NBA 2018-19 Power Rankings: Western Conference Week 2 edition

#2 New Orleans Pelicans

Sacramento Kings v New Orleans Pelicans

A 4-0 start to the season has been rather dampened by a 2-game losing streak, but there's one and only one reason for those losses - the absence of a leading MVP candidate in Anthony Davis due to elbow injury concerns.

What has transpired in his absence, though, should be really encouraging. Jahlil Okafor, who started against the Nuggets yesterday, finally looked like an NBA player after 3 seasons in the league. 18 minutes of passable defence and offence while subbing in for AD may not seem like much, but there were genuine questions as to whether he belonged at this level or not.

Julius Randle has been the Pelicans' best player in AD's absence, while Holiday is yet to get his offence really going this season. All in all, there's a really rosy picture to be painted of this fast-paced version of the Pelicans, as signified by Elfrid Payton's improved play.