Fansided

New Orleans Pelicans 2015 NBA Season Preview

By Cody Williams

Apr 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) celebrates with guard Tyreke Evans (1) during a game against the San Antonio Spurs at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Spurs 108-103 and earned the 8th seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) celebrates with guard Tyreke Evans (1) during a game against the San Antonio Spurs at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Spurs 108-103 and earned the 8th seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 7, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) celebrates after a win against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Warriors 103-100. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) celebrates after a win against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Warriors 103-100. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Final Prediction

There’s a reason to be excited about this Pelicans team heading into the 2015-16 NBA season. Not only did they show progression in making it to the postseason, but Anthony Davis’ emergence in the superstar in this league is only going to become a more prominent storyline this year. It’s not incredibly outlandish to say that we could see an MVP type season from Davis.

However, the Pelicans aren’t going to be off to a good start to the season in terms of health. At the end of the preseason, Jrue Holiday, Alexis Ajinca, Omer Asik, Norris Cole, Luke Babbitt, Quincy Pondexter, and now Tyreke Evans are all currently injured and could miss time at the start of the regular season. Holiday is the only real exception as he’s recovering from surgery and will simply be on a minutes limit to start the year.

While injuries are always detrimental to a team, having guys hurt to start a season is always detrimental to a team, especially one like the Pelicans in the loaded Western Conference. Getting off to a slow start because of injuries has the potential to put New Orleans in an uphill battle over the entire year of trying to get into the postseason.

When it comes down to it, though, I can’t bet against Anthony Davis. The hype train may be on the verge of getting out of hand with the young star, but I’m buying into every bit of it and loading all my belongings onto the bandwagon. Even with injuries, I think Anthony Davis thrives under Alvin Gentry and carries this Pelicans team with a truly transcendent season.

Predicted Record: 52-30

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