After an action-packed NBA regular season, the play-in games have arrived, where four teams will clash to secure better playoff seeding and fight off an early ending for their season and playoff hopes.
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With the playoffs on the doorstep, both games promise to be thrilling showdowns. Let’s break down each matchup to see who has the upper hand. Here’s everything you need to know about these Western Conference play-in games.
Lakers vs. Pelicans
With LeBron James potentially nearing the end of his career, and possibly playing in his last playoff-like game, there is tons of hype backing the Lakers in this matchup across the basketball world. On the other hand, the Pelicans aim to secure a playoff berth for the first time in two seasons, led by Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
LeBron is Los Angeles
The Lakers have experienced a rollercoaster season, showing flashes of their potential to be serious Western Conference Semifinals contenders, while also suffering unexpected losses to teams with subpar records. Despite the inconsistency, the Lakers have the opportunity to keep their season alive and improve their playoff positioning with a win against the Pelicans, and it all relies on the performance of none other than King James.
At 39 years old, LeBron James remains the heart and soul of the Lakers, averaging nearly 26 points, 8.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 35 minutes per game. We also have to take into account there is ‘playoff LeBron’. Last postseason, he showcased his ability with 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game, along with one block and one steal per game.
For the Lakers to secure a win, the focus needs to be on LeBron’s leadership and control of the offense. Regardless of who has the hot hand—Russell, Davis, Reaves, or Hachimura—LeBron’s ability to facilitate and dictate the pace of the game will be crucial. If the game is played at LeBron’s pace with the ball in his hands, New Orleans will have a tough time containing the Lakers.
The Pelicans with Zion and Ingram
Despite having a relatively strong season, the Pelicans haven’t received the recognition or respect they deserve for their performance this year. They finished the regular season with a 49-33 record and averaged 115 points per game as a team.
Having lost to the Lakers earlier this season, the Pelicans now have a golden opportunity for redemption and to put Los Angeles in a challenging position regarding their playoff ambitions. Leading the charge, it’s been the dynamic duo of Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, who have both been impressive, averaging over 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game.
While their offense is a given, their success will hinge on their defensive performance. Zion and Ingram will likely be tasked with guarding LeBron James and Rui Hachimura. If Zion can limit LeBron’s touches and Ingram can ice Hachimura, the Pelicans stand a real chance of surprising the Lakers and securing a major victory.
Lakers vs. Pelicans best bet
The Pelicans have had an outstanding season, building a foundation that could evolve into a well-oiled playoff contender in the future. However, this time around, the Lakers enter the matchup with more experience and a significant advantage—LeBron James. The 39-year-old veteran recently became the first player in history to surpass 40,000 points in a career. Given his track record, he’s unlikely to let the Lakers fall short in this highly anticipated matchup.
The game may start with an early advantage for the Pelicans, but the second half is where LeBron and the Lakers are expected to turn it up. With hitting big-time shots and and amping up their defense, they are likely to pull away late and secure the win.
Warriors vs. Kings
The Warriors have been somewhat disappointing this year, struggling to maintain consistent win streaks during the regular season will now, square off against a younger, playoff-ready Kings team led by De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
Veteran-packed Warriors
Veterans may not be as essential during the regular season, but their importance increases during the playoffs, and Golden State has a wealth of players with playoff and championship experience. With seasoned players like Draymond Green, Chris Paul, Andrew Wiggins, Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson, the Kings will need to play tight defense to prevent the Warriors from gaining an offensive edge.
Steph Curry leads the Warriors’ scoring charge with 26.4 points and 5.1 assists per game. Klay Thompson adds 17.9 points per game, while Chris Paul contributes nearly 10 points and 6.8 assists per game.
Golden State’s roster has aged, and injuries have been a concern this season, but with most of the team healthy, Curry and Thompson will need to create a three-point barrage to stay ahead of Sacramento. The Kings play tough against teams with strong perimeter shooting, so the Warriors could use this to their advantage by drawing fouls and putting the Kings in early foul trouble.
Kings of the court
After a strong season last year and falling just short to the Warriors in a seven-game playoff series, the Kings are hungry for redemption and eager to build on their playoff hopes this time around. For the Kings, the stat sheet is dominated by the pairing of Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox. Fox is averaging 26 points, 5.6 assists, and 2 steals per game, while Sabonis is nearly grabbing a triple-double with 19.4 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game.
In addition to these two stars, the Kings benefit from consistent contributions from veteran and former Warriors player Harrison Barnes, who averages 12.2 points per game, as well as Keegan Murray with 15.2 points and Malik Monk with 15.5 points per game.
Sacramento holds an advantage over the Warriors in terms of youth and energy. The Kings are a younger team that thrives on running the floor off a defensive rebound and playing aggressive defense against shooters, as they did against the Warriors in last year’s playoffs. If Sacramento can implement the same defensive game plan as last year and maintain a high offensive pace, Golden State will struggle to keep up, resulting in victory for Sacramento.
Warriors vs. Kings best bet
The Warriors offer incredible talent, with three guaranteed Hall of Famers in their lineup, making this game a must-watch. However, the Kings had the Warriors on the ropes last year and nearly defeated them, and they aim to make up for that this time around. Sacramento has maintained a relatively consistent roster for some time, fostering team chemistry that Golden State may lack, especially with the addition of several newcomers.
This game is expected to remain close until the final moments, but the Kings’ longevity and intense defense may give them a slight edge, allowing them to secure the win.
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