Eric Gordon: New Orleans Pelicans are a playoff team
By Bryan Rose
It wasn’t that long ago when rumors suggested that the New Orleans Pelicans were looking to trade oft-injured guard Eric Bledsoe, but thanks to his creaky knees and nasty contract there wasn’t much interest in the former Indiana talent.
More from NBA
- NBA insider: Cavaliers should consider trading Donovan Mitchell
- NBA rumors: Hawks trade candidate, Sixers miss out, Lakers almost lose Reaves
- NBA insider explains real reason the Grizzlies were done with Dillon Brooks
- Knicks projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season
- Rockets projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season
That forced the New Orleans Pelicans to pull Eric Gordon off the proverbial trade table and move forward with what they have.
Will that be enough to get them into the postseason this year, though? Well, according to Gordon it will be as the Pelicans guard told Basketball Insiders he believes the team will make the playoffs this year.
“If we’re healthy, we’re for sure a playoff team. It’s all about us getting together and playing because the West is tough. We know that and realize that. It’s all about having a full season together. … That’s what we got to see this year; we’ll have a fully-loaded team and it’s about all of us being healthy. It’s crazy to see how many guys were injured this past year.”
It’s certainly a nice thought as the New Orleans fan base is very deserving of a playoff spot, however, it’s not going to be easy.
It took 49 wins to secure the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference last season, fifteen wins more than the Pelicans were able to secure. Add in that some of the lower tiered teams in the Western Conference are likely going to be better this season and the already deadly West becomes even tougher.
That’s not to say the New Orleans Pelicans can’t squeak in, but it seems like a long shot at this point.