In recent weeks, the Pelicans and Lakers have offered a potential playoff series preview with a pair of high-intensity games. While the Pelicans currently aren’t in the playoffs in the Western Conference, New Orleans has reeled in the Memphis Grizzlies in the last month and sit just 3.5 games back of the eighth seed.
Many expect the Pelicans, who have the easiest remaining strength of schedule, to catch the Grizzlies, who have the third-hardest remaining strength of schedule, and make the playoffs. Amongst those is LaVar Ball, the outspoken father of Pelican point guard Lonzo.
In an appearance on FS1’s Undisputed, LaVar not only guaranteed the Pelicans would make the playoffs but also said New Orleans would beat the Lakers in a playoff series.
“The Lakers will lose. That’s what I said. And let me tell you why. You got my son in a different mode. You never seen him in playoff mode. And you ain’t ever seen him in revenge mode. Don’t you activate Zo with all them scorers.”
New Orleans has lost all four meetings to the Lakers this season. The first two meetings came in the pre-Zion portion of the Pelicans’ schedule and featured huge games from Anthony Davis. The two most recent meetings spanned six days and saw LeBron James put big performances together in both.
That hasn’t deterred Ball from predicting an upset as he expects his son and the Pelicans to take it up a notch in the postseason.
“I see it all playing out perfectly where the Lakers got to keep beating up all on the Pelicans when it don’t count and when all the marbles on the table, things going to change. We going to send you home early. And you know what my son’s going to be known for? Upsetting the Lakers.
“You know how you play those teams and the team is sorry as heck and they play one good series and they don’t even care about the championship as long as they beat that one team. That’s the motto.”
Ignoring the part where Ball alluded to the Pelicans being a “sorry” team, it’s a typical brash prediction from Ball. During the segment, he also noted that he would send double teams at both James and Davis to wear them down and live with the results.
“I could beat the Lakers easy because I’m going to double team him and AD the whole game. I don’t care what Kuzma or anybody else do. They’re going to be so tired. LeBron, he’s going to back it in, he’s stronger. And don’t let him get to shooting those threes, too. It’s a wrap then.”
In predicting a playoff series win for the Pelicans, a good bit of ignoring results from the regular season would be required. It’s also all a bit premature as the Pelicans aren’t yet a playoff team and will have a battle in the final weeks of the season to earn the eighth seed.
Do you agree with LaVar about how a playoff series would play out? Let us know down below!