Last season was over before the calendar flipped to December. A tough schedule in November sans Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans makes a sequel possible.
NBA schedule makers were remarkably unkind to the New Orleans Pelicans at the beginning of the season. In their first 19 games they face playoff teams from last season 10 times including the behemoth Golden State Warriors twice and the retooled San Antonio Spurs once.
Of their nine games against non-playoff teams the Pelicans suffer a rest disadvantage three times; on the road against Sacramento and Milwaukee and then at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves.