The NBA Championship Formula Part IV (Revisited) - No Place Like Home
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NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Pelicans have just 23 games remaining in the regular season as they prepare to make their post-All-Star game push for a spot in the playoffs.
Eleven of those critical contests will take place at the Smoothie King Center. The Pels have been very good at home so far, winning 20 of 30 games played in the Crescent City.
New Orleans holds the NBA's eighth-best home record, and is on pace for 27 home wins this season.
One more victory at The Blender would give the Pelicans their first winning season at home since 2017-18 (24-17), and only the third season above .500 at the SKC in the last decade.
Perhaps the peak moment of this season was the eruption from a sold out crowd following Zion Williamson's dunk to put an exclamation point on the Pels' victory of the Suns...on Dec. 9.
Unfortunately for the Pelicans, after getting off to a 17-4 start at home they've gone 3-6 since.
The NBA Championship Formula Series
Part I: How Close Are The Pelicans?
Part II: Three Is A Magic Number
Part IV: Making Home Court An Advantage
Compared to NBA champions of the past, the Pels still have a ways to go in establishing home dominance.
The last 10 NBA title winners averaged more than 31 wins with an .802 winning percentage on their home floors.
To put that into greater perspective, the franchise record for home wins in a season is 30.
The New Orleans Pelicans' home winning percentage compared to the NBA champion over the past four seasons.
The Pelicans have struggled on the road, going 10-19 away from their friendly confines, making each home game even more important.
Their remaining home schedule is by no means a cakewalk, with 7 of the 11 opponents being in contention for the postseason.
On an encouraging note, the Pelicans are 12-8 against those opponents.
| Opponent | Current Season Record | vs. Pelicans |
|---|---|---|
Orlando Magic | 24-35 | 1-0 |
Dallas Mavericks | 31-29 | 2-1 |
Oklahoma City Thunder | 28-29 | 0-3 |
Portland Trail Blazers | 28-30 | 1-0 |
Los Angeles Lakers | 27-32 | 2-1 |
San Antonio Spurs | 14-45 | 0-3 |
Charlotte Hornets | 17-43 | 0-1 |
Los Angeles Clippers | 33-28 | 0-1 |
Sacramento Kings | 32-25 | 0-1 |
Memphis Grizzlies | 35-22 | 2-1 |
New York Knicks | 33-27 | 0-0 |
Whether or not the Pelicans take advantage of those games is clouded by the status of Zion Williamson, the team's defensive slide, and frankly, its general inconsistency.
But make no mistake, if the Pelicans are going to get back to the playoffs they had better get back on track and take care of their business at the Smoothie King Center.
If not, they'll be at home during the postseason watching with the rest of us.
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- Pelicans Dump Graham's Contract for Richardson
- Willie Green's Rotations Need More Time To Build Rhythm
- Judging Josh Richardson's Value After Historic Debut
- Willie Green Talks About Coaching Staff's Priorities
- Pelicans Have 25 Games to Save Season
- Willie Green After 10th Loss: "Stay the Course!"
- Report: Bally Sports Owners Facing Bankruptcy
