This image is a derivative of 2013 New Orleans Pelicans 1 by Michael Tipton (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The New Orleans Pelicans hype train reached full speed as it hurled towards the NBA bubble for the 2019-20 playoffs. 

The NBA crafted their bubble eligibility criteria around the Pelicans' involvement, with a healthy Zion Williamson one of the league's biggest draws. However, the team didn't repay the NBA. With just two wins throughout their eight bubble games, the Pels fell out of playoff contention even before the lowly Phoenix Suns. 

Coach Alvin Gentry paid the ultimate price for the Pelicans bubble flop. It marked the fourth time in five seasons that New Orleans failed to make the playoffs and Gentry was fired as a result. Stan Van Gundyhas been signed to replace him. 

With Van Gundy at the helm, a handful of changes to the roster and the anticipated improvement to the Pelicans young core, the expectation is for the Pelicans to play post-season basketball in 2021.

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Van Gundy

Stan Van Gundy is an excellent appointment for the Pelicans. While much of the talk surrounds the offensive prowess of Williamson, Brandon Ingram and the supporting cast, Van Gundy will add a much-needed defensive element to his coaching next season. 

The Pelicans allowed 117.1 points per game to be put on them last season - the fourth-most in the NBA. Their 111.8 defensive rating ranked 21st in the league and blew out further to 113.9in the bubble as they gave up 120+ in four of their eight games.

Van Gundy experienced some lean years in Detroit. Nonetheless, his teams have cracked the Top 10 in defence nine times throughout his 12-year head coaching career, including his last two with the Pistons. 

The 58-year-old tinkerman hates easy buckets. He demands that his team gets back in defence to limit the opposition in transition. This translated into the Pistons finishing inside the top-five in transition points allowed across his four seasons in Detroit. The Pelicans in 2019-20, on the other hand, ranked 28th in the NBA.

Through that demand to get back in defence, Van Gundy will be out to improve the also 28th-ranked 52.2 points the Pelicans conceded in the paint per game last season. 

New Orleans has the offensive pieces of the puzzle to pile up points. We've seen enough in limited minutes to know that Williamson is a top tier player in the NBA already. But as the saying goes: "Defence wins championships."

Only two of the last 21 NBA champions (2002 Lakers & 2018 Warriors) lifted the Larry O'Brien Trophy with a defence ranked outside the Top 10. While few expect the Pelicans to be in the championship race this season, they're laying the foundations for the future. For Van Gundy, that starts with the defence.

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What SVG has to work with

Before diving into yet another sizeable Pelicans trade, let's recap some of the major players from last year to highlight what Van Gundy has to work with on Day 1.

He only played 24 games and was forced to adhere to a strict minutes restriction for the most part, but Zion Williamson is the future of the Pelicans. Most say he's the future of the NBA.

Coming off an injury and diving straight in, Williamson burst onto the scene in his NBA debut by scoring 17 consecutive points. It's one of the great debuts under the circumstances.

Continuing on to average 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game with a 59.2 effective field goal percentage in just 27.8 minutes per game, it's scary to think what Williamson will do when all restrictions are lifted. He's the focal point of the Pelicans offence from here on out. Although, Brandon Ingram's growth throughout the 2019-20 season provides the Pelicans with an excellent number two on the offensive end.

Unfairly compared to Kevin Durant when he was drafted for little more than being skinny and long, Ingram entered the league under lofty expectations. He disappointed in his rookie season for those misguided enough to expect greatness from the outset. But as Ingram grows more comfortable in his body and learns how to use his length more effectively, he is becoming a threatening and consistent scorer. He averaged 23.8 points per game as the number one option last season. His 39.1%from beyond the arc forces defences to close out with Ingram also able to drive by and finish in the paint at a 62.5% clip.

Lonzo Ball might not be putting up #2 pick in the draft sort of numbers, but he can fill a key role in this Pelicans team. He's nothing if he isn't unselfish. A do-it-all point guard averaging 11.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game last season, Ball can be the perfect foil for a Williamson and Ingram one-two-punch.

