New Orleans Pelicans: Disney Schedule and Predictions

New Orleans Pelicans’ Schedule and Predictions: The Underdog Games

The Pelicans will likely be favored in all but two games of the eight remaining on their schedule. Unfortunately these are the first two games, so the Pelicans would ideally like to win one of them to avoid starting off 0-2.

Game 1: Utah Jazz

According to the Action Network, the Pelicans will be a one point underdog in the first game of the re-start against the Utah Jazz.

The Pelicans lost two of the three games against the Jazz this season, but all were close, including a two-point last second victory for the Jazz and an overtime win for the Pelicans in which Brandon Ingram scored 49 points.

The Pels were without Zion in all three, so will have some different looks to throw at the Jazz, but they will still need to slow down Donovan Mitchell and Bojan Bogdanovic, who both killed the Pelicans this season.

It will be interesting to see if there are lingering effects from the Rudy Gobert coronavirus debacle, as his teammates were definitely not happy with his behavior. Will it affect their play? We’ll know soon, as this is the very first game on the schedule.

Game 2: Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are one of the best teams in the NBA and will be a frontrunner to win the title. The Pelicans lost two of three matchups against the Clippers, though all three were without the services of Zion.

They were also missing Brandon Ingram for one of the games, so the Clippers have yet to see the Pelicans at full strength. It’s a shame the Pels are playing them so early in the schedule, as the Clippers could feasibly wrap up the 2nd seed and be in load management mode by the end.

They won’t be taking nights off in Game 2 though, so the Pelicans will likely face a very deep and talented Clippers squad at full strength. The Clippers have two elite wings in Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, who have both had big games against the Pels this season.

The Pelicans will definitely be underdogs in the first two games, but if they can steal one, they will be in good shape the rest of the way.

I’m predicting the Pelicans go 5-3 over the final eight games, with the losses coming to the Clippers, Kings and either the Jazz or Spurs. Winning five games might not be enough, especially if Portland gets hot, but it should give the Pelicans a chance.