@Jim_Eichenhofer
OAKLAND – The 2015 Western Conference playoff field is filled with recent NBA champions (San Antonio, Dallas), 55-plus-win teams (Golden State, Houston, Clippers, Memphis, San Antonio) and future Hall of Fame players (too numerous to list). Many of the eight postseason qualifiers are clearly in win-immediately mode, particularly with twilight approaching for several mid-to-late-30s veterans.
Contrast that with the eighth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans (45-37 in 2014-15), who are among the NBA’s youngest teams and already achieved one of their biggest objectives simply by making the playoffs. While much of the competition sweats out the urgency of trying to claim a championship before it’s too late, the Pelicans are led by 22-year-old Anthony Davis.