Editor’s note: Basketball is back! Today’s preview is part of an SB Nation-wide series. You can find similar previews for each NBA team at every individual blog site.
The New Orleans Pelicans are aiming to pick up right where they left off from last May. Coming off a 20-8 regular season finish and a first round sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers, the Pelicans enjoyed their best campaign since the 2007-08 season — you remember, when Chris Paul was tossing alley-oops to Tyson Chandler, hitting Peja Stojakovic in stride for momentum-changing three-pointers and finding David West standing in his favorite spot on the elbow.