The Western Conference in the NBA is led by a few teams that have been constantly battling for the top spot over the last few months.
However, there are other teams in the standings that are quietly doing incredible work and could be huge threats when the playoffs kick off in a few weeks.
The New Orleans Pelicans are one of those teams, according to Kendrick Perkins.
Perkins was on “The Pat McAfee Show” and said that New Orleans is a team to watch, and be afraid of.
“I’m not saying the Pelicans can’t be beat but nobody in the Western Conference wants to see them in the playoffs,” Perkins claimed.
"Zion is BALLIN right now and this is the Zion we've been looking for..
I'm not saying the Pelicans can't be beat but nobody in the Western Conference wants to see them in the playoffs" ~ @KendrickPerkins #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/7YtaiJ6HJk
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 15, 2024
One of the biggest reasons for this fear among other teams is the return of Zion Williamson.
After years of disappointing false starts and nasty injuries, Williamson is back and has stayed healthy for most of the season.
Averaging 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game on a stellar 57.8% field-goal percentage, Williamson is again one of the most dominant threats in the league.
That’s only part of it, though; there are numerous players who are doing significant things for the Pelicans.
Therefore, it is not surprising to see that Williamson’s averages are actually down this season compared to last because other Pelicans stars on the roster have been more productive and taken a lot off the big man’s plate.
This team is more well-rounded than it has been in the past and that’s part of what makes them so competitive.
The Pelicans are currently the fifth seed in the West, which means the Los Angeles Clippers would face them in the opening round of the postseason if it started today.
That would give NBA fans a matchup between two teams with a lot to prove.
NEXT: Dejounte Murray Lauds Pelicans Player For His Defensive Efforts