Pelicans Have +250 Odds to Make the Playoffs in Zion’s Rookie Year
- The Pelicans have +250 odds to make the 2020 NBA playoffs
- New Orleans selected Duke sensation Zion Williamson with the first-overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft
- The Pelicans missed the playoffs last season with a 33-49 record
Management of the New Orleans Pelicans have painstakingly downplayed the notion that Zion Williamson will be the savior of their franchise.
During a summer of change in the Big Easy, Williamson is in, as are a bevy of young stars and future draft picks, while Anthony Davis is out.
Even amidst the upheaval, oddsmakers still think the Pelicans will be on the playoff bubble next season. Sportsbooks have put the Pelicans chances of participating in the 2019-20 postseason at +250 in the NBA playoff odds.
Golden State Warriors Win Total Odds
| Team | Odds to Make Playoffs | Odds to Miss Playoffs |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Mavericks | +150 | -170 |
| Denver Nuggets | -500 | +400 |
| Golden State Warriors | -350 | +290 |
| Houston Rockets | -550 | +425 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | -1500 | +1000 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | -5000 | +400 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +800 | -1250 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +315 | -374 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +350 | -200 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | n/a | /na |
| Phoenix Suns | +1000 | -1500 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | -200 | +170 |
| Sacramento Kings | +315 | -375 |
| San Antonio Spurs | -200 | +170 |
| Utah Jazz | -800 | +600 |
All odds taken 07/16/19.
The Pelicans’ +250 odds have an implied probability of 28.6 percent and are 10th overall among Western Conference teams.
Last season, New Orleans finished fourth in the Southwest Division and 13th overall in the West with a 33-49 record.
Brave New Orleans World
There are currently 13 players on the Pelicans’ roster who are under the age of 25. Two of them – power forward Williamson and center Jaxson Hayes – are teenagers who were selected in the top eight picks of the 2019 NBA Draft.
Point guard Lonzo Ball, 21, shooting guard Josh Hart, 24, and small forward Brandon Ingram, 21, arrived from the Los Angeles Lakers in the Davis deal.
Of players who started at least half of the team’s games last season, only point guard Jrue Holiday, 29, remains. As Big Jim McBob and Billy Sol Hurok used to say on SCTV, they blowed it up real good.
Where Do Pelicans Fit In Wild West?
Several Western Conference teams grew significantly better since the end of last season. The Lakers got Davis. The Los Angeles Clippers added Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Houston acquired Russell Westbrook and Utah grabbed Mike Conley Jr.
Only Golden State and Oklahoma City got weaker. But like Denver, Portland and San Antonio, the Warriors should be a playoff team. That’s eight spots spoken for right there.
Can the Pelicans bump one of this bunch out? Don’t bet on it happening next season.
Coming Attractions
They’re young, they’re fast and their go-go style of offense under coach Alvin Gentry will sure be funch to watch. Soon, they’ll also be tough to beat.
New Orleans mistakenly rushed the rebuild after taking Davis first overall in 2012, surrounding him with overpaid, mediocre veterans. The Pelicans are doing it the right way this time – with patience, allowing a young squad to grow together.
It won’t happen next season but before long, they’ll be a playoff team. And not long after that, a serious contender.
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
