2024 Play-In Tournament (West): #7 New Orleans Pelicans vs #8 Los Angeles Lakers

[G R E Y]

I can't believe how BAD this 'my chick bad' song is.

'my chick do stuff that your chick wish she could'

Uuuuuuuuuuuuugh...

[CodeBreaker]

if Dlo didn't hit that clutch 3, Lakers would have folded

[Marrrcuss]

Whenever i see someone just say "Player other than bron" saved em, it just lets me know how intense that hate is. Like, Lakers fans just happy for the win and give no fux HOW it happened. You not giving and credit to bron is for your own emotions. Sleep tight, fellas, lol

[GeorgeSears]

Bigger problem is that the Lakers offense really stalled in the 2nd half. It got sludgy and hard to watch.

The Lakers offense is pretty simple, they hunt mismatches with LeBron (either through posting up the PG or high PnR with a big switching on him where he has a speed advantage going downhill) and then when teams double him, they play 5-out and look for the open shooter. Or, LeBron will play a 2-man PnR with AD with an empty corner. There's not a lot of complexity there and they fold late in games against better offenses.

[SunsLyf3]

CJ McCollum is a bum. If Pels have any hope of moving to contender they move him for role players and start Alvarado in the meantime.

He's being asked to play PG, something he can't do. The Pelicans really need an upgrade there.

Ironically his playmaking was decent and it was his offense/shooting that killed them. Wide open 3 after 3 and went 1 for 9 from 3(4 of 15 from the field). Even as a pure SG he's always been just above average and streaky. He's Monk/Beasley with slighlty better ball handling.

[Harry Garris]

Bigger problem is that the Lakers offense really stalled in the 2nd half. It got sludgy and hard to watch.

The Lakers offense is pretty simple, they hunt mismatches with LeBron (either through posting up the PG or high PnR with a big switching on him where he has a speed advantage going downhill) and then when teams double him, they play 5-out and look for the open shooter. Or, LeBron will play a 2-man PnR with AD with an empty corner. There's not a lot of complexity there and they fold late in games against better offenses.

My only question is what team isn't doing this? Seems like every team's late game offense is give the ball to their best player and then try to get him a good matchup.

[GeorgeSears]

Bigger problem is that the Lakers offense really stalled in the 2nd half. It got sludgy and hard to watch.

The Lakers offense is pretty simple, they hunt mismatches with LeBron (either through posting up the PG or high PnR with a big switching on him where he has a speed advantage going downhill) and then when teams double him, they play 5-out and look for the open shooter. Or, LeBron will play a 2-man PnR with AD with an empty corner. There's not a lot of complexity there and they fold late in games against better offenses.

My only question is what team isn't doing this? Seems like every team's late game offense is give the ball to their best player and then try to get him a good matchup.

It works because of LeBron's size and athleticism. Posting up a PG from the 3pt line just to get a double team and then a man advantage is like 2009-2010 level basketball. They don't have a lot of offensive wizards there, so they do with that they have.

[Beethoven]

Ugly game.

[KyRo23]

Surprise, surprise. The big money draw advances.



Sent from my [Samsung Z4 Fold] using RealGM mobile app

Yeah lets blame the NBA instead of the Pelicans for playing like trash every time they play LA. They had like 2 good quarters the past 3 games they have played

[Mrakar]

Depressing end to a depressing season...I
This game is perfect example for those that dont watch Pels on regular basis.
So many ups and downs during the game. Zion+Herb+Bench is better then starting lineup. CJ Mccollum sucks when it matters.
Injuries ofc, cant have any luck if you are Pels player/fan.
Refs swallowing whistle, our coach sitting on the line not doing anything about it.
And ofc loosing close games.

I'm sad that it has been close, that means we are running it back next season...

[Johnny Tomala]

I picked Lakers, I was right.

[KyRo23]

Depressing end to a depressing season...I
This game is perfect example for those that dont watch Pels on regular basis.
So many ups and downs during the game. Zion+Herb+Bench is better then starting lineup. CJ Mccollum sucks when it matters.
Injuries ofc, cant have any luck if you are Pels player/fan.
Refs swallowing whistle, our coach sitting on the line not doing anything about it.
And ofc loosing close games.

I'm sad that it has been close, that means we are running it back next season...

It's not over man, you guys have another game

[stuporman]

Every year many people complain about the play-in mostly criticizing the quality of the teams playing in them but imo there are some entertaining and/or compelling games in them.

Obviously the Zion injury was a dramatic one in the first game but also the second one had a death knell of a dynasty vibe to it.

The other conference has a battle of the hidden tigers in one game and the other is two wandering crossroad teams meeting in the irrelevant match up that fans imagine these games to be.

[kaansunman]

Jose Alvarado brings back JJ Barea traumas to Bron but Lakers were lucky to bail it out thanks to Zion's exit.

