The New Orleans Pelicans are the best story of the NBA playoffs' first round.
Playing before a giddy home crowd, the Pelicans cruised past the favored Portland Trailblazers Thursday night to take a 3-0 series lead. If they close the series, the Pels likely will face defending champion Golden State in the next round.
I was one of those who wrote off the Pels when star forward Demarcus Cousins went down with an Achilles injury.
But superstar Anthony Davis raised his game to even higher levels. Louisiana native Jrue Holiday grew into a fine NBA guard. Rajon Rondo revived the talent that he showed in sparking the Celtics to the championship a few years ago. Nikola Mirotic, acquired in a trade with the Bulls after Counsins' injury, gave the Pels the 3-point attack they needed.
Coach Alvin Gentry has shown himself one of the league's best, guiding the Pels with a steady hand. Under Gentry's leadership, the Pels are a cohesive unit who share the offensive attack and play tough defense.
The Pels' success makes Atlanta fans wonder why the Hawks are such a disaster.
Now owned by big finance man Tony Ressler, the Hawks wrecked a fine ballclub that won 60 games a couple of years ago.
Since the heyday of Dominique Wilkins, the Hawks have never drafted a player any where close to the Pels' Davis.
Al Horford, a midlevel star, wanted to stay in Atlanta, but the dumb Hawks traded him to Boston for little in return. Now, Horford is leading the Celtics in the playoffs.
Instead of a rising star like Holiday, the Hawks put their money on the insolent punk Dennis Schroeder.
The Hawks management did acquire Paul Millsap, now departed. Outside of that exception, the Hawks seem unable to acquire players like Cousins, Rondo and Mirotic.
Ressler's organization has also alienated excellent coach Mike Budenholzer, who looks ready to say goodbye to the incompetent franchise.
The Hawks can't even accomplish tanking. They won too many games to get the top choice in this year's draft.
Meanwhile, the Pels take flight.
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