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New Orleans Pelicans: Three bold predictions for Zion Williamson

By Jason Reed

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils looks on against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils looks on against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) – New Orleans Pelicans
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) – New Orleans Pelicans /

3. Zion Williamson leads the Pelicans to at least within two games of the eighth seed

The Western Conference is absolutely stacked this year and has several teams that are all contending for the NBA Championship. The virtual locks that are going to make the playoffs and be atop the standings are the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz, Portland Trailblazers and Golden State Warriors.

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That’s seven teams, leaving just one spot for the eight other teams in the league, that are all on the tier below, to fight for. Of course, injuries or pure disappointing play could knock one of those seven teams out, but right now, those seven are above the other eight teams in the Western Conference.

If you ask an everyday NBA fan of who they think can get that spot they might mention the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs or even the Sacramento Kings. Which is fine, most people overlook the Pelicans anyway.

The Pelicans have a lot of pieces to shock the average NBA fan and sneak into the playoffs as an eighth seed, which would be led by Zion.

Alongside Zion is a solid rotation consisting of Ingram, Redick, Holiday, Ball, Josh Hart, Derrick Favors, Jahlil Okafor and Darius Miller. Tell me that isn’t a very solid nine-man rotation.

Ingram is on the cusp of being an all-star and might be that in 2019. If Ball and Hart get better, and Holliday and Redick just play as good as they did last season, that is absolutely a playoff-caliber team.

The inexperience might bite them but at the very least, Zion is going to be the best player, as a rookie, on a team that wildly exceeds expectations, finishes with a winning record and within two games of that final playoff spot as a ninth seed.

Next. Why the Pels can be the NBA's most electric team. dark

Your everyday rookie could not do that, especially in the STACKED Western Conference. That is what makes Zion Williamson so special.

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