Pelicans 2021 Schedule: Top Games, Updated Championship Odds and Predictions
The New Orleans Pelicans remain a sleeping giant in the Western Conference.
The tools are there to compete with almost any other team in the league, especially with two of the most exciting young players in basketball.
Zion Williamson is averaging 25.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in his second season, while Brandon Ingram followed up last year's All-Star run by averaging 23.9 points and 4.7 assists. Offseason additions Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams were also expected to help the team reach the next level.
The Pelicans have left fans wanting more, though, after a 13-17 start to the year with a defense that has struggled at times under head coach Stan Van Gundy.
New Orleans will hope the second half of the year will be a different story as it tries to earn one of the coveted playoff spots in the West.
2020-21 Pelicans Schedule Details
Second-Half Opener: Thursday, March 11 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 8 p.m. ET
Championship Odds: +16000 (via FanDuel) (bet $100 to win $16,000)
Second-Half Schedule: NBA.com
Top Matchups
Los Angeles Lakers (March 23)
The Pelicans aren't likely going to catch the Lakers in the standings, but it's always a marquee game when the NBA champions come to town.
That battle becomes even bigger with the interlocking storylines between these two teams, most notably Anthony Davis returning to the place where he spent the first seven years of his career.
Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart also get a chance to face their former team after beginning their NBA runs with the Lakers.
Fans also love the matchup between Williamson—arguably the most hyped prospect since LeBron James—against LeBron James.
The Pelicans can showcase their upside and send a message for the postseason if they can get a win over the Lakers.
Memphis Grizzlies (May 10)
Just like last season, the Memphis Grizzlies will likely be one of the teams battling New Orleans for the final spots in the playoffs.
The Grizzlies struggled earlier in the year without Ja Morant, but this is still a dangerous team at full strength. If it can stay on track, it can climb the standings and be a tough team to beat over the second half of the year.
New Orleans has to make sure it stays ahead of Memphis and a head-to-head win would go a long way to achieving that, especially with just two more games remaining on the schedule after this one.
Williamson and Morant should also battle for years as the top two picks in the 2019 draft, and this game could be another chapter in their burgeoning rivalry.
Second-Half Forecast
The rest of the 2020-21 season depends on the development of young players and the ability to play defense.
New Orleans ranks just 28th in the NBA in defensive efficiency, but the talent is there to be much better with experienced contributors such as Adams and Bledsoe. The chemistry and effort have to improve in order to reach their full potential.
Meanwhile, the team could use rapid improvement from promising players like Kira Lewis Jr. and Jaxson Hayes.
These players could help the Pelicans compete with the best in the NBA, but the more likely scenario is the team remains around .500 for the rest of the year.
Record Prediction: 36-36
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