2023 New Orleans Pelicans Predictions with Futures Odds and Expert NBA Picks
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Will this be the season we finally see Zion Williamson reach his full potential? Pelicans fans will certainly hope so. New Orleans has been stuck in the middle for a few seasons; too good to tank, but not good enough to challenge for an NBA title. If they can keep their lineup healthy for a majority of the season, the Pelicans could be one of the dark horses in the NBA this season.
New Orleans Pelicans Offseason Recap
The Pelicans had a relatively quiet offseason, electing to discover what their current lineup can achieve if they can stay healthy. Williamson sat out the entire 2021-22 season with a foot injury, before being limited to just 29 games last year due to various ailments. The Pelicans are a completely different team without him, and they had to cover their bases in the case that Williamson is forced on the bench once again.
Cody Zeller will be backing Williamson up, after the Pelicans lured him away from Miami in free agency. The signing of Zeller won’t be making headlines, but the savvy veteran will give the Pelicans a much different offensive look compared to Williamson. Zeller is hungry on the boards and has fantastic shot selection, shooting a career best 62.7% from the field last season.
New Orleans Pelicans Season Expectations
The Pelicans have the potential to make a deep playoff run, and their fans will be expecting them to do just that. A win total of 43.5 games has them sitting in the bottom of the playoff picture in the Western Conference, and they will be eager to win just their second playoff series since 2008 with their star-studded lineup. Williamson came into the league with plenty of hype behind him, but his inability to consistently suit up for New Orleans has moved him into the ‘bust’ category. He’s played just 114 games across 4 seasons for the Pelicans, but his career average of 25.8 PPG on 60.5% from the floor should tell you all you need to know about how effective he can be. The lack of athleticism makes him a defensive liability in the open floor, but his role as rim protector ensures he stays close to the hoop for a majority of the game.
Last season, when Williamson was down, the rest of the Pelicans had to step up. Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum both had the best seasons of their careers, and the Pelicans backcourt is in good hands. And with freshly inked Herb Jones and reliable veteran Jonas Valanciunas rounding out the starting 5, the Pelicans have more than enough talent to reach their lofty expectations.
New Orleans Pelicans Schedule Breakdown
The Pelicans have the luxury of beginning the season at home, with 10 of their first 15 contests played inside the comfy Smoothie King Center. The added benefit of home court will allow the injury prone Pelicans to start the season off in a familiar atmosphere and could allow them to stay healthy long enough to make an impact. A nasty stretch of road games against the Kings, Warriors, Nuggets, and two against the Mavericks, will test their mettle at the beginning of 2024. The Pelicans have the blessing and curse of several lengthy homestands, but also have several lengthy road trips on their schedule. They have 5 different 4 game road trips, with most of them being 4 games in 6 nights. The new resting policy will certainly come into play for Williamson and the Pelicans, and they will incur hefty fines when their stars inevitably sit out.
New Orleans Pelicans Odds
The Pelicans have been pegged as one of the dark horses in the NBA, and at +4000 odds it’s hard to disagree. They certainly have the upside needed for a longshot bet, as a healthy lineup has the potential to shock the league. However, a spot in the postseason is all but guaranteed, as New Orleans is -110 on each side to qualify for the postseason. The race for 6th through 10th in the standings will be a very tight one, with 9 different teams having win totals between 43 and 47 wins.
In the in-season tournament, the Pelicans appear to be a solid option, as their ‘boom or bust’ lineup is the perfect option to get hot at the right time and make a deep run. However, they were dealt a tough group, as they’ll need to best the Nuggets, Clippers, Mavericks, and Rockets to advance. At +475 odds to win the group, and +2800 to take home the crown, there is certainly money to be made on New Orleans.
New Orleans Pelicans 2023-24 Season Predictions
It’s easy to forget that the Pelicans sat atop the Western Conference standings 2 months into last season with an 18-8 record. A 26-32 finish to the season had them drop to 9th place and miss the postseason. This year, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them replicate that early season form, and grabbing them at the current odds is critical to locking in the best price.
In the regular season, the Pelicans are a difficult team to read, but I have them going slightly Under their win total with a 42-40 record. Ingram and McCollum can do their best to mitigate the loss of Williamson. However, unless their star center is in the lineup, the Pelicans will not succeed long term. While I do expect them to finish Under their total, my best bet on New Orleans is for them to win the championship at +4000 odds. There isn’t a justification for taking any lower odds on a more plausible Pelicans future at a reduced price, as if this team makes a deep playoff run, they can go all the way. Sprinkling a few dollars on the title future now will ensure that if this team catches fire, we’ll have the best price in our pockets. When Williamson and the Pelicans take advantage of their easy start to the season, this price will quickly come falling down, and I expect it to be at +3000 after a couple weeks of the season.
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