Fansided

NBA Season Preview 2017-18: 5 teams that this season will make or break

By John Buhler

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 11: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves walks backcourt during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 11, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 11: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves walks backcourt during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 11, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Anthony Davis
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1

New Orleans Pelicans

West, Southwest

While we will all be talking about teams like the Cavaliers and the Thunder and what they might look like beyond this year, what about the New Orleans Pelicans? This team has two of the most physically gifted big men in the NBA in Anthony Davis and DeMarcus. However, we’re pretty sure they won’t make the Western Conference Playoffs.

If the Pelicans played in the East, which they and the Memphis Grizzlies probably should anyway, they’d make the playoffs as a No. 3 to No. 6 seed. But in the West, New Orleans might only be the third best team in the division. The Northwest Division is just loaded.

New Orleans is the least valued franchise in the NBA. It’s a small market team that even with two superstars in Cousins and Davis isn’t packing the Smoothie King Center nightly. If the Pelicans aren’t a playoff team, New Orleans may have to blow it up. Should Davis and Cousins be traded, does that mean the end for the Pelicans in New Orleans?

Seattle is pretty close to ready for an NBA team. While one could argue that the NBA has enough talent to expand to 32 teams, are we sure that New Orleans is a viable NBA city? The Pelicans are all in on making the playoffs.

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This isn’t to save Alvin Gentry’s job with Cousins, Davis, Jrue Holiday and Rajon Rondo, but the future looks dreadfully bleak if the Pelicans are unable to win now. They have talent, but do they even stand a chance in a brutal Western Conference. Here’s to it hopefully working out for them, but man, is it tough sledding for New Orleans basketball.