2017–18 New Orleans Pelicans season
The 2017–18 New Orleans Pelicans season was the 16th season of the New Orleans Pelicans franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Pelicans were coached by Alvin Gentry in his third year as head coach. They played their home games at the Smoothie King Center as members of the Western Conference's Southwest Division.
| 2017–18 New Orleans Pelicans season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Alvin Gentry |
| General manager | Dell Demps |
| Owner(s) | Tom Benson (until March 15, his death) Gayle Benson (March 15 onwards) |
| Arena | Smoothie King Center |
| Results | |
| Record | 48–34 (.585) |
| Place | Division: 2nd (Southwest) Conference: 6th (Western) |
| Playoff finish | Conference Semifinals (lost to Warriors 1–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | Fox Sports New Orleans |
| Radio | WWL-FM |
The team's second-leading scorer, DeMarcus Cousins, suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury during his subsequent final game as a Pelican on January 26, 2018, and missed the remainder of the season.[1] Despite losing Cousins, the Pelicans clinched their first playoff berth since 2015 with a win over the Los Angeles Clippers on April 9, 2018.[2] They finished the season 48–34 to finish in second place in the Southwest Division.
In the Playoffs, the Pelicans faced off against the third-seeded Portland Trail Blazers in the First Round. On April 14, 2018, the Pelicans won the first game in the First Round playoff series which marked the franchise's first playoff game win since the 2011 playoffs' First Round series against the Los Angeles Lakers.[3][4] On April 21, the Pelicans completed the playoff series sweep over the Trail Blazers, marking the franchise's first series win since 2008.[5][6] It also marked the first playoff series sweep in franchise history, and the first time that a team seeded sixth or lower had swept a First Round series since the NBA had expanded the First Round to a best-of-seven series.[7] They advanced to the conference semifinals to face the second-seeded and defending champion and eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors, the team that swept them in the First Round of the 2015 playoffs and were also champions that year.[8] The Pelicans lost the series in five games and were eliminated from the playoffs.[9][10]
Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College / Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 31 | Frank Jackson | PG |  United States |
Duke |
Prior to the NBA draft, the Pelicans had only one second round pick, having traded their first-round pick, rookie Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, and the Philadelphia 76ers' original second round pick to the Sacramento Kings in a blockbuster trade for star center DeMarcus Cousins and Omri Casspi.[11][12] On June 21, 2017, however, the Pelicans acquired the Washington Wizards' second round pick (No. 52 overall) in exchange for guard Tim Frazier.[13] As a result, the Pelicans entered draft night with two second round and no first-round picks. On the night of the draft, the Pelicans traded away their second round pick (No. 40 overall) and cash considerations to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for the Hornets' second round pick (No. 31 overall).[14] With that pick, the Pelicans selected Duke point guard Frank Jackson.[15] With the No. 52 overall pick, the Pelicans selected Xavier point guard Edmond Sumner and traded him to the Indiana Pacers for cash considerations.[16]
Roster
| 2017–18 New Orleans Pelicans roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Standings
Division
| Southwest Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| z – Houston Rockets | 65 | 17 | .793 | – | 34–7 | 31–10 | 12–4 | 82 |
| x – New Orleans Pelicans | 48 | 34 | .585 | 17.0 | 24–17 | 24–17 | 9–7 | 82 |
| x – San Antonio Spurs | 47 | 35 | .573 | 18.0 | 33–8 | 14–27 | 9–7 | 82 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 24 | 58 | .293 | 41.0 | 15–26 | 9–32 | 5–11 | 82 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 22 | 60 | .268 | 43.0 | 16–25 | 6–35 | 5–11 | 82 |
