The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 110-106 on April 17 to advance to the playoffs and will now advance to the first round of the playoffs against defending champions the Denver Nuggets. It's something to see. As for the Pelicans, they still have to work hard, and they will play against the Kings in the second playoff game to compete for the final playoff spot;
Having said that, this pinnacle matchup between the Lakers and the Pelicans has made fans and spectators feel excited. LeBron "The Great" James scored 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists. And then there is Russell, this guy, he actually made a steal and added three points at a critical moment, and this wave of stabilizing the battle situation has made a great contribution. At the beginning, the Pelicans had a gratifying momentum, leading by 8 points in the first quarter and scoring 34 points, and the scene was as exciting as watching a temple fair. The Lakers overtook by 18 points in the second quarter in the blink of an eye, and there was a big comeback at halftime, with a score of 60-50 holding their breath. As a result, the two teams fought back and forth in the third quarter, and the score difference was tight to 7 points. In the fourth quarter, the Lakers relied on that momentum to not admit defeat and delivered the ultimate blow and won the game 110-106.
Ladies and gentlemen, the fairy fight between the Warriors and the Kings was also exciting. At the beginning of the game, the Kings led by 9 points, and the Warriors couldn't catch up. The Warriors trailed by four points at halftime. But the Kings, with such momentum, can always withstand the Warriors' offense, and in the third quarter, they came 37-26 to beat the Warriors in one fell swoop, and finally won 118-94. As a result, the Kings are arrogant and face the Pelicans in their next game for the last playoff ticket.
Tactical Analysis: The Lakers' victory in the play-in game against the Pelicans showed the importance they place on midfield control. After falling behind in the first quarter, they played a wave of counterattacks in the second quarter by tightening up defensive pressure and quickly switching offense. Their positional battles were noticeably improved from the first half, especially in terms of pick-and-roll and perimeter shooting, using the dominance of James and Davis on the inside to intersperse open shots from Russell and Reaves to hit a wave of accurate three-point rain. In addition, the Lakers have done an excellent job of switching defenses in key moments, especially in limiting the Pelicans' key scorer Zion, whose strategy on collective defense has limited the Pelicans' overall scoring efficiency despite Zion's high individual scoring.
Season Impact: A playoff win for the Lakers isn't just a one-game win, it's more likely to be the start of a season of redemption. After a bumpy start to the regular season, the Lakers, who are on the verge of a strong recovery, are now showing the impact and resilience of their championship team. A first-round game against the defending champion Nuggets will be a huge test that will determine whether the Lakers can make a deeper breakthrough in the playoffs. As for the Warriors being eliminated by the Kings, the early end of the season may trigger a series of reflections and adjustments within the team. As for the Kings, who are in high spirits after beating the Warriors and will go all out for the last spot in the playoffs against the Pelicans, this victory certainly gives them a glimmer of hope and could go further in this season's wave.
Overall, the Lakers' play-off journey can be described as a veritable roller coaster, first encountering the Pelicans' blitzkrieg, then staged a big reversal, and finally withstood the pressure and won the game steadily. And the strength of the Kings is indeed impressive, with the courage to show their swords and pass the test, looking forward to their ultimate competition with the Pelicans. Tonight, the stars are dim, thousands of eyes are gathered in tomorrow's ring, this is the real hot-blooded youth in the basketball world. The trials and hardships on the court are waiting for the basketball hymn of "winner is king" in the next moment. Ladies and gentlemen, what are you waiting for, the final chapter of the season is about to be staged, let's look forward to it together!