Add Josh Hart's infectious energy, JJ Redick's professionalism and long-range shooting (he shot 45.3% from deep last season), a developing and athletic Jaxon Hayes, and new additions Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams, and the Pelicans have a core group that can compete now while also playing with the future in mind.

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New Additions 

It has been difficult to keep track of the ins and outs of the Pelicans roster. They've made regular moves with both their future and current roster in mind. To put the consistent shuffling of deck chairs into perspective, Zion Williamson is the longest-tenured player on the Pelicans roster right now.

He was drafted on June 20 last year...

With Jrue Holiday sent to the Milwaukee Bucks after seven seasons in New Orleans and Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe arriving in return, Van Gundy has two extra high-quality NBA veterans that he can develop his new defensive focus around.

Holiday is an elite perimeter defender. However, Bledsoe is no scrub himself. He has made an All-NBA Defensive team in each of the last two seasons and is one of only a handful of players in the league that isn't considered a significant downgrade on the defensive end at point guard for the Pelicans.

Infamous for his awful post-season performances offensively, Bledsoe shouldn't be relied upon quite so much with the ball in New Orleans. His defence and leadership appeal to Van Gundy and the Pelicans the most.

Meanwhile, Adams will come into the 2020-21 season as the highest-paid player on the roster. That wouldn't typically be the sign of a good team. The Pelicans can be sure the big Kiwi will earn every penny, though. A consummate professional who has come across as unfazed by everything put in front of him throughout his seven-year career so far, Adams provides the Pelicans with a tough interior. Another tick on Van Gundy's list. 

Adams isn't an eye-catching defender. His 1.1 blocks per game don't match the likes of Hassan Whiteside (2.9bpg), Anthony Davis (2.3bpg) or Myles Turner (2.3bpg). Yet what Adams lacks in shot-blocking, he makes up for with his strength, boxing out and a second-ranked (min. 20mpg) 12.8 offensive rebounding percentage. He's the physically imposing presence in the middle that Van Gundy can use to "form a f***king wall"if he needs to again.

Offensively, Van Gundy is likely to look back at his time coaching a front-court of Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin to mould Adams' role.

Stretching the floor is the focus of almost every offence in the NBA today. Adams won't be doing that by drifting out to the three-point line. Instead, he will need to use his brutal screens to create space for teammates. Williamson, in particular. Averaging 4.8 screen assists (6th in the NBA) for 10.2 points per game (10th), Adams will be able to create space for Williamson to get downhill in the lane. 

Holiday has been a big piece of this Pelicans team for a long time. His departure undoubtedly leaves a hole in the franchise. However, Bledsoe and Adams go a long way to filling it. Few will be surprised if the incoming duo compliment Ingram and Williamson better by the end of the season. 

With some handy pieces already on the roster when he arrived, and two serviceable players coming in to start the season, Van Gundy and the Pelicans should have the playoffs in their sights.

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Pelicans Predictions

Williamson is enough alone to be excited about the Pelicans' prospects.

Ingram's development adds to the intrigue and offers hope that another leap is just around the corner.

The supporting cast fits well around the pair while Bledsoe and Adams offer experience and leadership to steer the ship forward.

Add Van Gundy's defensive reputation to what most assume is an offence that will naturally improve, and we have a playoff contender on our hands.

The Phoenix Suns have popped up as a contender for a playoff berth while the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies will be there or thereabouts once again. Despite the rather unappealing roster, nobody would ever rule the San Antonio Spurs out of the conversation either. The worst team of the 2019-20 season, Golden State Warriors, will also take leaps and bounds up the Western Conference standings.

With five other non-playoff teams in 2019-20 realistic chances in 2020-21, the Pelicans need to navigate a congested field. 

Defensive improvements will add to their prospects. So too will addressing what was an awful 15-21 record at home last season. But with a limited preseason to iron out the kinks, and without the benefit of cohesion other contenders have at the moment, the Pelicans look set to spend one more year in the lottery before embarking on a genuine quest for championship glory.

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