New Orleans Pelicans' Schedule Breakdown and Record Predictions for December
The New Orleans Pelicans are coming.
It might not be this year, or even next, but this team will make some serious noise in the near future with 21-year-old superstar Anthony Davis leading the way.
Expectations heading into 2014-15 were realistic, as clinching a postseason berth would make the season an immense success. As of Dec. 3, the Pelicans are 8-8 and a game-and-a-half games out of eighth place in the Western Conference.
“When I’m healthy and the whole team’s healthy, we’ll be a playoff team,” Davis said over the summer, per Jim Eichenhofer of NBA.com “We definitely had the pieces we need to be that team. Unfortunately last year, we were all hurt. I think that’s going to change.”
The injury bug has already sunk its teeth into the team. Guard Eric Gordon is out indefinitely with a torn labrum in his left shoulder, but Bleacher Report’s Stephen Babb thinks that this challenge may help New Orleans in the long run:
"More than any individual contribution, a little early adversity may help the Pelicans build some grit and connectivity. They have the talent to replace Gordon for a few months, but they'll also need resolve. With a thinner margin for error, playing defense and doing little things now matter even more.
"
November held no surprises. On some nights, New Orleans looked polished and playoff-bound. On others, it looked like a young team that is not yet ready for the big time.
The Pelicans have a daunting slate of games ahead of them in December. But if they can withstand the harsh winter, they’ll be better prepared to make a playoff push when the weather gets warmer.
Week 1: December 1-6
1 of 6
Key Game: Thursday, Dec. 4 @Golden State Warriors (10:30 p.m.)
How to Watch: TNT
Other opponents: Oklahoma City Thunder (W), Los Angeles Clippers (W)
Gordon’s injury means the Austin Rivers Show is about to begin.
The former Duke star disappointed in his rookie season after New Orleans took him with the 10th pick in 2012, but he’s quietly become a solid role player these past two years.
According to Basketball Reference, the three-man combination of Davis, Jrue Holiday and Rivers has given the Pelicans plus-26.6 points per 100 possessions—roughly three points more than the next closest trio this year.
In the Pelicans’ first contest without Gordon, who had started all 12 games pre-injury, Darius Miller got the start alongside Holiday and Tyreke Evans.
However, it was Rivers who came off the bench for 27 minutes. The 22-year-old guard totaled eight points, three rebounds and two assists in a 99-89 loss to the Sacramento Kings.
On Dec. 4, Rivers is going to be put to the test on prime-time TV against the Warriors’ Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. That game will be the Pelicans' first national appearance of the year.
While Golden State will likely come away with the win, it will be a good experience for the young Rivers, whom the Pelicans will rely more heavily on going forward.
Despite the fact that Russell Westbrook is returning from a broken hand, the Pelicans have a good shot at defeating the Thunder. If Durant also returns, beating OKC will be a tall order. Regardless of who's back, though, no one on that roster is fit to cover Davis.
Los Angeles hasn’t lived up to expectations this season, and if Holiday can go tit-for-tat with Chris Paul, it wouldn’t be surprising to see New Orleans steal one against the Clips.
Record Prediction: 2-1
Week 2: December 7-13
2 of 6
Key Game: Wednesday, Dec. 10 @ Dallas Mavericks (8 p.m.)
How to Watch: ESPN
Other opponents: Los Angeles Lakers (W), New York Knicks (W), Cleveland Cavaliers (W)
If there’s one thing the NBA is great at from a business standpoint, it’s marketing its stars.
As relayed by Paul Flannery of SB Nation, the Pelicans-Mavs game scheduled for broadcast on ESPN was originally supposed to be the Knicks against the San Antonio Spurs.
Here’s Flannery on AD's rise to national stardom and how that affects his team:
"The original schedule, set last summer well before the season began taking shape, featured the Knicks and Spurs in that spot. That’s how good Davis has been: He bumped a game featuring the defending champs and a team from New York.
"We’ve been keeping an eye on him," says ESPN’s Doug White, the senior director of programming and acquisitions. "His performance for USA basketball over the summer in the FIBA World Cup solidified and crystallized in our minds; he really emerged as leader this summer. We had some inkling that his star was on the rise. You could obviously see the maturity in him in terms of his game and also his leadership skills. That’s translated on the court and into the performance of his team."
"
Flannery also noted that “there was a bit of an outcry from NBA observers who wanted to know why Davis wasn’t featured more heavily” early on in the year. Now, after cementing himself in the MVP discussion, Davis is getting more national exposure for himself and his team.
Let's see what he makes of it.
The Pelicans will get a Mavericks team that’s proved to be one of the NBA’s elite in the young season.
Davis has a date in the paint with Dirk Nowitzki, who called the former No. 1 pick “the future of power forwards.” That monumental compliment would be like Derek Jeter telling a young star he’s the future of shortstops.
Dallas is likely to emerge victorious, but to keep it close, the Pelicans need to stay true to themselves by playing a fun, up-and-down game that features a lot of highlights and, more importantly, a lot of Davis.
After a probable loss to the Mavs, New Orleans will get the wind back under its wings with two contests against the bottom-feeding Lakers and Knicks. Beating the Cavaliers won't be easy, but the Pels gave LeBron James and Co. a scare the first time around.
