NBA Has Set Up NOLA For Success

By no surprise, the league has handed the Pelicans a schedule where they could very well win six of their eight games, at the very least. Why have they done that you ask? Well, it’s no secret that Zion was one of the most hyped players ever coming into this season.

Although he missed the majority of the year because of a knee injury, he returned in style, averaging 23.6 points and 6.8 rebounds in 19 games, while shooting just under 60 percent from the field. The NBA wants Williamson in the playoffs. Not only will it be exciting to see him and the young core that NOLA currently has to fight it out in the postseason, but it will be extremely beneficial for ratings.

Alvin Gentry’s squad plays Utah then the Clippers to kick off the restart, then will face Memphis, who they’ll be chasing for the final playoff berth in the West. After that, the Pelicans face the likes of Orlando, Washington, San Antonio, and the Sacramento Kings on two separate occasions.

If they continue to play the high-tempo basketball they were playing before the hiatus, New Orleans could easily win the majority of these games. They struggled against the Clippers this year, winning just once in three contests, but that was before Williamson was back to full health. As for the Jazz, they have yet to win against them as well, but again, Zion was still hurt.

Despite all the talk about how good Williamson is going to be and the pressure that’s constantly been surrounding him, he continues to live up to expectations. NOLA already had a solid group of talent consisting of Josh Hart, Jrue Holiday, Brandon Ingram, and Lonzo Ball, but Zion has been the piece that’s brought this team altogether.

The Grizzlies will be the team that New Orleans will be chasing and unlike them, Memphis has a tough schedule to close out the regular season. They face three of the best teams in the league in Boston, Toronto, and Milwaukee, while also playing NOLA and the Utah Jazz, who are comfortably in a playoff spot in the West.