New Orleans Pelicans general manager Dell Demps probably didn't script the season this way. Jrue Holiday on a minutes restriction, Tyreke Evans with two knee surgeries, Quincy Pondexter still rehabbing a knee surgery of his own, Omer Asik battling a lingering calf strain, and Norris Cole out with a high ankle sprain turned a deep team into one of the shallowest in the league fast.
The schedule was known to be exceptionally difficult. Two of the Pelicans' three "easy" games came on the road on the second night of a back-to-back.