NEW ORLEANS - Every NBA season brings changes, but sometimes those changes are bigger than a few new players or coaches. The league itself continues to evolve, and the New Orleans Pelicans are entering a season where understanding those changes could be just as important as understanding their own roster.

With the Pelicans coming off a 26-56 season, they now have a new head coach in Jamahl Mosley. The roster still has plenty of familiar faces, but the expectations are different.

So, what does New Orleans need to understand about the NBA around them?

The West Isn't Waiting

Oklahoma City remains one of the teams setting the standard, while Houston, Denver and Minnesota are among the teams New Orleans will have to compete with for positioning in the Western Conference. This means the Pelicans can't simply improve a little and assume they'll automatically move up the standings.

They have to improve with purpose.

The League Is Getting More Versatile

One of the biggest trends around the NBA is the value of players who can do more than one thing. Teams want players who can defend multiple positions, shoot, handle the ball and make plays without needing everything designed for them, and that could benefit the Pelicans.

Herb Jones gives New Orleans defensive versatility. Trey Murphy III provides size and shooting. Zion Williamson creates a completely different problem for defenses because of his ability to attack the paint, and hopefully he will be adding a mid-range jumper and three-point shot to his game this season

The pieces are there, but the challenge is making them fit together.

Why Mosley Matters

To me, this may be the most interesting part of the Pelicans' season.

Mosley has the opportunity to give New Orleans a clear identity. After a difficult season, the team doesn't need to simply play harder. It needs to know exactly what it's trying to accomplish on both ends of the floor. That's where coaching matters.

A good system can make individual players better, but a great system can make a group feel like a team.

The Bottom Line

The Pelicans don't have to become the Oklahoma City Thunder or copy what another Western Conference contender is doing. They need to understand what is working around the league and determine how those lessons apply to their own roster. That's what I'll be watching all season.

Understand the Pelicans. Don't just watch them.