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Last season, Quincy Pondexter started the final 28 games of the regular season for the Pelicans. Coincidentally, New Orleans enjoyed their best run of the season, an 18-10 mark that resulted in a playoff berth on the final day of the 2014-15 regular season.
This year's squad is off to a dismal start, and many who remain with playoff aspirations, think Pondexter might be the key. Well, for the first time since last May, Pondexter participated in 5-on-5 basketball work.
Pels' Quincy Pondexter scrimmaged for the first time in 5-on-5 work on Tuesday since undergoing knee surgery in May. No timetable on return
— John Reid (@JohnReid64) December 22, 2015
This should equate to good news, and to some degree it is; however, notice that restrictions remain, and worse Q-Pon's return date is still on the fuzzy side.
Clarifying on Pondexter, Gentry says he did everything today, just in limited minutes. No date yet for return to games.
— Brett Dawson (@BDawsonWrites) December 22, 2015
Back at the start of September, we asked how many were concerned about Pondexter's status. The vote was split nearly 50/50. Have to believe those numbers would have a far different result today, especially with Q-Pon having suffered multiple setbacks since that time.
Pondexter says he’s had "a million different dates" for returning to the court: "I know I've gotten my hopes up and I've been let down."
— Brett Dawson (@BDawsonWrites) December 22, 2015
Remember all the positive Vine video's from spectators to practices or posts from Pondexter's Twitter account? They've all come and gone and now we know why. If Q-Pon has been told a number of different dates, that's because his knee has responded well to the rehab work at times. As fans familiar with this franchise know, setbacks normally don't make news; thus, it's no surprise Pondexter has yet to suit up in a jersey despite the fact a new year is almost upon us.