New Orleans Pelicans Season Preview, Win Total Prediction and Playoff Odds
By Reed Wallach
The New Orleans Pelicans enter year three of the Zion Williamson era with a ton of questions surrounding the team.
The team will be on their third coach in as many years with Willie Green, and the team shook up the roster for the second straight season, acquiring Jonas Valanciunas to hold down the paint at center and Devonte' Graham in the backcourt as a 3-point weapon.
New Orleans was a trendy pick to make the postseason last season, but sentiment is low around the team and oddsmakers agree, pegging them to be on the outside looking in this season.
There is a path to success for this roster, but I’m not sure the sum of the individuals will equal success.
Valanciunas has transformed his game and is off of a career year in Memphis, averaging 17 points and 12 rebounds per game. The big man is also becoming more of a threat from deep, hitting nearly 40% of his 3s (on a limited sample).
Valanciunas is a great piece, but this takes away from possibly the Pelicans best lineup, which involves Williamson at center. He averaged 27 points per game and shot 61% from the field. The 2019 No. 1 pick is a load to handle and can revolutionize the league with his explosiveness at the five while opening up the floor.
Graham is a nice 3-point shooter, but the team is lacking defensive minded backcourt players after losing Lonzo Ball to free agency. Graham, Tomas Satoransky, and jitterbug point guard Kira Lewis comprise the point guards on hand.
Brandon Ingram is a lethal scorer, but his defense still leaves a lot on the table. Ingram averaged more than 24 points per game this season but is still yet to post a positive defensive box plus-minus in his career.
New Orleans Pelicans Win Total Prediction | 39.5 (Over -108/Under -112)
The Western Conference is so difficult and the Pelicans face mounting pressure with the looming Williamson extension, which he is up for next season. Not to mention with first time head coach Willie Green, this is an under play for me.
I love a ton of the young prospects for the Pellies, such as Lewis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, but this roster still remains uneven and not suited to let Williamson excel to his maximum potential.
New Orleans Pelicans Playoff Odds
WynnBET Sportsbook lists the ‘Yes’ at +175 and the ‘No’ -215. I am inclined to take the under here, but don’t want to lay the price on this prop and would rather take the under win total.
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