1st March - New Orleans Pelicans VS Los Angeles Lakers - 26-33
We're at home. Memphis won last night, as did San Antonio. Suns and Blazers lost. Mixed results.
This game is currently scheduled to start at 7pm CST
I don't want to talk too much about this game in advance. Our opponent is the Los Angeles Lakers, yet again. So far this season, we are 0-3 in games against them. In some of these games, like the first encounter, we've been relatively competitive. In some of them, the loss has been a bit more inevitable throughout the course of the game. Tonight, however, none of that matters; we don't have to win this game for our playoff hopes (although it would certainly help, given Memphis' victory over them last night) but it's a matter of pride. We don't want to get 4-0'd by the Lakers, of all teams. Gotta take one of them at home; the first one at home where Zion will be there for us.
The Lakers lost last night. This is the second night of a road back to back for them. Now, of course, that might not mean much for them; maybe they're just more energised than they were last night, or maybe my conspiracy theory that they threw the game because they prefer facing Memphis than us in the playoffs is true and as a result they come out firing tonight. Both are possible, at least on paper. But it may mean that they're a little tired, a little out of comfort from the plane ride, whereas our guys should be pretty ready to go.
Personally, I don't think it's worth posting stats since we played them last so recently and we're all very aware of them and their numbers. But all that I will say is that what's at stake in this game is pride; not the playoffs. If we lose, it'll hurt, but it's not the end of the world. They're a great team, and we don't walk into games against championship contenders as favourites; save that kind of attitude until next year.
For now, I just want us to play hard, play smart, and do our best to wrestle a win away here. #WBD.