The New Orleans Pelicans are not exactly in a great predicament right now and playing without franchise player Anthony Davis is something that has only compounded their woes.
Davis collided with Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul last Friday which resulted in the bruised knee. He had to be carried out which left a lot of fans worried. The Pelicans, of course, lost that one, (111–90), and things just aren't falling into place for the boys of Alvin Gentry.
The good news, though, it is that such is not a season-ending injury. Davis was listed as probable for Saturday when the Pelicans meet the Utah Jazz.
The Pelicans are currently 4–13 in the Western Conference standings, not far behind the cellar-dwelling Los Angeles Lakers (2–14).
The team was hoping to duplicate their feat last year which saw them make the National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs surprisingly.
At the time, the team had Monty Williams at the helm but it seems the Pelicans wanted to make it a regular goal, thus opting to replace Williams with a seasoned Gentry.
So far though, it hasn't been the case but such is cannot be totally blamed on the coaching change.
The team has had to deal with injuries to its roster. Aside from Davis, other players dealing with varying injuries include Tyreke Evans, Norris Cole, Quincy Pondexter, Kendrick Perkins, and Jrue Holiday, a group that certainly could make up a starting cast any day.
Gentry cites via Nola.com that the Pelicans need to do a better job in the second half of their matches, apparently when the team crumbles. But seeing the roster they have right now, the need to address that could be a pretty tough task for now.
A possible return for Davis this weekend should be welcome news, but it may take more than the rising NBA star to help turn the fortunes of the Pelicans this season.
