2018-19 NBA Preview: Power ranking the bubble playoff teams in the Western Conference Playoffs

#6 New Orleans Pelicans

Holiday and Davis are the

fulcrum

of this team

The Pelicans are reeling from an offseason that saw them lose DeMarcus Cousins as an unrestricted free agent.

They have, however, done a better job of retooling their roster than the teams we've talked about before this.

In addition to that, Anthony Davis is by far the best player on any of the teams so far, which makes them prohibitive favourites to make the 8th seed over the Blazers in my eyes this season.

Losing Cousins will definitely hurt their ceiling, but they made a great signing in Julius Randle. The No.7 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft is slated to come off the bench and will comprise a sturdy frontcourt alongside Nik Mirotic and The Brow.

The Pelicans replaced Rajon Rondo with another 2014 draftee Elfrid Payton. Payton is a worse player than the former Celtics point guard but will be better suited to the run-and-gun style that they resorted to following Cousins' injury last season.

He's also a significantly better scorer, and that should keep the team at about the same level in terms of point guard play.

The rest of their roster remains virtually the same, but Jrue Holiday averaged All-NBA numbers after the All-Star break last season, and currently smack in the middle of his prime, one can expect him to play at the same level.