Depressing end to a depressing season...I
This game is perfect example for those that dont watch Pels on regular basis.
So many ups and downs during the game. Zion+Herb+Bench is better then starting lineup. CJ Mccollum sucks when it matters.
Injuries ofc, cant have any luck if you are Pels player/fan.
Refs swallowing whistle, our coach sitting on the line not doing anything about it.
And ofc loosing close games.

I'm sad that it has been close, that means we are running it back next season...

If Zion plays, Kings is a good matchup for Pelicans the question is how to change the psychology after lossing 6 games in a row at home.

[LaLover11]

Jose Alvarado brings back JJ Barea traumas to Bron but Lakers were lucky to bail it out thanks to Zion's exit.

Depressing end to a depressing season...I
This game is perfect example for those that dont watch Pels on regular basis.
So many ups and downs during the game. Zion+Herb+Bench is better then starting lineup. CJ Mccollum sucks when it matters.
Injuries ofc, cant have any luck if you are Pels player/fan.
Refs swallowing whistle, our coach sitting on the line not doing anything about it.
And ofc loosing close games.

I'm sad that it has been close, that means we are running it back next season...

If Zion plays, Kings is a good matchup for Pelicans the question is how to change the psychology after lossing 6 games in a row at home.

It's because Alvarado will flop if LeBron does a power move in the post. Plus AD doesn't help just standing around doing nothing besides not knowing how to dribble or shoot a 3 smh. I hope AD could realize his real potential this upcoming series

[Calvin Klein]

I picked Lakers, I was right.

Congratulations

[Marrrcuss]

Jose Alvarado brings back JJ Barea traumas to Bron but Lakers were lucky to bail it out thanks to Zion's exit.

Depressing end to a depressing season...I
This game is perfect example for those that dont watch Pels on regular basis.
So many ups and downs during the game. Zion+Herb+Bench is better then starting lineup. CJ Mccollum sucks when it matters.
Injuries ofc, cant have any luck if you are Pels player/fan.
Refs swallowing whistle, our coach sitting on the line not doing anything about it.
And ofc loosing close games.

I'm sad that it has been close, that means we are running it back next season...

If Zion plays, Kings is a good matchup for Pelicans the question is how to change the psychology after lossing 6 games in a row at home.

I think if anyone actually went back and looked at the Dallas series that still gets referenced every 3 days, the JJ Berea myth would get debunked. LeBron stunk, but it wasnt because of JJ.

[LaLover11]

Jose Alvarado brings back JJ Barea traumas to Bron but Lakers were lucky to bail it out thanks to Zion's exit.

Depressing end to a depressing season...I
This game is perfect example for those that dont watch Pels on regular basis.
So many ups and downs during the game. Zion+Herb+Bench is better then starting lineup. CJ Mccollum sucks when it matters.
Injuries ofc, cant have any luck if you are Pels player/fan.
Refs swallowing whistle, our coach sitting on the line not doing anything about it.
And ofc loosing close games.

I'm sad that it has been close, that means we are running it back next season...

If Zion plays, Kings is a good matchup for Pelicans the question is how to change the psychology after lossing 6 games in a row at home.

I think if anyone actually went back and looked at the Dallas series that still gets referenced every 3 days, the JJ Berea myth would get debunked. LeBron stunk, but it wasnt because of JJ.

It was because Wade thought he was the #1 scoring option and tried to recreate the 90's bulls and made LeBron His Pippen smh... There is interviews Wade admitting this

[SkyBill40]

Surprise, surprise. The big money draw advances.



Sent from my [Samsung Z4 Fold] using RealGM mobile app

Yeah lets blame the NBA instead of the Pelicans for playing like trash every time they play LA. They had like 2 good quarters the past 3 games they have played

Sure, dude.

[levon]

I am a conspiracy theorist. The Broadcasters make millions more money LeBron and the Lakers get a playoff series. Broadcaster money eventually translates into money for the league. The commissioner could let the Pelicans win because the League gets a 2nd chance to get the Lakers into the Playoffs by having the Lakers beat the Winner of Warriors Kings. I do not think the commissioner will take any chances. I think the Commissioner will order the refs to rig the game for the Lakers to win which would lead to a highly rated Lakers Nuggets series.

I do think the Pelicans are the better team but not so much better that the refs will have a problem making sure that the Lakers win.

Where can I place a bet of freethrow differential?

The Lakers beat the doors off of NO with just a +4 free throw differential, which was honestly depressed given how many continuations the refs wiped off.

Here's a conspiracy theory for you: the Lakers' value is actually depressed during the regular season because of teambuilding quirks and a below average coach and they're actually one of the best teams in the league in high-level basketball games because they employ the best player of all time and a top 3 defender in the league, who are superstars at the 4 and 5, a combination which no other team has.

Spread the word to the lemmings.

The Lakers employee Michael Jordan?

I said best, not the one with the most infallible marketing campaign.