Pels with a giant step towards the Play-in Tournament?

The Los Angeles Lakers take on the New Orleans Pelicans on 02.04.2022. The Californians lost the first meeting this season at the end of February by a clear 28-point difference. The recent clash last Monday also ended in defeat for the home side.

LA Lakers – Statistics & current form

The Lakers face the Pels, an immediate rival in the battle for a place in the Play-in Tournament, which will take place in mid-April after the regular season.

Only thanks to this format do the home side still have a chance of possibly reaching the playoffs. No team in NBA history has participated in a postseason as often as LA, specifically 62 times, but this season that goal remains in serious jeopardy.

Due to a lack of consistency in their performances, Head Coach Frank Vogel’s team is currently only eleventh in the West. As it stands today, the hosts would only be spectators in the upcoming 2022 playoffs.

In addition to the still injured Anthony Davis, LeBron James, the best man of the last few weeks, has also been missing, which is why the prospects for LA heading into the postseason have once again darkened considerably.

New Orleans Pelicans – Statistics & current form

The men from the “Big Easy” have already had to do without their franchise player Zion Williamson for the entire season due to injury and until recently another key player, Brandon Ingram, who was previously under contract with the upcoming opponent, was absent.

The latter forward has been back for two games, however, and the fact that the two games since his return have been won against the Lakers and Trail Blazers can be taken as a sign of his important role within head coach Willie Green’s team.

The hopes of the Louisiana team are also pinned on CJ McCollum. The shooting guard is already performing very well again, scoring at least 25 points in four of the last five games.

LA Lakers – New Orleans Pelicans Tip

For the duel between Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans, the forecast includes an away win. The guests from the Southwest Division do not have to play a back-to-back like their opponents and will therefore be fresher.

In addition, the playing legend LeBron James may again be missing on the side of the home side and the Lakers’ basic form can be described as shaky anyway.

Demonstrated by a yield of only two wins from the past ten games. On top of that, the Pels will be very motivated: With a win, they would have booked their ticket for the play-in tournament almost for sure.