Will the New Orleans Pelicans make the playoffs?

After acquiring point guard Jrue Holiday from the Philadelphia 76ers last year, many believed the New Orleans Pelicans could make the playoffs last season. However, injuries ended the season of Holiday and power forward Ryan Anderson and the Pelicans again missed out on postseason play. Their goal this year is obviously to get to the playoffs.

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Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders believes the Pelicans have the talent to make the playoffs.

"I agree that the Pelicans have the talent to make the playoffs, but I don’t blame Monty Williams and Dell Demps for the team’s struggles last year. That team was so unlucky with injuries. Anthony Davis, Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon, Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans and Jason Smith missed a combined 202 gameslast year. I don’t know any team that would be able to bounce back from that and make the playoffs, especially considering New Orleans was bringing in so many new players and trying to develop chemistry while dealing with all of those injuries. If they stay healthy this season, the Pelicans should be one of the teams competing for the eighth seed in the West. I haven’t given up on Monty and Dell yet."

Of course, if the Pelicans do get healthy, they may have one of the league’s best players in Davis, who many believe is the league’s next star big man. Davis averaged 20.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 51.9% from the field, 22.2% from three and 79.1% from the free throw line last season. He’s gone for 17.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 51.8% from the floor, 13.3% from three and 77.7% from the free throw line in his two-year career.

Be sure to check FanSided’s official NBA page to keep up to date on the latest news and rumors from around the league all summer long.

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