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Despite attempting to flip into win-now mode for the past several years, the New Orleans Pelicans have not had a winning record since the 2017-18 season and have had just two in the past 10 years. Even so, the Pelicans managed to sneak into the 2022 NBA Play-In Tournament as the No. 9 seed and will host the San Antonio Spurs after starting the season 1-12 and not getting Zion Williamson in the lineup at all.
The Pelicans' 36-46 record may not be the most encouraging, but they have shown flashes of promising basketball and should feel confident about their matchup with the Spurs. Here is why New Orleans will advance to another play-in game by beating San Antonio.
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Why Pelicans will beat Spurs
The Talent Difference
Some may be critical of the Pelicans' unsuccessful slip to win-now mode, but the Spurs have yet to attempt to make this switch at all. San Antonio possesses a youthful squad in which there is not a single player over the age of 30 on its roster. Dejounte Murray is a solid player and the headliner for San Antonio, but as good as he is, New Orleans has the clear overall talent advantage.
The Pelicans doubled down on aiming for success this season by trading for CJ McCollum midseason to pair with Brandon Ingram. Both players are averaging over 22 points per game this season and provide the team with an impressive scoring pop.
CJ McCollum has been especially impressive during his half-season with the team as he is averaging 24.3 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds during his time with the Pelicans. The 39.4% he is shooting from beyond the arc has provided the Pelicans with the floor spacing they were hoping for, and McCollum has also shown a willingness to step into a primary role. Brandon Ingram also has made a notable leap as a playmaker this season, which is an exciting new aspect of his game.
Herb Jones' Impact
It is not typical for rookies to play a major role in the playoffs, but Herb Jones is not your typical rookie. The Alabama product has had an impressive season where he has been responsible for guarding the primary option on opposing teams for a good portion of the season. His 6-foot-8 frame and 7-foot wingspan paired with his active hands have been a nightmare for opponents, and it should not be a surprise if he spends some time matching up with Dejounte Murray to prevent him from getting going.
Jones is also far from a zero on the offensive end of the ball, averaging 9.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.7 steals over the course of the season. Look for Jones to be a major X-Factor in the matchup with the Spurs, as his length is sure to cause issues amongst the San Antonio squad.
The pressure of Zion Williamson
The city of New Orleans was thrilled when they landed the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft to take Zion Williamson, but things have certainly not gone as smoothly since. The lefty phenom has played a total of 85 games with the franchise. The injury issues that Zion is facing are legitimate, but they may not be as concerning as the whispers of unhappiness he has about playing for the Pelicans.
Zion has now rejoined the Pelicans team after undergoing the majority of his rehab away from the team. While he still is not expected to make a return this season, there is a lot at stake for the two sides and their future relationship. The Pelicans still certainly hope to work things out with their potential franchise centerpiece, and to show they are getting closer to competing for a championship without him on the floor is the best way to make this possible. The human highlight reel may not be stepping on the court for the matchup, but Zion is sure to take careful notice of how the Pelicans look in this postseason play.
The two sides have faced off four times this season, with the Spurs coming out on top in three of the four matchups. There should be a more positive outlook on this game as CJ McCollum has helped inject more life into this Pelicans team and they are playing some much better basketball of late. The Pelicans are favored, according to FanDuel, and look for them to capitalize on their roster advantages over the youthful Spurs and punch a ticket to face the loser the matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers.
