The Pelicans are off to a 5-4 start, but digging through the numbers, that record doesn’t seem appropriate. New Orleans’ winning percentage should be higher.
The Jazz, for instance, have precisely the same offensive rating (114.1) and a slightly better defensive rating (109.0 vs 109.4), yet they sit second in the West with an 8-3 record.
Thanks, three overtime losses in nine games.
If Matt Ryan and Dejounte Murray had missed those last second regulation jumpers, or an additional free throw was converted (Besides Dyson Daniels’ two key misses against the Lakers, the Pels made 5 of 9 from the line in the fourth quarter against the Hawks), the Pelicans would be sitting pretty at 7-2 — the same record as the conference-leading Suns.