After making the playoffs a season ago, the New Orleans Pelicans took a giant step backwards this year, finishing the season with a record of 30-52, good for twelfth in the Western Conference. Injuries to many key players, most notably Anthony Davis, hampered this team’s success.
Pelicans small forward Quincy Pondexter, who dealt with injuries of his own this season, predicted in a Twitter Q&A that the team would bounce back next season:
The entire team had serious injuries. We will be top 5 in the west next year https://t.co/ab1AH1V0by
— Quincy Pondexter (@QuincyPondexter) April 14, 2016
This certainly was a disastrous year for the Pelicans. Over the course of the season, Anthony Davis, Eric Gordon, Omer Asik, Ryan Anderson, Alexis Ajinca, Tyreke Evans, Bryce Dejean-Jones, Dante Cunningham, Norris Cole, and Jrue Holiday all suffered injuries.
Pondexter’s prediction of New Orleans being top five in the conference next season is bold, but not impossible. Many believed that the team would take a massive leap this season, but obviously injuries prevented that from happening. It wouldn’t be too surprising to see the Pelicans make that leap next season. They should retain their major pieces, and will have a nice draft pick, as they hold the sixth-worst record in the league. With some luck in the lottery, the Pelicans could add a bright young star to pair with Anthony Davis.
