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

[EmpireFalls]

Game is a toss up too, per Vegas odds.

Poor Pelicans, from guaranteed playoff spot to possibly getting ousted by the Warriors.

Surprised to see even odds given what occurred today. Obviously it’ll be a different matchup on Tuesday and LA can’t possibly play that well and NO can’t possibly play that poorly again. But still that didn’t seem like two teams who belonged on the same floor together, plus Vegas loves giving the Lakers extra points to get bets on them.

Maybe AD uncertainty?

[zimpy27]

Denver's like the KC Chiefs

Gotta go through them sooner or later.

Might as well do it while you're kinda fresh

Not really. You want to play them later. Injury can happen or another team could beat them on a hot run.

[Dr Aki]

Denver's like the KC Chiefs

Gotta go through them sooner or later.

Might as well do it while you're kinda fresh

Not really. You want to play them later. Injury can happen or another team could beat them on a hot run.

It's probably more likely that the Lakers could get a key injury and have zero chance

[tamaraw08]

Lakers should honestly consider resting up this game and locking in to win at home to get the 8th seed.

7th seed goes against Denver, then winner of Minny and Suns..

8th seed goes against OKC, then winner of Clips and Mavs.


Yes it's riskier to do this but Lakers have serious problems against Denver and Winner of Minny+Suns could actually beat Denver in a series.

Denver has been masterful in beating the Lakers the past 7-8 games but maybe just maybe
1. D’Lo wont shoot below 15% from 3 this time?
2. D’Lo play better defense if not at least Gabe or SD would bother the shots of Murray?
3. KCP and MPJ won’t shoot 50% from 3?
4. Rui provide about 15 pts per game?

[dockingsched]

The prospect of playing the thunder is enticing, but it's a huge risk to throw this game and then beat the warriors in the last play-in game.

No one will ever throw a play-in game. Also Lakers have been dominated by the Warriors and Kings this season.

Kings dominated the lakers, no doubt.

The warriors though? Wouldn’t call it that. Lebron missed one of the losses and AD missed another loss and left the game after 11 minutes in the third loss. You gotta beat Lebron and AD if you want to call it dominating the lakers

[Homer38]

Lakers should honestly consider resting up this game and locking in to win at home to get the 8th seed.

7th seed goes against Denver, then winner of Minny and Suns..

8th seed goes against OKC, then winner of Clips and Mavs.


Yes it's riskier to do this but Lakers have serious problems against Denver and Winner of Minny+Suns could actually beat Denver in a series.

Denver has been masterful in beating the Lakers the past 7-8 games but maybe just maybe
1. D’Lo wont shoot below 15% from 3 this time?
2. D’Lo play better defense if not at least Gabe or SD would bother the shots of Murray?
3. KCP and MPJ won’t shoot 50% from 3?
4. Rui provide about 15 pts per game?

The lakers just need to finish better their game in this matchup if they beat the pelicans

[NyKnicks1714]

The prospect of playing the thunder is enticing, but it's a huge risk to throw this game and then beat the warriors in the last play-in game.

No one will ever throw a play-in game. Also Lakers have been dominated by the Warriors and Kings this season.

Kings dominated the lakers, no doubt.

The warriors though? Wouldn’t call it that. Lebron missed one of the losses and AD missed another loss and left the game after 11 minutes in the third loss. You gotta beat Lebron and AD if you want to call it dominating the lakers

Fair enough...but throwing this game is still a bad idea lol

[chrisab123]

No shot that the league would allow the refs to give the Pelicans the win. LeBron will win.

[tamaraw08]

Denver's like the KC Chiefs

Gotta go through them sooner or later.

Might as well do it while you're kinda fresh

Not really. You want to play them later. Injury can happen or another team could beat them on a hot run.

It's probably more likely that the Lakers could get a key injury and have zero chance

You mean someone would poke AD’s eye and as a result he pull himself out of the game for good? No freaking way, its not possible

[RB34]

What is the Pels path to victory in this game? I really don’t see it.

[EArl]

Lakers got this, Pelicans forget how to play basketball when they play them. Complete opposite of when they play the Clippers.

Clips don't have the beefcakes to stop Zion. They more traditional agile wings.

Lakers have Lebron and Rui, and AD waiting at the rim

Someone needs to go to the game and start chucking chicken wings into the court whenever Zion gets starts getting hot.

[tamaraw08]

What is the Pels path to victory in this game? I really don’t see it.

I don’t think it would be an identical game. Ingram would be in a much rhythm. Pelicans would tighten their defense, James might have early turnovers, DLo AR and Rui start missing shots…

[Marrrcuss]

Lakers should honestly consider resting up this game and locking in to win at home to get the 8th seed.

7th seed goes against Denver, then winner of Minny and Suns..

8th seed goes against OKC, then winner of Clips and Mavs.


Yes it's riskier to do this but Lakers have serious problems against Denver and Winner of Minny+Suns could actually beat Denver in a series.

Denver has been masterful in beating the Lakers the past 7-8 games but maybe just maybe
1. D’Lo wont shoot below 15% from 3 this time?
2. D’Lo play better defense if not at least Gabe or SD would bother the shots of Murray?
3. KCP and MPJ won’t shoot 50% from 3?
4. Rui provide about 15 pts per game?

Maybe lebron is healthier than 50ish % like he was in the playoffs?

[Up-And-Coming]

Pelicans are a solid team and it's pretty hard to win 2 road games in a row against the same team. Wouldn't surprise me if this game is a lot more competitive

[Marrrcuss]

Game is a toss up too, per Vegas odds.

Poor Pelicans, from guaranteed playoff spot to possibly getting ousted by the Warriors.

Surprised to see even odds given what occurred today. Obviously it’ll be a different matchup on Tuesday and LA can’t possibly play that well and NO can’t possibly play that poorly again. But still that didn’t seem like two teams who belonged on the same floor together, plus Vegas loves giving the Lakers extra points to get bets on them.

Maybe AD uncertainty?

What did the lakers do that was "that well" ? I guess 55% from the field is pretty good but thats mostly ADs 13-17. They shot 37% from 3. Thats repeatable. Only +4 on FT attempts. Rebounding was even. They got 16 total points from the bench where the Pels got 37.

[JustBuzzin]

Lakers own the Pelicans. I'm trusting LeBron and AD over Zion and the crew.

[Hoop Hunter]

Pelicans shake off the crappy last game and defeat the evil Lakers.

[Clav]

What is the Pels path to victory in this game? I really don’t see it.

There is a path, anytime it is a 1-game series.... Look no further than some of the Pels best games this year, including a win over LA.

In that game they had 33 assists, including 5+ from 3 players (Ingram, Zion, McCollum), and shot very well from 3. When the ball is moving around and they get in a rhythm, some of the Pelicans players are fine shooters, everyone needs to contribute in the flow. I think 15+ 3pters from NOLA and over 25 assists will get them really close, then it comes down to taking care of the ball. A little home-court boost from the crowd ? Today the Pels had -6 asts, +5 TOs, & -6 FTs compared to LA and shot far worse. That's gonna = elimination if they can't value possessions.


Today the Pels hit 15 3s vs 11 for LA.

[Bob Ross]

Let's go Pels

[Wolfgang630]

We already know this game will go. It will be a lot more competitive, but the refs will help the lakers at the end to win.