Win And They’re In: A Win Tonight For New Orleans Would Indefinitely Clinch A Postseason Berth by Mark Nilon

Coming off the biggest win of the season, the New Orleans Pelicans have two very important games remaining this season.

On Saturday, the New Orleans Pelicans played a symphony of scrappy basketball. Anthony Davis and company outworked the Golden State Warriors and picked-up their most important victory of the season.

Not only was it their first victory in 14 tired against the mighty Warriors, it was a win that the Pelicans needed to keep them above the rest of the teams that haven’t clinched a playoff berth yet.

Now, the Pelicans will turn their attention to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers are coming off a critical loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

This loss was the uppercut that knocked the Clippers completely out of the playoff race, ending their season.

Still, the Clippers will be looking to “protect the league.” Head coach Doc Rivers indicated following the loss to Denver that he expects to play his starters and give his team a chance to spoil the Pelicans quest for the playoffs. The Pelicans will have to put together another masterful night in order to remain the fifth seed.

Gameplan for the New Orleans Pelicans to be the Clippers

Keeping the Clippers at bay will not be easy. The Clippers have a couple players who can light it up from the floor. Lou Williams is one player the Pelicans will have to watch. Williams is averaging 22 points a game this season. He’s been the human highlight reel for the Clippers all season long. Currently, Williams is listed as day-to-day on the injury report. He along with Danilo Gallinari and Austin Rivers are day-to-day.

The biggest key to beating the Clippers is keeping DeAndre Jordan off the glass. Jordan averages 15.3 rebounds a game for the Clippers. That, and limiting Lou Williams offensively is a recipe for success against the Clippers.

The Pelicans are 2-1 against the Clippers this season. However, the only playoff implications apply to New Orleans. Other playoff-based games tonight include OKC vs Miami, Memphis vs Minnesota, Sacramento vs San Antonio, and Portland vs Denver.

Assuming Oklahoma City, Minnesota, and San Antonio all win tonight, the Pelicans would remain in fifth place if they beat the Clippers. However, a loss could move them down as far as eighth depending on how these other games play out.

The formula is simple, the Pelicans have to win. These next two games are going to rely on a total team effort. The Pelicans are going to have to mimic their performance from Saturday against the Warriors.

Other news and notes from the Western Conference playoff race

The Utah Jazz secured a playoff berth after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers last night. Utah is holding the fourth spot for the time being. The Pelicans have the fifth seed, if the playoff landscape remains as it is, the Pelicans would play the Utah Jazz in the first round.

The San Antonio Spurs are in sixth place and tonight they’ll face the Sacramento Kings at home. The Spurs are almost unbeatable at home, and Sacramento is still a bottom feeder in the West. So, as a result, I don’t expect the Spurs to lose this game tonight. This will make Wednesday’s regular-season finale between the Pelicans and Spurs a huge game.

Want your voice heard? Join the Pelican Debrief team! Write for us!

Oklahoma City is in seventh place after beating the Houston Rockets on Saturday. The Thunder are still an interesting team in the sense that you have no idea which team is showing up. The Rockets got a good look at the Thunder on Saturday. I promise you, no team wants to play the Thunder in the first round.

However, with OKC in seventh place, that would put them facing the Golden State Warriors in the first round. I am 100% certain this is by design. Everyone knows Russell Westbrook would love a chance to dethrone the Golden State Warriors. It’s almost poetic that they would defeat the Warriors with Kevin Durant and without Stephen Curry.

The eighth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves are at home for their next two games. Tonight against Memphis and Wednesday against Denver. Wednesday could prove to be the day when it is literally a do or die situation for these two teams.