5 Realistic Expectations For New Orleans Pelicans In 2014-15 Season

It is time. Davis showed what a force of nature he can be by swatting blocks all over the court this summer, but he should be able to top that this season by winning Defensive Player of the Year. He should average over three rejections per game, but we could also see his steal total improve as well.

Jimmer Fredette has had a strange basketball journey so far. Things did not work out for him in Sacramento, but that locker room is not exactly a great cocoon for such an impressionable player. His defensive limitations are well chronicled. However, the Pelicans are a perfect fit for his skill set. He has now found his basketball home.

Davis is a defensive maniac, but he no longer has to worry about the rebounding side of things with Omer Asik's addition to the lineup. Asik is another player who had an excellent World Cup showing this summer and should enter the year with some moxie.

Ryan Anderson's minutes will definitely be lower than last season, but he should have a lot more space to shoot with the additions of Asik and Fredette. The Pelicans are now one of the league's best three-point shooting teams and should be in the playoff mix as a result. "We want to win and we know the fans want us to win here,’’ said forward Anderson.

Eric Gordon had injury issues last season and Jrue Holiday did as well. You can expect more nagging injuries to pop up in the next few months, and we will get to see what the Pelicans' reserves are made of. If they can be productive in starting roles and hold the fort, New Orleans could be playoff bound for the first time since the Chris Paul era.