Conference
| Western Conference | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | z – Houston Rockets * | 65 | 17 | .793 | – | 82 |
| 2 | y – Golden State Warriors * | 58 | 24 | .707 | 7.0 | 82 |
| 3 | y – Portland Trail Blazers * | 49 | 33 | .598 | 16.0 | 82 |
| 4 | x – Oklahoma City Thunder | 48 | 34 | .585 | 17.0 | 82 |
| 5 | x – Utah Jazz | 48 | 34 | .585 | 17.0 | 82 |
| 6 | x – New Orleans Pelicans | 48 | 34 | .585 | 17.0 | 82 |
| 7 | x – San Antonio Spurs | 47 | 35 | .573 | 18.0 | 82 |
| 8 | x – Minnesota Timberwolves | 47 | 35 | .573 | 18.0 | 82 |
| 9 | Denver Nuggets | 46 | 36 | .561 | 19.0 | 82 |
| 10 | Los Angeles Clippers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 23.0 | 82 |
| 11 | Los Angeles Lakers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 30.0 | 82 |
| 12 | Sacramento Kings | 27 | 55 | .329 | 38.0 | 82 |
| 13 | Dallas Mavericks | 24 | 58 | .293 | 41.0 | 82 |
| 14 | Memphis Grizzlies | 22 | 60 | .268 | 43.0 | 82 |
| 15 | Phoenix Suns | 21 | 61 | .256 | 44.0 | 82 |
Game log
Preseason
| 2017 pre-season game log Total: 1–3 (home: 0–2; road: 1–1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Pre-season: 1–3 (home: 0–2; road: 1–1)
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| 2017–18 season schedule | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Regular season
Playoffs
| 2018 playoff game log Total: 5–4 (home: 3–1; road: 2–3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First Round: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
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Conference Semifinals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
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| 2018 playoff schedule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Player statistics
Regular season
| Player | Pos. | GP | GS | MP | Reb. | Ast. | Stl. | Blk. | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Allen† | SF | 22 | 0 | 273 | 47 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 103 |
| Omer Asik† | C | 14 | 0 | 121 | 37 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 18 |
| Charles Cooke | SG | 13 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Ian Clark | SG | 74 | 2 | 1,455 | 127 | 110 | 33 | 10 | 551 |
| DeMarcus Cousins | C | 48 | 48 | 1,737 | 617 | 257 | 79 | 76 | 1,210 |
| Jordan Crawford | PG | 5 | 0 | 53 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 33 |
| Dante Cunningham | SF | 51 | 24 | 1,115 | 193 | 26 | 27 | 16 | 253 |
| Anthony Davis | PF | 75 | 75 | 2,727 | 832 | 174 | 115 | 193 | 2,110 |
| Cheick Diallo | PF | 52 | 0 | 581 | 211 | 19 | 11 | 21 | 254 |
| Larry Drew | PG | 7 | 0 | 55 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Solomon Hill | SF | 12 | 1 | 187 | 36 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 29 |
| Jrue Holiday | SG | 81 | 81 | 2,927 | 365 | 486 | 123 | 64 | 1,537 |
| Mike James‡ | PG | 4 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Jalen Jones‡ | SF | 4 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Walt Lemon≠ | PG | 5 | 0 | 35 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 17 |
| DeAndre Liggins | PG | 27 | 3 | 244 | 26 | 21 | 10 | 4 | 44 |
| Darius Miller | SF | 82 | 3 | 1,944 | 164 | 111 | 28 | 17 | 637 |
| Nikola Mirotic≠ | PF | 30 | 11 | 872 | 246 | 41 | 29 | 26 | 439 |
| E'Twaun Moore | SG | 82 | 80 | 2,586 | 238 | 187 | 79 | 12 | 1,022 |
| Jameer Nelson† | PG | 43 | 0 | 897 | 96 | 156 | 79 | 76 | 221 |
| Emeka Okafor≠ | C | 26 | 19 | 353 | 120 | 8 | 8 | 25 | 221 |
| Rajon Rondo | PG | 65 | 63 | 1,703 | 263 | 533 | 70 | 10 | 537 |
| Josh Smith | PF | 3 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
After all games.[17]
‡Waived during the season
†Traded during the season
≠Acquired during the season
Transactions
Trades
| June 21, 2017 | To New Orleans Pelicans 52nd pick in the 2017 NBA draft[18] |
To Washington Wizards Tim Frazier |
