Remember when the firepower consisted of Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday and frequently little else? When bringing a consistent effort level from game to game was all too often a problem? When Alvin Gentry used to go to his bench and leads subsequently evaporated or deficits multiplied? Well, the New Orleans Pelicans disposed of the Atlanta Hawks rather easily in a 133-109 victory, and if this first preseason game is any indication, all of those recent demons could quickly become distant memories.
Yes, this contest doesn’t count, it’s just the first of many, and the opponent was the Hawks, but the first 48 minutes of action couldn’t have gone any better when considering hopes and future dreams of this New Orleans franchise.