Lakers at Pelicans Preview
The Lakers (8-4) will look to make it five wins in a row as they take on the injured and struggling New Orleans Pelicans (4-9). Here is how the Lakers can get it done tonight on the second leg of a back-to-back.
LET’S EXTEND THE WIN STREAK TO 5 😈
The Pelicans are the most depleted team in the league, with injuries to Zion, CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray, Jose Alvarado, Herb Jones, and Jordan Hawkins… let’s capitalize 💯 pic.twitter.com/Iop7KMlF7i
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) November 16, 2024
Dominate the Perimeter
The Lakers will have an excellent chance to get their offensive perimeter game going and build off their 45% three-point shooting performance in Friday’s game against the Spurs.
The Pelicans are without their best three perimeter defenders: Herb Jones, Jose Alvarado, and Dejounte Murray. They are also 28th in opponent three-point percentage. As a result, they have allowed teams to run away with the game from beyond the arc.
Expect Dalton Knecht and D’Angelo Russell to be the main beneficiaries of this poor Pelicans defense.
Defending Brandon Ingram
With Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum also out due to injury, Brandon Ingram is left as the lone star in the current Pelicans rotation. If the Lakers can stop him, they’ll be in good shape.
The Pelicans have shot under 32% from three in their last two games, and that mainly comes from a lack of shooting around Ingram. The Lakers should look to shrink the floor against the former Laker, Ingram, from the opening tip and dare players in expanded roles, such as Brandon Boston Jr and Javonte Green, to beat them.
The Pelicans still have one elite shooter in the rotation to look out for in Trey Murphy III. However, his efforts alone shouldn’t be enough to win New Orleans the game if all goes well.
LeBron Triple Double Watch
LeBron James said earlier in the season that he was planning to play in back-to-backs this year, and that plan hasn’t changed thus far.
James has racked up four consecutive triple-doubles, the longest streak of his career. He now has a chance for a 5th tonight, although it would not be surprising to see him get fewer minutes to perform the feat, given the circumstances of having played last night.
The Pelicans are a small team that rebounds at a below-average rate, though, so James can do it.
