With Anthony Davis operating in peak form, New Orleans Pelicans positioned to make run at third seed in Western Conference

In case you haven’t been paying attention, the New Orleans Pelicans are on fire. Winners of seven straight, they currently sit fifth in the standings of the Western Conference, and although the race remains as tight as ever, there’s legitimate hope the Pelicans may finish with a good seed for the upcoming playoffs.

This positive line of thinking is still rather novel. When the calendar flipped to 2018, no one was contemplating something like home court advantage. Deflating losses at home to the Knicks and Mavericks cast plenty of doubt and hurt the chances for a successful season because an even 18-18 record failed to inspire even the optimistic crowd.