New Orleans Pelicans: Playoff atmosphere vs. 76ers will help young Pels

The New Orleans Pelicans have just six games remaining in the season and hope to make them count, starting tonight in Philadelphia.

The Pels still have a path to the play-in tournament but can’t lose too many more, which will make every game essentially a must-win for the Pelicans.

It’s not going to be easy, as the 76ers are the best team in the Eastern Conference and have been playing well, winning six games in a row.

The Pelicans on the other hand, have been all over the place, mostly because of the erratic shooting of Lonzo Ball, which has vacillated between “Stephen Curry” and “Some guy called Steve who plays at the YMCA on Tuesdays.”

If the Pelicans are going to make an improbable run to the playoffs, they will need Lonzo’s 3-point shooting to help carry them there, especially with Brandon Ingram out with injury.

Even if the Pels ultimately come up short, these games will be important.

New Orleans Pelicans: Play-in tournament gives late games meaning

If the New Orleans Pelicans win tonight, they could claw within a half game of the San Antonio Spurs, who have lost five-in-a-row and will be playing the Kings, who have won four-in-a-row themselves.

But the Pelicans can’t get caught watching the scoreboard, as it won’t matter what the Spurs do if they don’t win themselves.

This is a great test for 20-year-old Zion Williamson, who is deeper into a season than he’s ever been and will try to put the young team on his back down the stretch.

These types of high-pressure games are good for the Pels’ development, as they are teaching them how to deal with the pressure and how to persevere late in the season when the legs start to go.

In this regard, the play-in tournament has been a rousing success, as it has kept teams like the Pelicans relevant and given their young players a chance to play meaningful games in a playoff-like atmosphere.