A short-handed team, playing without multiple key players in October and November, stumbles out of the gate, digging what seems like an insurmountable hole.
If you’re a New Orleans fan and that sounds like a familiar story, there’s good reason. At the outset of each of the past two NBA seasons, the Pelicans have started poorly, at 0-6 (and later 1-11) in 2015-16 and 0-8 this time. However, in a completely unexpected development – particularly for a Western Conference team that’s rarely benefited from good fortune in recent years – New Orleans still has a chance in ’16-17 to author a better ending than last spring’s 30-52 finish.