3 weaknesses of the New Orleans Pelicans which can be used against them in the 2021-22 NBA season

The New Orleans Pelicans had a better run in the 2020-21 NBA season, finishing 11th in the NBA Western Conference with a 31-41 record, compared to their 13th finish from the 2019-20 season.

The Pelicans 21-year old power forward Zion Williamson led the team in field goals and points, recording a career high of 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Although he had a right foot fracture last season, he has undergone surgery and should be ready to get back in the team in time for the regular season.

The Pelicans are a very young team with promising talents, they hope to have a good run in the coming season but they have some weaknesses which can be used against them, let's discuss them.

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Three weaknesses of the New Orleans Pelicans which could be used against them in the 2021-22 NBA season

#1 Inexperienced squad

Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans and Naji Marshall #8 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after a score during the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Golden State Warriors at Smoothie King Center on May 04, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans Pelicans won the game 108 - 103.

The Pelicans team is lacking in experience as most of its players are below 26. This might prove to be a concern going into the season, as there are only four players above 26 years, with three of them being rotation players. Their key players are quite a young bunch, including Williamson (21), Brandon Ingram (24), Jaxson Hayes (21), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (23), Trey Murphy III (21) and Kira Lewis Jr (20).

Most of the players on the team have no playoff experience, and those who have been to the playoffs have little experience. Garrett Temple, Jonas Valančiūnas and Tomáš Satoranský have all featured in playoff games, with Valančiūnas playing the most (12). He made it to the NBA Eastern Conference Finals with the Toronto Raptors in the 2015-16 playoffs, but lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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#2 Poor rim protection

Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts with Jaxson Hayes #10 of the New Orleans Pelicans after blocking a shot during a NBA game against the Denver Nuggets at Smoothie King Center on January 24, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The New Orleans Pelicans ranked 24th in blocks made in the 2020-21 NBA season and 22nd in blocks per game, with Williamson recording the most blocks (39) and ranking 82nd on the leaders' board. Former New Orleans center Steven Adams was second on the team in blocks, having successfully made 38 blocks the previous season. Adams isn't an amazing shot-blocker but Valančiūnas isn't much of an upgrade either and his absence will be felt as he was traded to the Grizzlies.

The issue of rim protection has been riddling the team for a while now and at this point it will take sheer drive and discipline from the lads to quench this raging fire that could cause them to have a terrible season. While Hayes has within the past two seasons shown his ability to make blocks, having recorded 0.9 blocks per game in 64 appearances in his debut season in the NBA, it is still not entirely convincing that he could be the answer to this problem.

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#3 No support cast/bench unit

Lonzo Ball #2 of the New Orleans Pelicans attempts a three point basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first quarter at Moda Center on March 18, 2021 in Portland, Oregon.

A lot is dependent on Williamson in the Pelicans team, with little or no help and a lean bench. With Lonzo Ball, who led New Orleans in three-pointers, assists and steals, off the team roster as he was traded to the Chicago Bulls, there exists a huge vacuum to be filled with no visible replacements during the offseason.

The team will struggle to field a second unit and will require the starters to put in more minutes than before in order to put up a good contest against opposing teams. This could cause a strain on young players and even create a bigger issue - injuries. Coach Willie Green will need to get the bench all sorted and consistent really quickly in order to challenge favorably in the 2021-22 NBA season.