It took a superhuman effort from LBJ—32 points, 11 boards and nine assists—to down Davis (27 points and 14 rebounds) and the Pelicans, 118-111, on Nov. 10 in Cleveland.
Expect New Orleans to defend its home court on Dec. 12.
Record Prediction: 3-1
Week 3: December 14-20
3 of 6
Key Game: Thursday, Dec. 18 @ Houston Rockets (8:30 p.m.)
Other opponents: Warriors (L), Utah Jazz (W), Portland Trail Blazers (L)
Up to this point, the Pelicans have been smoothly sledding down the mountain of December.
This is where the sled crashes.
The ‘Cans will get the Rockets, Warriors, Jazz and Trail Blazers this week. They'll be lucky to come away with anything in what will likely be their toughest stretch in December.
Portland could be susceptible given the team will be playing on the tail end of a back-to-back. But with Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge, it’s hard to chalk this up as a win for New Orleans.
Utah would appear to be the easiest target for a W, but the Jazz have pulled off victories against the Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns. Utah’s record isn’t impressive, but that doesn’t mean that New Orleans will have an easy time against the young team. Still, if there’s a game to be won, this is it.
The marquee matchup here is against Houston because Davis will get to do battle with Dwight Howard, one of the league’s most formidable beasts on both ends.
Howard has been battling a knee injury, but by the time Dec. 18 rolls around, D12 should be good to go.
Record Prediction: 1-3
Week 4: December 21-27
4 of 6
Key Game: Friday, Dec. 26 vs. San Antonio Spurs (8 p.m.)
Other opponents: Thunder (W), Indiana Pacers (W), Chicago Bulls (L)
The schedule lightens up here, but not by much.
Durant will probably be ready to rock with a few games under his belt come Dec. 26. With both KD and Westbrook presumably back, this game with the Thunder looks a whole lot more difficult. Still, Davis should be able to carry his team and get the win.
The Pelicans should handle the undermanned Pacers with ease.
Chicago is also on the schedule here, which will be a difficult matchup for the pick-and-roll-heavy Pelicans. The Bulls are a stout, gritty and defensive-minded team, and they're allowing just 99 points per night to opponents (14th in the league).
Gregg Popovich and the Spurs are unpredictable, so this could go from New Orleans’ game of the week to an easy win if Pop opts to sit Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Boris Diaw or any of the other elder statesmen.
But for now, let’s view it as the real Spurs against the Pelicans.
San Antonio is at the top of the basketball world, fresh off a title and already out to a great start in 2014-15. The Pelicans have a long way to go before reaching those heights, but with a young core in place, New Orleans should look to the Spurs as a role model.
Drake gave a great example of this relationship on "Thank Me Now" (warning: strong language): “And that's around the time that your idols become your rivals / You make friends with Mike but got to A.I. him for your survival.”
Allen Iverson looked up to Michael Jordan, but when his opportunity came, A.I. shook his idol and drained a jumper right over him.
It’s time for the Pelicans to start making strides in that same direction with matchups like this one against San Antonio.
Record Prediction: 2-2
Week 5: December 28-31
5 of 6
Key Game: Tuesday, Dec. 30 vs. Phoenix Suns (8 p.m.)
Other opponents: Spurs (L)
Phoenix is stuck in a mud pit very similar to the one that’s slowing New Orleans down.
The Suns are good, and a postseason appearance would be a slam dunk if they played in the East. As of Nov. 30, the 10-7 team holds the eighth and final spot in the West. On the other side, Phoenix would be the four-seed behind the 9-6 Atlanta Hawks in the East.
In an action-movie kind of way, the Pelicans need to start eliminating their competition. Passing the Suns won’t be enough—New Orleans must create distance as the season unfolds if a playoff berth is to be had.
That expands well beyond Phoenix. The Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets are in that mix, as well. Games against teams in the same boat will prove to be important for the Pelicans, as there should only be one life vest in the end.
The Suns got the short end of the stick last year. The team missed out on a playoff spot with a 48-34 record last season, but things came right down to the wire in large part because the next closest team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, was eight games behind them at 40-42.
Calls for a conference realignment will keep ringing as the West continues to embarrass the East. But for now, there is nothing that the Pelicans can do but run over teams in their way.
Record Prediction: 1-1
Overview of December
6 of 6
Record Prediction: 9-8
Finishing 9-8 in December would be a baby step for the Pelicans.
Splitting even is always a positive step, but it’ll almost certainly take more than a .500 winning percentage (17-16) record to make those playoff dreams a reality.
The schedule should lighten up in January, though. New Orleans will get the Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers (twice), Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Knicks and Lakers—which, barring a meltdown, should result in seven easy wins.
New Orleans doesn’t see the Spurs in January, but the team will get the Rockets, Wizards, Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Mavericks, Nuggets and Clippers. If the ‘Cans can win half of those contests, they will be at 11-4 on the month and 28-20 on the year.
So, things will get smoother after a bumpy December.
But that won’t matter if the Pelicans can’t stay afloat and keep their beaks heads above the .500 mark in the month ahead.
All stats are accurate as of Nov. 30 courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com.
.jpg?w=600 "Titans President Steps Down")
.jpg?w=600 "Best NFL Free Agents")
