Beijing time on March 5, in an NBA regular season game that ended today, the Pelicans defeated the Jazz 124-90 at home, winning 4 consecutive wins, and with the victory of this game, the Pelicans are currently only 0.5 wins away from the ninth lakers in the West, considering the Lakers' recent bad state, and the Pelicans' momentum, it seems that it is only a matter of time before the Pelicans surpass the Lakers in terms of record.
Admittedly, after a big deal, the Pelicans' overall strength has really strengthened too much, in the last 4 consecutive wins, the Pelicans have won a total of 107 points against the opponent, and in the last 3 consecutive wins, the Pelicans have beaten the opponent by 25+ points, which is the first time in the history of the Pelicans to do so, and it is also the first time since the Spurs in 2018 that the league has beaten the opponent team with a 25+ score advantage in three consecutive games. Basically, it can be said that although the current Pelicans are only ranked 10th in the West, their overall strength is definitely in the top eight levels of the West.
Speaking about the key to the team's victory, Pelicans coach Willie Green said in an interview: "The discipline with which we fully executed the game plan today reached a new level. As Green said, the overall tactical quality and offensive and defensive coordination of the Pelicans are not comparable to the Pelicans in the first half of the season, and the key person who has transformed this team is undoubtedly new signing CJ McCollum.
Throughout the game, Pelicans player CJ McCollum played 29 minutes, 10-of-18, 2-of-6 three-pointers, and had 24 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 turnover. McCollum's arrival directly boosted the Pelicans' offensive firepower, while his three-point projection opened up enough space for the team to indirectly make Ingram more comfortable.
In this game, Pelicans player Brandon Ingram played 30 minutes, shooting 11 of 16, including 1 of 3 from three-point range and 6 of 6 from the free throw line, with 29 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal. He and McCollum formed a new two-gun combination to help the Pelicans become the no. 1 dark horse in the West in the second half of the season, and with such momentum, it would not be surprising that the Pelicans would not be surprised to directly reach the top eight in the West even recently.
Speaking about the chemistry of the team now, Ingram bluntly said: "We are united, we are improving the intensity in training, we execute the game plan very well, especially after the All-Star Weekend, everyone looks comfortable in their roles, and we continue to play well. ”
And seeing such a soaring Pelicans, perhaps the most worried at the moment is the Lakers, although it was difficult for the Lakers to enter the top eight in the West, but it seems to remain in the play-off area, or to keep the ninth in the West is more than enough, but after yesterday's loss to the Clippers, the Lakers have suffered 4 consecutive losses, and the Pelicans have won 4 consecutive wins, the gap between the two sides has been minimal, if the Lakers are eventually squeezed by the Pelicans to the tenth place in the West, it is undoubtedly a huge blow to the morale of the team. Not only that, at present, the Lakers are only 2 wins ahead of the 11th Blazers in the West, which means that the Lakers may even be overtaken by the Blazers and directly miss the playoffs.
According to the latest news, the Lakers will not dismiss the employer coach Vogel this season, and Vogel also admitted directly in the interview that he does not know how to change the current state of the team, they have discussed all the ways, but there is still no way to reverse the decline. And it seems that the Lakers will also give up the meaning of this season, if no one stands up to change all this, then the Lakers may be about to end their journey this season.