Eight games are complete and the New Orleans Pelicans are 1-7, three games back of the final playoff spots in the Western Conference. There are plenty of reasons for a slow start. The most difficult schedule in the league and an unprecedented tsunami of injuries are easily identified culprits. This season the Pelicans will play just five games against teams who won 60+ games last year, comprising a paltry 6% of the total schedule. Right now those games account for 50% of the Pelicans' record.
Despite that slow start there are a number of positives to build upon for the Pelicans, especially on offense.