The New Orleans Pelicans are finally back in the playoff conversation after defeating the Sacramento Kings 105-98 in the final round of the NBA play-in-game tournament. In the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, the Pelicans will face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. If you recall, the Thunder eliminated the Pelicans from last season’s play-in-game tournament. While they were swept 4-0 against eventual champion the Denver Nuggets, OKC would emerge as the number one seed in the Western Conference.
They closed out the year tied with the Nuggets with a 57-25 record. As for this season’s matchups between the two teams, the Thunder won two of the three games. The roster is filled with dynamic talent, but everything runs through point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Teammates Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgreen are second and third in scoring, with 19.1 and 16.5 points per game, respectively.
Gilgeous-Alexander is currently mentioned as a player who could win the National Basketball Association’s Most Valuable Player award. The former Kentucky Wildcat star numbers speak for themselves. Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder in points per game, assists, and steals. His 30.5 points per game ranked third among scorers this season.
New Orleans will head into the series with OKC without their most significant contributor, power forward Zion Williamson. The last report on his status was that Williamson could be out for two weeks and possibly longer with a left hamstring injury. The injury occurred last Tuesday’s play-in game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Williamson exited the game with three minutes left in the fourth quarter and never returned. So, how will the Pelicans contend with OKC without the presence of their best player?
They must have a consistent collective effort from all key players, such as Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, and Trey Murphy. Regarding handling the interior, head coach Willie Green must decide which matchup will neutralize the effectiveness of OKC center Chet Holmgreen. The former Gonzaga Bulldog has been a dominant force in the paint for the Thunder this season. He leads OKC in rebounding with 7.9 rebounds per game and blocks with 2.3. Coach Green has been adamant about how he prefers to utilize a small ball lineup because of how it flows with Williamson.
Coach Green will need to explore alternative strategies and utilize the strengths of his available players to compensate for Williamson’s absence. With Zion sidelined, center Jonas Valančiūnas emerges as a pivotal figure in the Pelicans’ game plan. Valančiūnas’ dominance in the paint and ability to control the boards could provide a significant advantage against the Thunder’s frontcourt. Expanding Valančiūnas’ role within the game plan, whether through increased minutes or tailored offensive sets, could be a strategic move to exploit matchups and maximize the Pelicans’ chances of success in a seven-game series.
Series Prediction: The Pelicans advancing to the postseason for the second time under head coach Willie Green is a huge accomplishment, but don’t expect them to get far without the presence of Zion Williamson. They will make things interesting, but OKC will be advancing to the second round of the NBA playoffs.
Thunder Wins Series 4-2
