NBA 2018-19 Power Rankings: Week 1 (Western Conference Edition)

#4 New Orleans Pelicans

Sacramento Kings v New Orleans Pelicans

It's only been three games into the season so far, but the Pelicans have been at least as good as a number of people predicted them to be to start the season off. Adding Julius Randle as the third big in a rotation that already consisted of the best big man in the game and one of the best sharpshooting bigs today means the Pelicans have three frontcourt mismatches they can deploy at any given time.

Other than having the league's best frontcourt, the Pelicans are pushing the pace like few teams in NBA history have. Their starting five of Elfrid Payton, Jrue, E'Twaun Moore, Mirotic and AD are all willing runners, and the spacing on this lineup is a terror for teams on the transition.

Forcing defenses to react early in the shot clock will continue to pay off for the rest of the season, and has taken the Pelicans up to the 4th spot on our Western Conference Power Rankings for Week 1.