LA Lakers vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction: The Lakers can regain composure

The NBA Regular Season has thrown us curveballs as we have seen a number of topsy-turvy results that have thrown various projections out of the window. The NBA scene has seen multiple players averaging over 30 points a game. I believe the scoring will come down eventually as the defenses will settle in. What will the Los Angeles Lakers’ do when they face the renovated New Orleans Pelicans?

The Lakers come into the game after defeating the Denver Nuggets 121:110 as LeBron James dropped 26 points and the team came up with the first win of the season. This victory came after a five-game losing streak to begin the season and the Lakers were being flamed by the NBA fanbase for their underwhelming returns. This was by far the best offensive outing for the team throughout the season and may lay a much better precedent for the upcoming window.

One of the biggest issues for the Lakers has been their long-range shooting but in the last game, they had their beest performance, making 13 triples on a 40%+. The move to bring Russell Westbrook off the bench has brought great rewards as the second-unit leader shot 50%, handed over 8 assists, and clamped 8 rebounds. Anthony Davis’ superb defensive activity also played a key role while LeBron put up big numbers as usual.

The Lakers’ defense seems to have improved from the last season and a big reason for that is Anthony Davis’ availability and his ability to both shut down inside and go out to contest shooters. Beverley has also been a defensive factor and while the bench still seems to lack frontline depth, the guard combo of Westbrook and Reaves gives it a lot of lift. Can the Lakers make a special run after the last game effort?

The Pelicans have begun the season in a promising way and come into this game after defeating the LA Clippers 112:91 as both CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson scored over 20 points. The Pelicans have built a deep team and their role players have done their jobs well. Of course, Zion as the rim-driver and McCollum as a shooter and playmaker play vital roles but the team has also seen Trey Murphy step it up as a shooter while Naji Marshall has also stepped up. This has made up for the absence of Brandon Ingram to a certain extent.

Jonas Valanciunas has also done his job as the middle player whereas the bench has looked deep even when Murphy and Marshall have started. The Pelicans have had mixed results on the defensive effort but when Williamson plays, they look like a quality defensive team. The team has a lot of potential. Consider if Ingram and Herbert Jones are healthy. The three-Forward, one-guard, and one Center lineup of McCollum, Ingram, Herbert, Williamson, and Valanciunas can be a force.

And with Murphy, Marshall, Nance, Alvarado, and Graham coming off the bench, they can pose continuous threats. The team’s long-range promise is certainly there but even then, they will need a healthy unit. They look like a Playoffs team in the early going but with Williamson’s recurring injuries issues, their long-term success in the season can be questioned. Let us see how this pans out.

• Lakers: OUT: Cole Swider, Thomas Bryant, Dennis Schroeder. PROBABLE: LeBron James, Juan Toscano-Anderson. QUESTIONABLE: Anthony Davis;
• Pelicans: OUT: E.J. Lidell, Brandon Ingram, Kira Lewis Jr. PROBABLE: Dyson Daniels, Herbert Jones.

• Expected Leading Scorers: LeBron James(26+ Points), Zion Williamson(20+ Points), CJ McCollum(21-26 Points), Anthony Davis(20+ Points);
• Expected Leading Rebounders: Jonas Valanciunas(12-16 Rebounds), Anthony Davis(9+ Rebounds), LeBron James(8-12 Rebounds), Zion Williamson(7-10 Rebounds);
• Expected Leading Assists Makers: LeBron James(7+ Assists), CJ McCollum(6+ Assists), Russell Westbrook(6+ Assists).

The Lakers have been attentive on the defensive end but their offensive focus has held them back thus far, however, against the Nuggets, they did an amazing job on both ends. The move to bring Westbrook off the bench makes for a better distribution between LeBron and him, but let us see how it pays off in the long run. On the other hand, the Pelicans look like a scorching hot unit right, they can put on a driving game utilizing the talents of Zion while they also are blessed with sharpshooters.

And perhaps the sharpshooting aspect is where the Pels have an edge over the Lakers on paper. They have much more effective off-the-ball shooters and thus Lakers will need to close out quickly. Anthony Davis’ status is up in the air and the Lakers heavily depend upon him for a sustainable defense. His availability may as well determine the outcome here. All in all, I expect a close game with the Lakers closing the deal in the last few minutes.