New Orleans Pelicans: 3 things to watch vs. the Orlando Magic
Don’t look now but the New Orleans Pelicans have won four of five games and are right back in the hunt for the playoffs.
The Pels just completed one of the toughest stretches of the season against eight of the best teams in the NBA and they won five of them, which kept them in position to make a run at the playoffs.
The Pels have been rolling, especially offensively, behind the play of Zion Williamson, who has been spectacular for most of the season and is making his case for a spot on the All-NBA team.
The Orlando Magic were bad before they traded their two best players at the deadline, so they are clearly a team the Pelicans should beat.
That is just one of the things to watch when the New Orleans Pelicans take on the Orlando Magic at the Smoothie King Center.
Can the New Orleans Pelicans beat a bad team?
One of the strangest and most frustrating parts of the Pelicans’ season is the way they have played down to the competition.
The Pelicans have lost most of their games to teams who are below .500 and have actually played better against the elite competition.
Some of this is that they are a young team that hasn’t yet figured out what it takes to win in the NBA from night to night. You absolutely cannot coast on talent or you will get beaten, which is a lesson I hope the Pels are learning quickly.
This four game stretch will be crucial for the playoff run, as the Pels are taking on teams they should beat and will have tough games following against the Nets and 76ers.
The Pels can’t let up and have to play every team in the NBA as if they are a contender.