What does our record look like in the last 25 games?

We need to finish atleast 16-9 to make the playoffs imo. im hoping the nuggets move gallinari or chandler for future assets so it weakens them this year. i think portland is going to tank it and the kings shouldn't be much better than the nets.

25-0

they don't have terrible schedule

so when healthy it is possible to qualify to the PO

IMO they will have to win at least 14 (14-11) - probably more.

and most important - win 2 games vs. PTB, and at least 2 games vs. DEN (best case 3 wins) - to win season series

We have a top 10 hardest schedule to close the season out.
Denver is middle of the pack. Portland is 2nd easiest.

You have to remember that Denver is 6 games under .500. Portland is 10 games under, and we are 11 games under.
If we win half our games to close the season, assuming Denver and Portland continue on their under .500 season winning rate, then we will get in easily.

David Fisher has a detailed breakdown with the schedules of everyone fighting for the 8 seed. The games against Denver and Portland are going to be huge.

quote:

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Five Thirty Eight, Basketball Reference, and ESPN’s BPI all project the last playoff seed to require 37-38 wins. To get to 38 wins (which would exceed the Pelicans over/under from the beginning of the season) New Orleans has to go 15-10 down the stretch. That’s playing like a 49-win team over the course of the season. That’s not too bad. In 2015 the Pelicans went 18-11 after the All-Star Break, or roughly the pace of a 51 win team.

If Monty Williams could pull it off when the biggest additions were Quincy Pondexter and Norris Cole it should be a snap for Alvin Gentry after adding a legitimate All-Star in DeMarcus Cousins. Right?

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LINK

I still say the trade was about next year and this year the Pelicans should send Asik, Hill and a 1st rounder in 2019 to anyone that can take those contracts. My guess is 37 wins. I don't have a lot of faith in Gentry with this style of team.

the odds are not good that the pels can win enough to overtake denver. that might not matter...

if the 8th seed is the goal, and we all belive that it is, it will take a gargantuan effort from all involved, coaches/players/fans/everyone. that focus on a goal is good for the future, as it forces a quick buy in and concentration on a specific set of objectives:

1) davis/cousins touches/shots/sets
2) holiday as facilitator
3) defensive scheme changes
4) rotations
5) transition opportunities

all of that is good...like cramming for an exam, and all of that should pay off next offseason and next season. i wont be crushed or angry if they dont get the 8, they are in too big of a hole. if they get it, great. if they dont, at least they didnt waste any time integrating cousins

vs. Houston - W
@ Dallas - W
@ Oklahoma City - L
vs. Detroit - W
vs. San Antonio - L
@ Lakers - W
@ Utah - W
vs. Toronto - L
@ Charlotte - W
vs. Portland - W
@ Miami - W
vs. Houston - W
vs. Minnesota - W
vs. Memphis - L
@ Houston - L
@ Denver - W
@ Utah - L
vs. Dallas - W
vs. Sacramento - W
vs. Chicago - W
vs. Denver - W
@ Denver - W
@ Golden State - L
@ Lakers - W
@ Portland - W

18-7 bringing the final record to 41-41. Probably in the playoffs.

I'm still not sure how this team will actually play, especially right away. But we play mavs twice, blazers twice, nuggets 3x, lakers twice and kings/wolves/bulls once.
Those are must wins, and we just need to steal a few of the others.