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Are the Pelicans a playoff threat?
The New Orleans Pelicans are excellent on offense and defense. They've won 14 of their last 18 games. Is the NBA sleeping on them as a contender?
Over their last 15 games the Pelicans rank:
— The Lead (@TheLeadSM) March 11, 2024
- 1st in the NBA in defensive rating
- 1st in the NBA in steals
- 2nd in the NBA in opponent paint PTS
- 2nd in the NBA in net rating
- 2nd in the NBA in points off TOV
The Pels are playing a hard & scrappy brand of basketball pic.twitter.com/SrURRYBQzE
New Orleans has the fourth-best point differential in the NBA, outscoring their opponents by an average of 5.3 points per game, trailing only the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves. Yet the team's playoff odds don't reflect this. New Orleans is +7500 to win the NBA title, tied with the Sacramento Kings for the 15th-best title chances.
Part of this discrepancy between performance and expectation comes from the Pelicans' track record of playoff success. Which is sparse. In the post-Anthony Davis era, this team won two playoff games against the Phoenix Suns in 2022 and missed the playoffs every other season. In their biggest game this season, the Lakers beat the Pelicans 138-99 in the semifinals of the in-season tournament.
They also don't have a track record of health. Zion Williamson has missed more than half of the games in his five-year career and former All-Star Brandon Ingram has been plagued with injuries in New Orleans. Last year the Pelicans were tied for second in the Western Conference before Williamson's hamstring injury and Ingram's toe problems sunk them into the play-in zone.
This year, they've got a healthy roster apart from reserve Dyson Daniels' meniscus injury. It's other teams in the Western Conference that are getting injured in 2023-24.
Another difference this season is that the Pelicans are finally a three-point shooting threat. They're fifth in the NBA in three-point percentage, with CJ McCollum leading the way. He's making 3.3 triples per game at a 41.7 percent clip. Defensive specialist Herb Jones is making over half of his three-pointers in 2024, and shooting 43.5 percent for the season. Trey Murphy has picked it up since missing the start of the season with injury, sinking 10 threes in a game on March 5.
The result is a team that isn't relying as heavily on Ingram and Williamson to score. They've been using Williamson as a point guard at times, which shows in his career-high 5.2 assists per game.
It's not impossible to think New Orleans could have home-court in a first-round series this year. Teams might prefer to play them in April rather than more star-laden, experienced playoff teams. But considering how the team has been playing in the past few months, that could be a big mistake.
More must-reads:
- The Suns are the Nuggets' biggest threat in the Western Conference
- Paul George names the toughest NBA player to score on
- The 'NBA minutes leaders by season' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
3 creative lineup configurations the Charlotte Hornets should explore in 2025
Charles Lee has a cupboard chock full of hoopers to deploy in his second season as the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets. A bevy of offseason additions have reshaped Charlotte's roster, and it's up to their general Lee to figure out which combinations will find success in 2025-26. Not that the sitting head coach of an NBA team will heed my advice, but if I were on the bench, here are a couple of options I'd tinker with when the season tips off in October. 1. LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Liam McNeeley, Tidjane Salaün, Ryan Kalkbrenner This is the equivalent of getting the band back together but replacing the lead guitarist. Charlotte's Summer League championship was spearheaded by their 2024 and 2025 draft classes, and this potential lineup for the senior squad is a mix of those two plus the franchise's cornerstone in LaMelo Ball. The connectivity of Ball, Knueppel, and McNeeley will make for exciting offense, while the bulk and brawn of Salaün and Kalkbrenner will cover some of the inevitable defensive deficiencies that present themselves in this lineup. Ball and Knueppel will carry the brunt of the playmaking duties while Salaün and McNeeley keep the defense honest as floor spacers. Both of those players (McNeeley specifically) showed some acumen as second-side playmakers in Summer League, and if defenses over help on actions that involve Ball and Knueppel, both Liam and Tidjane will thrive. 2. Tre Mann, Collin Sexton, LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Mason Plumlee Let's get weird! In 2014-15, the Phoenix Suns deployed a three-pronged point guard trio of Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, and Isaiah Thomas that was broken up for chemistry reasons, but performed reasonably-well for how diminutive it proved to be. The Hornets won't ever start Ball, Sexton, and Mann together, but playing the trio together for stretches would be intriguing if nothing else. The NBA playoffs proved the need for steady ball handlers, and Charlotte would have handles in spades with this trio in the back court. Bridges and Plumlee would open things up for the guard trio with solid screening and cutting, and if they fully invest in doing the 'role player' things on both ends, this five could be a ton of fun. 3. LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Liam McNeeley, Moussa Diabate Shooting, shooting, and more shooting. Charles Lee loves a five out look, and this configuration, although undersized, would be exactly that. Diabate made his bones on offense last season as a screen-setting, rim-running big man, and this array of snipers dotting the perimeter would give him acres of space in the lane to maneuver into. The other four players on the floor are competent handlers and decision-makers that would gobble up advantages created by Ball off the bounce. - MORE STORIES FROM HORNETS ON SI - Early-season prediction: Can the Hornets find their rhythm in the first 10 games? Ranking the top five assets the Charlotte Hornets acquired this offseason Collin Sexton or Kon Knueppel? Who should get the starting nod for the Hornets? Is Jeff Peterson the NBA’s next Danny Ainge? A look inside his Hornets blueprint