| February 1, 2018 | To New Orleans Pelicans Nikola Mirotić 2018 second round pick (from New Orleans via Chicago) |
To Chicago Bulls Ömer Aşık Tony Allen Jameer Nelson 2018 Top 5 protected first-round pick Right to swap 2021 second round picks with New Orleans[19] |
Re-signed
| Player | Signed |
|---|---|
| Jrue Holiday[20] | 5-year contract worth $126 million |
Additions
| Player | Signed | Former team |
|---|---|---|
| Tony Allen[21] | 1-year contract worth $2.3 million | Memphis Grizzlies |
| Ian Clark[22] | 1-year contract worth $1.6 million | Golden State Warriors |
| Charles Cooke[23] | Two-way contract | Dayton Flyers |
| Jalen Jones[24] | Two-way contract | Maine Red Claws |
| Darius Miller[25] | 2-year contract worth $4.3 million |  Brose Bamberg |
| Rajon Rondo[26] | 1-year contract worth $3.3 million | Chicago Bulls |
| Mike James | Two-way contract | Phoenix Suns |
| Emeka Okafor | Signed two 10-day contracts / 1-year deal | Delaware 87ers |
| Walter Lemon Jr. | Signed a 10-day contract | Fort Wayne Mad Ants |
Subtractions
| Player | Reason left | New team |
|---|---|---|
| Quinn Cook[27] | Waived | Atlanta Hawks[28] |
| Axel Toupane[27] | Waived |  Žalgiris Kaunas |
| Donatas Motiejūnas | Unrestricted free agent |  Shandong Golden Stars |
| Hollis Thompson | Unrestricted free agent |  Olympiacios Piraeus |
| Jalen Jones | Waived | Dallas Mavericks / Texas Legends |
| Mike James | Waived | Panathinaikos Athens |
Awards, records and milestones
Awards
| Player | Award | Date awarded | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeMarcus Cousins | Western Conference Player of the Week | October 30, 2017 | [29] |
| Anthony Davis | Western Conference Player of the Week | November 27, 2017 | [30] |
| Anthony Davis | NBA All-Star starter (5th appearance) | January 18, 2018 | [31] |
| DeMarcus Cousins | NBA All-Star starter (4th appearance) | January 18, 2018 | [31] |
| Anthony Davis | Western Conference Player of the Month (February) | March 1, 2018 | [32] |
| Anthony Davis | Western Conference Player of the Week | March 5, 2018 | [33] |
| Anthony Davis | Western Conference Player of the Month (March/April) | April 12, 2018 | [34] |
| Anthony Davis | All-Defensive First Team | May 23, 2018 | [35] |
| Jrue Holiday | All-Defensive First Team | May 23, 2018 | [35] |
| Anthony Davis | All-NBA First Team | May 24, 2018 | [36] |
| Anthony Davis | NBA blocks leader (3rd time) | June 17, 2018 | [37] |
Season
- Anthony Davis set franchise records in:
- DeMarcus Cousins set a franchise record in:
- Defensive rebound percentage in a season (30.9%)[39]
- Rajon Rondo set franchise records in:
- Most assists in a game
- 25 in a win against the Brooklyn Nets on December 27, 2017.[40]
- Most assists in a quarter
- 9 in a win against the Detroit Pistons on January 8, 2018, tying a franchise record.[41]
- Most assists in a game
Playoffs
- Anthony Davis set a franchise record in:
- Most points in a playoff game
- 47 in Game 4 against the Portland Trail Blazers.[42]
- Most points in a playoff game
- Rajon Rondo tied a franchise record in:
- Most assists in a playoff game
- 17 in Game 1 against the Portland Trail Blazers. Tied the record with Chris Paul.[43]
- Most assists in a playoff game
Milestones
- On November 22, 2017, Anthony Davis reached 7,938 career points, moving him to second in points scored in franchise history after passing Chris Paul.[44]
- On January 18, 2018, both Davis and DeMarcus Cousins were selected as NBA All-Star starters, which marked the first time since 2009 that multiple New Orleans players have been selected to the All-Star game. It was also the first time in franchise history that multiple players have started the All-Star game.
- On January 28, 2018, Davis reached 3,857 career rebounds, giving him the all-time franchise high in rebounds after passing David West.[45]
- On February 2, 2018, Davis passed David West in points scored, giving him the all-time franchise high with 8,702.[46]
- The Pelicans finished second in the Southwest Division, which was the highest since the 2007–08 season.
