NBA contending tiers appear fairly clear-cut going into the final three weeks of 2024. The Boston Celtics (19-5) and Cleveland Cavaliers (21-4) are working away from the Jap Convention pack. The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (18-5) and Memphis Grizzlies (17-8) are on the right track for a Western Convention Finals conflict. Everybody else is enjoying for the upset. Properly, aside from groups just like the injury-ravaged, market-limited New Orleans Pelicans (5-20). Followers of six franchises can begin rooting for respectable losses whereas taking a look at Cooper Flagg-related NBA Draft Lottery odds.
EVP David Griffin’s recreation plan for fulfillment retains getting interrupted by accidents to Zion Williamson (hamstring) and Brandon Ingram (ankle). Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, Jose Alvarado, and Jordan Hawkins have missed many of the season. Willie Inexperienced is getting many of the rotation again however Williamson and Ingram shall be out “indefinitely” per the crew. There needs to be no indecision as to a plan of action over the following few months.
Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, VJ Edgecombe, Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, and/or Boogie Fland can be enormous additions to the younger New Orleans core. The battle to the underside is on in all respects however the schedule-makers did the Pelicans a favor. Capturing Cooper Flagg is wanting simpler with each loss.
Western Convention’s Cooper Flagg chaos
The Pelicans will push for wins nevertheless it’s exhausting to see many popping up within the standings till after New Yr’s Day. Internet hosting the Sacramento Kings (12-13) on December 12 could be the very best probability to provide the followers a victory to have fun. A visit to face the Indiana Pacers (10-15) on December 15 is the final matchup in 2024 towards one other crew with a shedding file.
Jimmy Butler’s Miami Warmth have gotten an issue and the Pelicans should take care of that headache on New Yr’s Day. New Orleans has the third most difficult schedule remaining, which ought to all however sign it’s time to throw within the towel. The Pelicans have sufficient issues attempting to extract worth from a Brandon Ingram or CJ McCollum commerce.
Seeds six by way of Twelfth are separated by two video games. The Twelfth-placed Kings have 12 wins already with maybe a thirteenth coming after visiting the Smoothie King Heart. Being eight video games behind Twelfth place earlier than Christmas is about as clear a sign as a corporation ought to want.
New Orleans has already misplaced two video games versus the Portland Path Blazers (8-16) and have a two-games-in-three-days residence set towards the Utah Jazz (5-18) in mid-January. Each have some powerful days forward however not fairly just like the Pelicans. It is time to survey the battlefield and withdraw in hopes of preventing one other day.
Pelicans eyeing Jap Convention cellar
On the opposite finish of the spectrum are the Washington Wizards (3-19) with the third-easiest schedule remaining. The Charlotte Hornets (7-17) are proper behind (fifth) the Wizards however the Scottie Barnes-led Toronto Raptors (7-17) are constructing a successful tradition. The Pelicans have extra expertise than the Wizards or Hornets. Toronto and the remainder of the Jap Convention’s center class shall be trying to the lottery however somebody has to win after they face one another.
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Trajan Langon’s Detroit Pistons (10-15) and the Philadelphia 76ers (7-17) will rack up wins whereas chasing an NBA Play-In Event spot. Even when J.B. Bickerstaff’s easy-going Pistons do some strategic tanking with experimental lineups down the stretch, Detroit shall be greater than a handful of wins forward of the Pelicans by then.
The 76ers are coping with some inner points however Philadelphia’s postseason path is way extra manageable. The Brooklyn Nets (10-14), Indiana Pacers (10-15), and Chicago Bulls (10-15) are balled up on 10 wins, however solely two video games again within the win column out of fifth place. Making sense of how the Jap Convention will shake out is near-impossible. One crew will begin to slide ultimately. Nevertheless, Las Vegas sportsbooks appear sure the Pelicans will end with fewer wins than most within the Jap Convention Play-In combine.
That is the NBA Draft Lottery panorama when gauging the very best odds on the first general choose. Utah and Portland within the West, Washington, Toronto, and Charlotte within the East. The Pelicans should plan accordingly. Including a top-three or top-five expertise to this core, no matter what occurs with Ingram or Williamson, would enable the Pelicans to promote followers on a brand new future.
It is powerful to listen to for any competitor however successful video games just isn’t the precedence given the circumstances. Growing chemistry, remaining upbeat, and retaining a aggressive delight circulating by way of the locker room are extra necessary. And if it helps the Pelicans add Cooper Flagg, there shall be no complaints down within the Crescent Metropolis.