2020–21 New Orleans Pelicans season
The 2020–21 New Orleans Pelicans season was the 19th season of the New Orleans Pelicans franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). On August 15, 2020, the New Orleans Pelicans fired head coach Alvin Gentry after five seasons with the team.[1] On October 22, 2020, the Pelicans hired Stan Van Gundy as their new head coach, who was also fired on June 16, 2021, after just one season with the team.[2] The Pelicans failed to qualify for the postseason for the third consecutive season following a loss to the Dallas Mavericks on May 12, 2021.[3]
| 2020–21 New Orleans Pelicans season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Stan Van Gundy |
| General manager | Trajan Langdon |
| Owner(s) | Gayle Benson |
| Arena | Smoothie King Center |
| Results | |
| Record | 31–41 (.431) |
| Place | Division: 4th (Southwest) Conference: 11th (Western) |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | Bally Sports New Orleans |
| Radio | WWL-FM |
Following the season, the Pelicans and head coach Stan Van Gundy mutually agree to part ways.[4]
Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College / Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | Kira Lewis Jr. | PG |  United States |
Alabama |
| 2 | 39 | Elijah Hughes | SF | United States |
Syracuse |
| 2 | 42 | Nick Richards | C |  Jamaica |
Kentucky |
| 2 | 60 | Sam Merrill | SG | United States |
Utah State |
After their March 11, 2020 game against the Sacramento Kings was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns with a referee, the Pelicans and Kings were stuck with a tied record for the best odds at the #12 pick of the 2020 NBA draft during the Suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season. However, as one of the teams invited to the 2020 NBA Bubble, it gave them a chance to move their selection up with a potential playoff spot earned there. Due to poor performances in the bubble, the Pelicans failed to gain any ground there. Even worse, despite gaining an extra loss, their first-round pick moved to #13 instead due to the Kings winning their tiebreaker via March 11 records. The Pelicans also held three second-round picks, with two of the three picks acquired via a three-way trade involving the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons.[5]
Roster
| 2020–21 New Orleans Pelicans roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Standings
Division
| Southwest Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y – Dallas Mavericks | 42 | 30 | .583 | – | 21–15 | 21–15 | 7–5 | 72 |
| x – Memphis Grizzlies | 38 | 34 | .528 | 4.0 | 18–18 | 20–16 | 6–6 | 72 |
| pi – San Antonio Spurs | 33 | 39 | .458 | 9.0 | 14–22 | 19–17 | 6–6 | 72 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 31 | 41 | .431 | 11.0 | 18–18 | 13–23 | 6–6 | 72 |
| Houston Rockets | 17 | 55 | .236 | 25.0 | 9–27 | 8–28 | 5–7 | 72 |
Conference
| Western Conference | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | z – Utah Jazz * | 52 | 20 | .722 | – | 72 |
| 2 | y – Phoenix Suns * | 51 | 21 | .708 | 1.0 | 72 |
| 3 | x – Denver Nuggets | 47 | 25 | .653 | 5.0 | 72 |
| 4 | x – Los Angeles Clippers | 47 | 25 | .653 | 5.0 | 72 |
| 5 | y – Dallas Mavericks * | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 72 |
| 6 | x – Portland Trail Blazers | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 72 |
| 7 | x – Los Angeles Lakers | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 72 |
| 8 | pi – Golden State Warriors | 39 | 33 | .542 | 13.0 | 72 |
| 9 | x – Memphis Grizzlies | 38 | 34 | .528 | 14.0 | 72 |
| 10 | pi – San Antonio Spurs | 33 | 39 | .458 | 19.0 | 72 |
| 11 | New Orleans Pelicans | 31 | 41 | .431 | 21.0 | 72 |
| 12 | Sacramento Kings | 31 | 41 | .431 | 21.0 | 72 |
| 13 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 23 | 49 | .319 | 29.0 | 72 |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 22 | 50 | .306 | 30.0 | 72 |
| 15 | Houston Rockets | 17 | 55 | .236 | 35.0 | 72 |
Notes
- z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
- c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
- y – Clinched division title
- x – Clinched playoff spot
- pb – Clinched play-in spot
- o – Eliminated from playoff contention
- * – Division leader
Game log
Preseason
| 2020 preseason game log Total: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preseason: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–21 season schedule | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Regular season
| 2020–21 game log Total: 30–41 (Home: 17–18; Road: 13–23) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December: 3–2 (home: 1–0; road: 2–2)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
January: 4–9 (home: 3–4; road: 1–5)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
February: 7–8 (home: 5–3; road: 2–5)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March: 7–6 (home: 5–4; road: 2–2)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
April: 7–10 (home: 3–5; road: 4–5)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
May: 3–6 (home: 1–2; road: 2–4)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–21 season schedule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transactions
Trades
Re-signed
| Player | Signed |
|---|
Additions
| Player | Signed | Former team |
|---|
Subtractions
| Player | Reason left | New team |
|---|
-->
References
- "Alvin Gentry relieved of head coaching duties". NBA.com. August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- "Pelicans name Stan Van Gundy head coach". NBA.com. October 22, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- Clark, Christian. "Pelicans oficially [sic] eliminated from postseason contention after blowout loss to Mavericks". NOLA.com. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- "New Orleans Pelicans and Stan Van Gundy mutually agree to part ways". NBA.com. June 16, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
- "Pelicans acquire Stanley Johnson, Jason Smith". NBA.com. February 7, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
- "Toronto Raptors to Start Season in Tampa". SI.com. November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- "New Orleans vs. Dallas, Boston vs. Chicago games postponed". NBA.com. January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- "San Antonio at New Orleans game postponed". NBA.com. January 25, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.