On March 26, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued, and in a game that had ended, the Pelicans defeated the Clippers 131-110. After this game, the NBA seems to have formed a new food chain this season: Pelicans Clippers, Clippers Lakers, Lakers and Pelicans.
The Pelicans are data-based. In the last six meetings between the two teams, the Clippers are 1-5, and in the two meetings this season, the Clippers are 0-2, coincidentally losing 21 points in both games, the first 91-112.
First, because of the existence of Zubac, the Clippers and Pelicans have been adopting a strategy of not coming out, which gives the Pelicans' outside shooters a lot of shooting space, such as this game, the Pelicans' three-point shooting 21 of 34, shooting as high as 61.8%, on this terrifying three-point shooting percentage, the Clippers are difficult not to lose.
Second, the current Clippers' strongest is the forward, but coincidentally, the Pelicans' front line is not weak, they are a bunch of long-handed sports maniacs, and they can play a limiting role to a certain extent on the defensive end. The front line is limited, the inside line has no advantage, and it makes sense for the Clippers to lose.
The Clippers and Lakers also have a statistical basis, and in the three meetings this season, the Lakers have not won 3-0. A big reason why the Lakers couldn't beat the Clippers in the first three games of the season was that there were no three-point shooters, and once the Clippers adopted a contraction strategy, the Lakers struggled. On the offensive end, the Clippers at that time had an absolute advantage in the front line, especially Morris Jr. came hard as soon as he hit the Lakers and shot the Lakers to death.
But now the situation with the Lakers is different, the roster has changed a lot, and there is Vanderbilt, an excellent defensive player, on the front line; On the offensive end, there are also Beasley and Russell, two good three-point shooters, which can open up space to a certain extent, allowing James and thick eyebrows to play more easily. On April 6, the two teams will meet for the last time of the season, by which time James should have returned.
The Lakers and Pelicans, as far as this season is concerned, are 3-1 in 4 meetings, including 2 easy wins after the trade deadline. A very important reason for the Lakers Kneans is because of the existence of thick eyebrows and Vanderbilt, especially thick eyebrows, every time the Pelicans play well, can play Varan autistically; And Vanderbilt's most important job is to defend Ingram, the two are about the same size, Vanderbilt can limit Ingram's play very well.