Do the New Orleans Pelicans have enough to hang on?
Considering where this team is and the scenario it faces, the next stage of this season is about fighting to survive, not questioning whether they’ll thrive. Because even survival is a lofty goal given the way they’ve stumbled out to a 3-15 record.
But, take a look at the wider perspective. With 10 postseason spots up for grabs in the Western Conference, New Orleans is still just five games removed from playoff position with 64 to play. It’s far from an unmanageable feat to elbow their way into contention.
The only way to do it, though, is to stop the free fall. And there’s real urgency on that front.
It’s why, in many ways, this past weekend illustrated who the Pelicans are and what they must be. New Orleans clawed back from a 20-point deficit to beat the Clippers at home on Friday night, less than 24 hours before getting thoroughly dominated by the Pacers in Indianapolis.
At this point, a .500 weekend is a measurable step forward. And understanding this franchise is not positioning itself to tank its way into extra lottery balls, especially with Zion Williamson on the mend, these games are growing in importance.
There’s no expectation to get them all, or even most of them. But, like they did this weekend, the Pelicans must win at least a share, something they failed to do during the first month of the season.
Without Williamson in the fold, they’re simply not talented or dynamic enough to be counted on for consistent winning. It’s unrealistic to expect this roster, even with Brandon Ingam in tow, to climb their way up the standings right now.
The guard play is dreadful. There are breakdowns late in close games. And they’re too reliant on a handful of players while the back end of the bench has largely collapsed.
But, the good news for the Pelicans is they don’t have to rattle off a whole bunch of wins. They just need to stay within puncher’s reach until Williamson returns.
And that scenario became a whole lot more realistic last week, when news of progress on his surgically repaired foot allowed him to return to contact drills for the first time this season, putting him on a path to getting on the practice floor.
In a sea of dread, it represented an isthmus of hope in the distance.
And when the Pelicans beat the Clippers, it showed what the blueprint must be as they bide time. Just win the games that are set up to be won.
The Pelicans pressed their rest advantage, performed defensively and swallowed up a mostly disinterested Clippers team who was ready to end a run of five games in seven nights.
So, what are the biggest achievements for the Pelicans to unlock as they wait on Zion?
Grab some low hanging fruit. Most NBA fans point to the big names and glitzy franchises when looking at an upcoming schedule, keen to see how their team matches up with the game’s best.
That shouldn’t be the case here.
The truly pivotal games are ones like Monday's 7 p.m. tilt against the Minnesota Timberwolves. And Dec. 5 against the Rockets. And Dec. 10 against the Pistons.
Those back-to-back road games against the Jazz this weekend? Those are a pipe dream.
But, there are real opportunities sitting out there in the midst of overwhelming odds to keep themselves afloat. It’s why that 108-100 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder was so devastating two weeks ago.
And why getting run out of the gym last Wednesday by the Miami Heat, who were without All-Stars Kyle Lowry and Bam Adebayo, set off a tirade from Josh Hart. He recognizes how precious winning those opportunities are and how painful it is to let them slip by.
“I really don’t care about the youth of the team,” Hart said after the 113-98 loss. “We’ve got to grow up. F*** being young, the inexperience. I don’t really care for that right now. We’ve got to focus on growing up. We’ve got to focus on getting better, having better attention to detail. We’ve all been playing basketball for over half our lives.”
He's right.
The Pelicans have to be professional. They have to persist.
It’s not a particularly high bar to achieve and the mission couldn’t be clearer.
In 64 games, can they compile a better record than the Timberwolves, Thunder, Kings, Spurs and Rockets?
Regardless of how bad the last month has been, it’s still possible.
It’s those handful of extra wins the Pelicans need now, in order to give themselves a reasonable chance when Williamson is on the floor.
So don’t let the sleepy atmosphere inside the Smoothie King Center fool you. In the context of this season, Monday night is a big one for these Pelicans in the struggle to survive.