The New Orleans Pelicans will enter the NBA playoffs as the 8th seed and giant underdog against the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns are favored by 10.5 points in the first game, which makes sense considering they were the best regular-season team ever, having already beaten the Pelicans three times easily and finally with Chris Paul in full force in the lineup. are back.
Everything has to be perfect for the Pelicans to win this series, but it's not the same team the Suns beat at the start of the season, as New Orleans now has CJ McCallum and his players playing their best ball of the season . ,
It's an even more matchup than it looks on paper, and although the Pelicans are long shots at troubling, I wouldn't rule it out, especially if these three things happen.
Brendon Ingram and CJ McCallum will have to maintain their dominance
The most obvious one is the continued dominance of Brandon Ingram and CJ McCallum. They combined with 60 points this season in a lone win against the Suns and would have to score a combined 50+ in every game to give Pele a chance.
The Suns have some really good personal defenders, so it won't be easy, especially as both CJ and BI will have tough defensive tasks at the other end as well.
But New Orleans can't afford to close the night off for one of these guys, and won't stand a chance at the series if any of them struggle.
The Pelicans have to slow down Chris Paul
Herbert Jones will likely be given the incredible task of defending Devin Booker, who has played big in all matchups this year against the Pelicans. Booker is one of the best offensive players in the NBA, so it's impossible to stop him.
Booker scored 30 in the loss against the Pelicans, and New Orleans will probably have to stick with a bigger game than that.
What they can't live with is Chris Paul going for 15 or 18 assists, as he did in two wins over Pales this season. The question is, who is protecting him? McCullum isn't a very good defender after all, Jones will be busy with Booker, so the Pelicans may have to rely on rookie Jose Alvarado to try to slow down one of the greatest point guards of all time.
I think New Orleans will have to try to make a tough shot with Booker and make things harder for Paul, because that's the engine that goes to the Suns and slowing New Orleans down to at least give him a chance. Will happen.
They may even resort to applying ingrams to it to see if its size and length might bother Paul. It's going to take a team effort defensively to stop Chris Paul from getting in his place and setting up his teammates for wide-open shots.
Jonas Valenciunas and Jaxon Hayes have to dominate the board
In his win over the Phoenix this season, the Peles trailed the Suns 53–37, including 16 offensive rebounds for New Orleans.
This is an area where they have an advantage over the younger Suns, who start JE Crowder in further power. This is where Peles needs a big contribution from Jackson Hayes, who should be able to make some easy comebacks.
Valanciunas scored 17 rebounds in the win and would have to easily dominate Ayton on the board to have a fighting chance for the Pelicans.
A lot would go right for the New Orleans Pelicans to beat the best team in the NBA four times, but if they get a huge contribution from their stars, can slow down a legend and win the Battle of the Boards, they have There will be an opportunity.