The New Orleans Pelicans start a five-game road trip Saturday in Minnesota, and it only begins the most critical stretch of the schedule encountered to date.
Three consecutive victories for the first time since mid-November have New Orleans (20-22) walking into the new year with a renewed vision. The team holds a league-leading net rating of 24.1 in that span, surprisingly bolstered by its defense. Though it must be noted, this win streak developed as a trouncing of the Memphis Grizzlies separated a pair of meetings with the bottom-dwelling Cleveland Cavaliers.
Still, as a team accustomed to trotting out a bottom-ten defense for the better part of this season, an inspirited advancement on that end of the floor is welcomed against any opponent.