New Orleans Pelicans Home Favorite Betting Trend

The Pelicans' struggles as home favorites stem from a franchise caught between rebuilding phases and unrealistic market expectations. New Orleans has consistently been a team that looks better on paper than on the court, with talent that doesn't translate to consistent execution when the pressure mounts. The home crowd at Smoothie King Center often expects dominant performances when the Pelicans are favored, but this young, inconsistent roster has repeatedly wilted under those expectations. The psychological burden of being favored at home amplifies New Orleans' tendency toward complacency and poor shot selection. When facing supposedly inferior opponents, the Pelicans often abandon their structured offensive sets early, leading to the isolation-heavy basketball that has plagued the franchise for years. Their defensive effort also tends to fluctuate dramatically based on perceived opponent strength, creating the perfect storm for upset-minded underdogs. The most telling factor is New Orleans' inability to close games when leading, particularly evident in their fourth-quarter execution. Teams playing with nothing to lose often outwork the Pelicans in crunch time, exploiting their mental fragility in pressure situations. This trend matters most when the Pelicans face teams with losing records or are coming off emotional wins, as overconfidence typically peaks in these scenarios.