What would the Pelicans' record be right now if.....

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C-Smith
F-Anderson
F-Davis
G-Evans
G-Gordon
6th - J.Holiday

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Wut

Just eyeballing the close ones I'd give us 8 more wins which would be 40-34, still 4 games out of the 8 seed.

Jan 11 @ Dallas 110-107
Jan 15 vs Houston 103-100
Feb 10 @ Toronto 108-101 Jrue >>>>>> BRob on Lowry
Feb 21 @ Charlotte 90-87
Feb 23 @ Washington 94-93 (the BRob vs JWall twice fiasco)
Mar 12 vs Memphis 90-88
Mar 19 vs Toronto 107-100
Mar 31 vs Sacramento 102-97

#FireMonty

Some might think I'm crazy for this, but outside of Davis I think the most important piece on this team is Anderson.

I won't even include Gordon in this equation, but I believe if this team had a healthy Anderson and Holiday all season, with Evans starting all year (It's obvious he should have been)... they win over 40 easily. I don't think they make the playoffs, but they probably come close.

I believe Holiday and Evans play well together, and Anderson really opens up the floor for those guys. While they are obviously able to attack, Tyreke in particular, there's Anderson, who is a deadly three point shooter and much more than that. Throw in Davis turning into an absolute beast and there's some serious talent. In the few games that we did see the small ball lineup of Holiday/Gordon/Evans/Anderson/Davis they looked pretty damn good. There's obviously some serious weakness defensively, but this is as good of an offensive lineup as you'll see.

Smith is a solid role player, and likely would've helped. I'm just not sure if he fits this team. Morrow has been a pleasant surprise, and I'd like to see them retain him. Ajinca is more then serviceable as a backup center. Rivers has improved a lot, and I like the steps he has taken. Withey is also becoming a solid rotational player.

As much as we've been blessed with seeing a rising star in Davis, it sucks to see a team that has a lot of potential with a wasted year due to injuries. I'm very excited to see this team going forward though. Davis' potential alone should have everyone paying close attention.

Come on ATL

We can't challenge the all-time dynasty superpower Houston

No way. No chance. Be reasonable here.

Possibly not significantly better. You are assuming team chemistry would be perfect and there wouldn't be any rotation issues.

I think the team has done well lately because the injuries have forced rotations that are necessary. Without those injuries, we are a better team talent-wise by far, but I don't see it being more than a 5-game swing in favor of the Pelicans putting them at 37-37, and maybe if lucky puts them at 39-35. Still not even close to a playoff team in the West.

They have pieces to be a playoff team, but I don't think the current coaching/management is going to allow it to flourish.

Gordon was on fire that game. 11-17 6-9 from 3. It is more reasonable that Gordon gets less shots and the guys who take some of those shots don't shoot as well as he did in that game and the Rockets win in a blowout. See how easy that was to make hypothetical assumptions about how players will perform in individual games?

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Boomshockalocka

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Don't be scared, little girl.

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Don't be scared, little girl.

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Scared of whom? What are you talking about dud?

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Yes, because it's so far fetched to think that the Pelicans could have turned a 3 point loss at home into a win at home by replacing Brian Roberts with Jrue Holiday (better on offense and much better defender) and having Ryan Anderson play the 32 minutes Ajinca and Stiemsa took to log 6 points and 11 fouls. You're right, I'm the one being completely unreasonable.

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There is no way to know either way. Different players completely changes the dynamic of a game. It's about match-ups.