New Orleans Pelicans · Franchise era 3 of 5
CP3 and the 56-win breakthrough: the New Orleans Pelicans story
Franchise era
2007–08—2010–11
CP3 and the 56-win breakthrough
New Orleans Pelicans
The story in one sentence
Paul's near-MVP season powered the best regular-season team in franchise history and established New Orleans as a serious basketball market.
Control, pick-and-roll craft and a division title
Chris Paul, David West, Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojaković gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for the anthony davis years.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 2007–08
What came before
Hurricane Katrina forced the club to Oklahoma City just as Paul arrived and immediately gave it a new direction.
2008
Western Conference Semifinals: New Orleans Pelicans vs San Antonio Spurs
2009
Western Conference First Round: New Orleans Pelicans vs Denver Nuggets
2011
Western Conference First Round: New Orleans Pelicans vs Los Angeles Lakers
After 2010–11
What came next
Davis became an elite two-way star, but injuries and constant roster changes limited the era to two playoff appearances.
The core