TSN Analyst Shoots Down Bold Canadiens-Ducks Trade Idea
Speculation swirled this week about a possible blockbuster trade between the Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks, but TSN/Forbes legal analyst Eric Macramalla was quick to pour cold water on the idea. The proposed deal centered around swapping top prospects: Montreal defenseman David Reinbacher and Anaheim forward Mason McTavish. On the surface, the trade has appeal. Reinbacher, a right-shot blueliner with legitimate top-pairing potential, would give the Ducks the kind of defensive cornerstone they’ve been searching for. Meanwhile, McTavish could provide the Canadiens with a much-needed second-line center behind Nick Suzuki, filling a hole that’s lingered for several seasons. But as Macramalla pointed out, the trade simply doesn’t add up for Montreal. Moving Reinbacher would leave the Canadiens dangerously thin on the right side of their defense, an area that already lacks long-term depth. While McTavish would be a strong addition, sacrificing a potential top-pairing defenseman is a price too steep for GM Kent Hughes to consider at this stage of the rebuild. Ultimately, while the concept may generate fan debate, Macramalla stressed that the Canadiens aren’t in a position to weaken their blue line just to address their center depth. For now, the deal “won’t work.” Fan Feedback: A Split Reaction Canadiens fans were quick to weigh in on the trade chatter, with opinions ranging from firm rejection to cautious interest. Some backed Macramalla’s stance, with one fan suggesting Montreal could use “other assets the Ducks would like” and another noting the Habs’ young defense core “will be a strength of the team for the next decade.” The Curfew Boys Podcast called it “1 step forward, 2 steps back.” Others saw more merit. One account argued he’d, “Do it one for one,” calling McTavish “more established at this point.” Another echoed that sentiment: “McT is a proven player, make the trade!!” Skeptics highlighted Reinbacher’s lack of NHL experience, and others questioned his durability. Meanwhile, Gord of Thunder took a playful shot at the concept, invoking The Princess Bride: “You never trade a defenseman with top pairing ability for a second line player — it’s inconceivable.” Even creative alternatives emerged, with one fan proposing a three-way deal involving Calgary. The verdict? While many fans respect McTavish’s value, most agree that giving up Reinbacher would leave the Canadiens with a hole too big to fill.
Chicago Bears: A running back trade has just opened up
Forget trading the house and buying high for an aging Trey Hendrickson; the Chicago Bears have another player to think about getting in on before the regular season. On offense, the Bears have everything they need besides a left tackle and running back depth. Most of the focus in training camp has been on quarterback Caleb Williams and the passing game, but Chicago had a known weakness at running back entering the offseason. The Chicago Bears have a potential trade target Per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Washington Commanders are shopping running back Brian Robinson Jr. in the preseason. “Sources: The Commanders have been shopping RB Brian Robinson Jr. to teams around the NFL,” Schultz wrote. “The former 3rd-round pick out of Alabama is entering the final year of his contract.” During his first three seasons in the league, Robinson has rushed 570 times for 2,329 yards (4.1 yards per rush) and 15 touchdowns. He’s helpful as a receiver out of the backfield, recording 65 receptions for 587 yards, and five touchdowns. Robinson would be a helpful addition to a Bears offense that struggled with the run last season, finishing 25th in rushing in D’Andre Swift’s first season in Chicago. The lack of production had many hoping the Bears would land Ashton Jeanty, but they were way too far back in the draft. Behind Swift, the Bears have Roschon Johnson and seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai.
The good, the bad, and the ugly from Caleb Williams' 2025 preseason debut
Chicago Bears fans heaved a collective sigh of relief on Sunday night. Second-year quarterback Caleb Williams made his preseason debut after being held out of the opener, and he torched the Buffalo Bills on his first drive. He went five-for-six for 97 passing yards and a touchdown, racking up a perfect 158.3 passer rating. After a second drive that seemed to be far more conservative with the play calling, Williams' night was over. He completed six of 10 passes for 107 yards and a TD. We didn't get to see much of Williams on Sunday night, but here's what we can take away from his limited action. The Good: Playing on time and in structure More important than Williams' stats was the way he actually looked on the field. All offseason, the biggest question mark on his projections for 2025 has been whether he can rein in the 'hero ball' exploits and play on time and in structure. Ben Johnson's complex offensive schemes rely heavily on the quarterback getting the ball to exactly where it needs to be at exactly the right time. While this question has not yet received a final answer, Williams certainly looked the part of a quarterback who can play the role of the traditional drop-back passer in his preseason debut. The ball was coming out of his hands quick, his footwork was clean, and he didn't take any sacks. The Bad: Midrange accuracy We haven't even gotten to the ugly yet, and I'm already having to nitpick Williams' game to find flaws. One thing that was definitely bad, however, was a pass to rookie Colston Loveland that was very nearly too high. Loveland leaped and extended his arms to reel it in and pick up the first down, but the six-foot-six tight end should not have had to go to such lengths to make the catch. The ugly: Just how wrong the critics were Hopefully, the praise that Williams will get this week from NFL media and analysts will be just as loud as the disrespect. Williams silenced the critics with a fantastic debut, and anyone who spent the last week and a half delivering Caleb Williams hot takes should have an emphatic statement of support for the young quarterback ready to go.
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