The New Orleans Pelicans are in the Play-In Tournament!
The Pels play the San Antonio Spurs tonight and the winner of this game will play the LA Clippers on April 15th to fight for a spot in the NBA Playoffs.
After a 1-12 start, the Pelicans were pushed to the back burner and were predicted to have a lottery pick in this year’s NBA Draft. But Willie Green kept his team focused and confident, and they just kept grinding until they found themselves in the 9th seed in the Western Conference.
Since the Play-In Tournament was established in 2020, the higher seeded teams are 6-1 overall. This season, the Spurs are 3-1 overall against the Pelicans. The lone win for the Pels came in a 124-91 victory with CJ McCollum leading the team with 20 points. They will need more than just CJ to get things going. Here are three keys for the Pelicans to get the win over the Spurs.
The New Orleans Pelicans need a spark off bench
One of the big X-factors this season for the New Orleans Pelicans is how active their bench gets in the game. Players like Jose Alvarado are able to provide sparks and runs for the Pelicans that give them life when they are down. Off the bench, Jose Alvarado averages 6 PPG, 1.3 STL, and 2.9 AST. It is those little moments Jose Alvarado can capture that will change the momentum of the game in favor of the Pels.
They will need one or more of Alvarado, Trey Murphy III or Naji Marshall to step up off the bench and provide that spark.
Jaxson Hayes
Since the beginning of April, Hayes has averaged 13 PPG and 6 RPG. With Hayes in the starting lineup he is a force to be reckoned with because many teams cannot guard Jonas Valanciunas and Jaxson Hayes at the same time. The Pelicans should have a size advantage at the four and need to take advantage of it by dominating the boards and getting Jaxson out in transition.
Jaxson Hayes’ averages as a starter this season (25 games):
— PF (@PelicansFocus) April 7, 2022
11.9 points
6.3 rebounds
1 block
63.1% FG
43.3% 3PT (1.2 3PA)
80.5% FT
70.8% TS
138 ORTG
+6.1
Jax at the 4 is a PROBLEM. Pels fans, with Jax extension-eligible this offseason, what kind of contract would you give him? pic.twitter.com/nsQZDOpx7J
New Orleans Pelicans: Playing with pace
The Pelicans are at their best when they are getting stops on the defensive end that lead to easy buckets in transition.
This is especially true of the bench group, which has players with active hands who can get steals and push the pace. The Pelicans have been able to bury teams with flurries of defense, dunks and 3-point shots at home this season and need to immediately set that tempo against the Spurs.
New Orleans is turning into a basketball city, and the Smoothie King Center will be rocking for the Pelicans as fans get their biggest home game in years.