Even with the New Orleans Pelicans slow start to play in the bubble, results falling in their favor paired with a crucial win over the Grizzlies on Monday have the team in the middle of the race for the eighth seed. Heading into Thursday, the Pelicans are two games back of the eighth seed and one game back of the ninth seed.
Making matters even better is that the Pelicans have a tremendously favorable schedule over the remaining five games. New Orleans will not play another side over .500 the rest of the way with games against Washington and Orlando as well as contests against fellow teams fighting for the playoffs in San Antonio and Sacramento.
However, the Pelicans also find themselves surrounded by a host of other teams also competing for the eighth and ninth seeds. The Blazers and Spurs both are currently ahead of them in the standings for the ninth seed and though the Grizzlies have started play in the bubble winless through four games, they still hold the eighth seed.
After Wednesday’s practice, Ball talked about the race for the playoffs in the Western Conference.
“There’s a lot of talented teams in the west,” Ball said. “Unfortunately, we got off to a slow start this year, but we’re grateful to still be in the race. These next five games are very important for us, just to give us a chance.”
Effectively, New Orleans will have its fate in its own hands the remainder of the play in the bubble. The two games against Sacramento could eliminate them from playoff contention and, based on their current projections, the match-up with San Antonio could serve as a de-factor play-in tournament eliminator.
If New Orleans were to finish 6-2, they would certainly have a chance. And that’s on Lonzo Ball is asking for.
