Alright, let’s dive into this Pelicans depth chart thing. I kinda stumbled into this project, just trying to get a better handle on the team before the season kicked off. Didn’t realize I’d end up spending a whole weekend on it!
First off, I grabbed a basic roster. Just a list of all the players, you know, from ESPN and the official team site. Nothing fancy, just copy-pasted into a spreadsheet to start. This was a mess, names all over the place, positions kinda vague. Had to clean it up real good.
Then, the real fun started. I began watching old games. Yep, hours of it. I wanted to see who was actually playing where, who was getting minutes with whom, and who seemed to be clicking. It was a grind, pausing and rewinding like crazy. My wife thought I was nuts.
I needed to decide on what positions to use. I went with a classic PG, SG, SF, PF, C setup. It’s simple and mostly works, though some guys are definitely position-less these days. I tried to be as accurate as I could, based on where players spent most of their time on the court.
Next, I started filling out the depth chart, trying to decide who should be the starter, backup, and so on. This was where it got tricky. Some guys are versatile, some are injured, and some are just plain inconsistent. I had to rely on my gut feeling a lot, combined with what the coaches have said in interviews.
I tinkered with the lineup a lot. Seriously, I must have moved guys around a hundred times. Trying to figure out the best combinations, who complements whom, and who can cover for weaknesses. I even started making notes on potential lineup combos – you know, like “Zion at point with Trey and Herb on the wings for offense.”
Finally, after way too many hours, I had something that resembled a real depth chart. It’s not perfect, of course. Things will change as the season goes on, with injuries, trades, and guys stepping up. But it’s a solid starting point, and it gives me a better idea of what the Pelicans are working with.
- PG: CJ McCollum / Dyson Daniels / Kira Lewis Jr.
- SG: Brandon Ingram / Trey Murphy III / Naji Marshall
- SF: Herb Jones / Naji Marshall /Dyson Daniels
- PF: Zion Williamson / Larry Nance Jr. / Wenyen Gabriel
- C: Jonas Valanciunas / Larry Nance Jr. / Cody Zeller
The key takeaway? Depth. The Pelicans are stacked with talent, especially at the forward positions. Injuries will happen, but they have guys who can step up and fill in. The challenge will be figuring out the right rotations and getting everyone to buy in. That’s on the coaching staff, and that’s what will ultimately determine how far this team can go.
So there you have it – my somewhat obsessive deep dive into the Pelicans depth chart. Now, let’s see how right (or wrong) I am when the games actually start!
