Why the New Orleans Pelicans Might Miss the Playoffs and the Play-in
The Pelicans have had a disappointing season so far, with a record of 31 wins and 34 losses as of March 7, 2023[^2^][1]. They are currently ninth in their division and eleventh in their conference[^2^][1], which means they are out of the playoff picture and also unlikely to qualify for the play-in tournament. The play-in tournament is a new format introduced by the NBA in 2020 to determine the final two playoff spots for each conference. The teams that finish seventh through tenth in each conference compete in a series of games to decide who advances to the postseason. The Pelicans would need to climb at least two spots in their conference standings to have a chance at participating in the play-in tournament. There are several reasons why the Pelicans might not make it to either the playoffs or the play-in tournament this season. Some of them are: - Injuries: The Pelicans have been plagued by injuries throughout the season, affecting some of their key players such as Zion Williamson,