- The Pelicans finished first in the league in:
Playoffs
- The Pelicans clinched their first playoff berth since 2015.[49]
- On April 14, 2018, the Pelicans won the first game in the First Round playoff series which marked the franchise's first playoff game win since the 2011 NBA playoffs.[50]
- On April 21, 2018, the Pelicans completed the playoff series sweep over the Portland Trail Blazers, marking the franchise's first series win since 2008. It was also the first playoff series sweep in franchise history, and the first time that a team seeded sixth or lower had swept a First Round series since the NBA had expanded the First Round to a best-of-seven series.[51]
References
- "Injury ends Cousins' season in Pelicans' win over Rockets". Boston.com. January 27, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- "New Orleans Pelicans earn second postseason berth in five seasons". USA TODAY. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- "NBA playoffs: Pelicans hold off Trail Blazers 97-95 in Game 1". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- "Anthony Davis, Pelicans steal Game 1 in Portland". SBNation.com. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- "Brooms out: Pelicans sweep Portland, 1st playoff series win in a decade". WGNO. April 22, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- "New Orleans Pelicans sweep Portland Trail Blazers with 131-123 Game 4 win: Rapid Reaction". OregonLive.com. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- "No. 6 seed Pelicans make NBA playoff history with first-round sweep of Trail Blazers". USA TODAY. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- "Pelicans face the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals: Live updates". nola.com. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- Team, WDSU Digital (May 10, 2018). "Pelicans eliminated from NBA playoffs". WDSU. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
- "Pelicans coach's final words after Warriors eliminated them: '1-2-3, Cancun'". For The Win. May 9, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
- Polacek, Scott. "DeMarcus Cousins Traded to Pelicans for Tyreke Evans, Buddy Hield and More". Bleacher Report. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- "Kings agree to trade DeMarcus Cousins to Pelicans". USA TODAY. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- "Pelicans trade G Tim Frazier to the Washington Wizards for 2017 2nd round pick". NOLA.com. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- "Pelicans trade up in NBA Draft, select Duke guard Frank Jackson with 31st pick". NOLA.com. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- "Pelicans Select Frank Jackson with 31st Pick in 2017 NBA Draft | New Orleans Pelicans | BourbonStreetShots.com". Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- "Pelicans trade No. 52 pick in NBA Draft to the Indiana Pacers". NOLA.com. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- "2017-18 New Orleans Pelicans Roster and Stats". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "Pelicans Acquire 52nd Overall Pick in 2017 NBA Draft". NBA.com/pelicans. June 21, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
- "Chicago Bulls trade Nikola Mirotic to New Orleans Pelicans". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 1, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- "Pelicans Re-Sign Jrue Holiday". NBA.com/pelicans. July 6, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- "Pelicans sign Tony Allen". NBA.com. September 15, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
- "Pelicans sign Ian Clark". NBA.com/pelicans. August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
- "Pelicans sign Charles Cooke to two-way contract". NBA.com/pelicans. August 2, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- "Pelicans sign Jalen Jones to two-way contract". NBA.com/pelicans. August 2, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- "Pelicans Sign Darius Miller". NBA.com/pelicans. July 27, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- "Pelicans Sign Rajon Rondo". NBA.com/pelicans. July 20, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
- "Pelicans waive Quinn Cook and Axel Toupane". NBA.compelicans. July 25, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- "Hawks Sign Point Guard Quinn Cook". NBA.com. September 6, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
- "Pelicans forward DeMarcus Cousins named Western Conference Player of the Week". NBA.com. October 30, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "Anthony Davis Named Western Conference Player of the Week". NBA.com. November 27, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "LeBron James, Stephen Curry voted as captains for NBA All-Star Game". espn.com. January 18, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "Anthony Davis Named Western Conference Player of the Month". nba.com. March 1, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "Anthony Davis Named Western Conference Player of the Week". nba.com. March 5, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "Anthony Davis Named Western Conference Player of the Month". nba.com. April 12, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday Earn All-Defensive First Team Honors". nba.com. May 23, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "Anthony Davis Named to 2017-18 All-NBA First Team". nba.com. May 24, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "2017-18 NBA Regular Season: Blocks Per Game Leaders". landofbasketball.com. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "Rubio, Jazz, spoil Davis triple-double, 116-99". espn.com. March 11, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "New Orleans Pelicans Season Leaders". Basketball Reference. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "Rajon Rondo becomes 7th NBA player with 25 assists in a game". espn.com. December 27, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "After Davis' injury, Cousins lifts Pelicans past Pistons". espn.com. January 8, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "Davis' 47 points leads Pelicans to sweep of Trail Blazers". espn.com. April 21, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "Davis scores 35, Pelicans hold off Blazers 97-95 in Game 1". espn.com. April 14, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "Davis, Cousins, power Pelicans' 107-90 rout of Spurs". espn.com. November 22, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "Griffin leads Clippers past Cousins-less Pelicans, 112-103". espn.com. January 28, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "Davis' 43 points lead Pelicans past Thunder 114-100". espn.com. January 28, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "New Orleans Pelicans Stats - Basic (Totals)". Basketball Reference. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "New Orleans Pelicans Stats - Per Game (Totals)". Basketball Reference. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "New Orleans Pelicans earn second postseason berth in five seasons". USA Today. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- "NBA playoffs: Pelicans hold off Trail Blazers 97-95 in Game 1". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
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