Halo

The NBA's annual showcase of the stars is a time to rest, recharge and gear up for the season's final push. Having seen enough to determine what early-season trends have staying power, it's a good time for us to evaluate the New Orleans Pelicans and talk about what we can expect from the team during the stretch run.

Despite residing in the host city for the festivities, the Pelicans have only one player participating in the main event, a slight disappointment for a team that came into the year with such high expectations. Playoffs may be out of the conversation, but a return to better health will help us better evaluate what looks like a talented roster.

All-Star berths aren't everything, though. Think of grading a basketball team like a teacher evaluating writing—the star players are graded on a tougher curve based on expectations, while the role players simply need to shine in their limited appearances.

Let's just hope that by season's end this list has more active players, rather than looking like a collection of the walking wounded.



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