) could go either way.
