The NBA play-in tournament is set to kick off on Tuesday, and Pelicans guard CJ McCollum has a unique idea of how he’d like to spend the occasion – lounging on the couch with a bucket of popcorn and a glass of chardonnay in hand.
McCollum expressed his thoughts, saying, “I think the goal is always to get into the playoffs, try to get 50 wins and give ourselves a chance to rest for a few days while other teams battle it out. I would love to watch the Lakers and some of those other teams on the couch while I drink some wine and eat popcorn. That would be a really ideal day for me.”
With just three regular-season games remaining, the Pelicans currently hold the sixth spot in the Western Conference, one game ahead of the seventh-place Phoenix Suns and two games ahead of the eighth-place Sacramento Kings.
As only the top six teams in each conference are guaranteed playoff spots, the Pelicans are looking to secure their position in the postseason. While technically fifth place is still within reach, it is unlikely they will finish higher than sixth.
The Pelicans are currently two games behind the fifth-place Dallas Mavericks, making it a challenging task to surpass them in the standings. The Mavericks have already secured the head-to-head tiebreaker, further complicating the Pelicans’ path to a higher seed.
How do the Pelicans stay in sixth?
To maintain their sixth-place position, the Pelicans need to stay ahead of the Phoenix Suns, who hold the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage despite a recent win by New Orleans. Both teams have crucial games remaining in their schedules.
The Pelicans’ upcoming matchups include a game against the Kings, followed by the Warriors and the Lakers. On the other hand, the Suns will face the Clippers, Kings, and Timberwolves in their final games.
How do Pelicans finish seventh?
If the Pelicans secure just one win in their remaining games, they will guarantee a seventh-place finish or higher. While not the ideal outcome for a team aiming for a playoff spot, finishing seventh would provide them with two opportunities at home in the play-in tournament.
In this scenario, the Pelicans would host the eighth seed in the play-in tournament, with the winner advancing to face the conference’s second seed in the first round of the playoffs.
If the Pelicans were to lose in the play-in game, they would face the winner of the 9-10 play-in matchup, with the victor moving on to challenge the top seed in the West.
What about the Lakers?
Following a loss to the Warriors, the Lakers find themselves in ninth place with a record of 45-35. LeBron James and his team are three games behind the Pelicans and have two games left in the regular season.
The upcoming game against the Pelicans could have significant implications for both teams, as they jockey for playoff seeding. While the Pelicans aim to secure a postseason berth, the Lakers are focused on securing a spot in the play-in tournament as the 7th or 8th seed.
