Update: obviously, Paul George’s last-minute package completely changes the situation…
So far, home advantage has benefited teams competing for the play-in, and it’s the Clippers’ turn to receive following their loss to Wolves. This may be the last opportunity for the Crypto.com Arena to vibrate since the Lakers are already on vacation. Facing the troops of Tyronn Lue, Pelicans who have nothing more to lose. Brandon Ingram’s teammates had started the season with 12 defeats in 13 games, and no one imagined them capable of reversing the situation.
For the Pelicans, every game is a bonus, and the pressure will therefore be on the Clippers, conference finalists last season, but hard hit by injuries this season since Kawhi Leonard did not play all season, and that Paul George missed almost three months of competition. But the Clippers are first and foremost a collective, as they proved in the playoffs last season. Tyronn Lue manages to get the best out of a small but very experienced group. Paul George, Nicolas Batum or even Marcus Morris and Reggie Jackson are used to these cutthroat matches, and that might weigh in on this “win or go home”.
Opposite, it’s younger, and there is also a big absentee: Zion Williamson. On Wednesday, he made the warm-up show, but he is still not allowed to play. Without him, this “play-in” is a miracle, and the leaders had a thin nose. First by opting for Willie Green as a coach. Then by picking up CJ McCollum at the Blazers. His leadership and experience gave the team a real boost.
Introducing the Pelicans
Holders: C. McCollum, B. Ingram, H. Jones, J. Hayes, J. Valanciunas.
The replacements: L. Nance Jr, N. Marshall, D. Graham, T. Murphy III, J. Alvarado.
Absent: Zion Williamson et Kira Lewis.
The coach: Willie Green.
Without a real roster playmaker, the Pelicans have found a formula that works following All-Star Weekend. With CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram as main ball carriers, surrounded by a very good defender (Herb Jones) and an interior duo Hayes – Valanciunas who limit the “spacing” but who are quite complementary to the two scorers on “ pick-and-roll,” the Pelicans’ major five has found its stride.
Coming off the bench, the profiles are varied and once morest Spurs, Willie Green gave some hints on his shortened rotation. Devonte’ Graham was little used, while Jose Alvarado robbed him of playing time with his activity and defense. He will have an important role once morest Reggie Jackson and Terence Mann. On the wing, Larry Nance Jr. has not returned to his best level but he also brings defense and rebounds. On the other hand, it lacks a real third interior rotation to relieve Valanciunas.
The strong point
– Le duo McCollum – Ingram. As once morest the Spurs, and whatever the face of the match, the strong duo of the Pelicans will play an essential role. Between them, it’s between 50 and 60 guaranteed points, and it’s velvet for Willie Green, but also their teammates. They are not afraid to take responsibility and they have enormous self-confidence. Like the Irving-Durant duo, they also allow the Pelicans to vary their attacks and prevent defenses from tightening or focusing only on one of the two. They are complementary, strong with or without the ball, and that’s so valuable in the playoffs, and for the moment in the “play-in”.
The weak point
– Le « spacing ». We had already said it before the meeting once morest Spurs, and it is still valid. With the Jones-Hayes-Valanciunas trio on the cover behind CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram, New Orleans struck a balance in the second half of the season. Except that it necessarily limited the 3-point shooting sector since Hayes and Valanciunas are not specialists in “pick-and-pop” and more generally in 3-point shooting. Since the All-Star Break, the team is thus 28th in the number of outside shots attempted, and 25th in terms of address, since this is not the strong point of Herb Jones either, and that Brandon Ingram is not particularly skilful (33%) this season. Against the Spurs, only 20 shots taken from afar, for eight successes.
PRESENTATION OF CLIPPERS
Holders: R. Jackson, P. George, M. Morris Sr, N. Batum, I. Zubac.
The replacements: T. Mann, R. Hood, L. Kennard (incertain – ischios), R. Covington, A. Coffey, N. Powell, I. Hartenstein.
The absents : K. Leonard.
The coach: T. Lue.
The Clippers have had an exemplary season in terms of the problems, and Tyronn Lue has a lot to do with it. Since the playoffs, the Californian coach has succeeded in instilling a “commando” state of mind in his group, which has been able to reinvent itself to remain competitive. Like some of his players, he is used to and masters high-stakes matches in the playoffs.
The returns of Paul George and Norman Powell in the wake boosted the morale of the troops. As it is, this team can dominate the Pelicans with its experience of the playoffs, the cleaver matches and its players, but also with the support of its public.
The strong point
– The experience. Although they lost to the fiery Wolves, the Clippers have invaluable experience in the playoffs and high stakes matches. Their superb run in 2021 caused a click, and Tyronn Lue created a true “blue-collar” identity in a training of veterans. This team never gives up, even when heavily downplayed. Mentally, difficult to make them doubt.
The weak point
– The lack of a reliable second scorer. After the loss to Wolves, Norman Powell made his mea culpa, regretting not having been aggressive enough in attack. Paul George, alone, will not be able to work miracles and the Clippers need a regular player at 15-20 points per game to support him, relieve him and thus prevent him from being the center of attention of the defense.
THE KEY TO THE MATCH
– Defense on Paul George. After limiting Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones will take care of Paul George. The leader of the Clippers is both the “playmaker” and the finisher of the Clippers, and the rookie can have a decisive role if he manages to slow him down. But Herb Jones will have a lot of work since he will also have to watch Reggie Jackson to prevent CJ McCollum from being penalized for fouls. He can count on the Hayes – Valanciunas duo to help him in coverage, but not too much because George is a very good passer, and he is surrounded by players capable of scoring between 15 and 20 points, whether it is Jackson , Morris, Zubac or even Mann, Covington and Powell off the bench. During the last confrontation, on April 4, the Clippers had finished the meeting with seven players at 11 points or more, and a George at 5 of 15 on shots.
REGULAR SEASON
New Orleans 3-1
– November 20 : Pelicans – Clippers 94-81
– November 30 : Clippers – Pelicans 104-123
– January 14 : Pelicans – Clippers 113-89
– 4 avril : Clippers – Pelicans 119-100
VERDICT
THE CLIPPERS. We saw it in this “play-in”, the advantage of the field is essential, and the Clippers leave with an advantage. We must not underestimate either their experience of the playoffs, and their experience in general. In New Orleans, the workforce remains young, especially the bench, and it will be hard to resist the pressure and the job of the Clippers. Especially if they decide to harden the game. Another strong point of the Clippers: a wider and more homogeneous rotation.
HOURLY
At 4 a.m. this Friday evening.
