In the NBA Power Rankings, the Pelicans climb up near the top

In the NBA Power Rankings, the Pelicans climb up near the top.

A team on the rise is the New Orleans Pelicans. At 15-8, they are currently ranked second in the Western Conference after winning 9 of their last 11 games.

With a tough defense that ranks third in the NBA , New Orleans has been able to win games. The fact that they are winning despite missing key starters is even more astounding.

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John Schuhmann posted his latest power rankings on NBA.com and the Pels moved up to No. 4.

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Six of their next seven games are against groups who made last season's end of the season games.

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It includes three games against the Phoenix Suns, who the Pelicans lost to in the first round of the playoffs last year.

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With Brandon Ingram and Herb Jones out, the Pels bench must perform well in their absence.

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New Orleans has proven to be a deep team, and that depth will be needed in the upcoming games.

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