The Pelicans advance against the ‘vintage’ Westbrook but passing Willy

The revived New Orleans Pelicans head to the ‘play-in’ while still looking at the playoffs but Willy Hernangomez it does not enter into that plan or does not want the whole of Louisiana to be like that. In another game without minutes for the Spanish center, the Pelicans managed to beat the Clippers in their seventh win in the last 10 games (122-114) thanks to a colossal Brandon Ingram (36 points) and despite the 40 goals from Kawhi Leonard and the persistence of Russell Westbrook ‘vintage’ (24 points with 9/18 shooting and 3/6 3-pointers and 9 assists). The victory allows Green’s team to get just one game away from the sixth place in the playoffs that the Los Angeles team occupies.

The situation for the MVP del Eurobasket it worsens right in the decisive stretch of the season. More than what Willy adds without minutes -two games in a row now having had longer stretches of ‘bench hits’-, is the unimportant he’s had in New Orleans’ rotation.

In the 11 games he has played since he was on court for 15 minutes against Dallas On March 8, the eldest of the Hernangómez has not played in 6 and has been below the 10 minutes in the rest, with, in addition, jumping to parquet in the ‘junk minutes’, with the game already decided.

The good level that has been showing Jonas Valančiūnas in recent dates -23 points and 12 rebounds in 28 minutes last night-, it also makes it difficult for the men on the bench to gain playing time and, in this case, the first center of the second unit is always Larry Nance Jr, only 2 points with 1/6 shooting from the field, but also with 6 sacks, 4 assists, 1 steal and a block in 20 minutes to finish with the second best plus-minus of the Pelicans at +9.

Pessimistic and collapsed not so long ago as a result of the injury since January Zion Williamson -he could return before the end of the regular season-, Ingram’s impressive form is what has largely revived the team he coaches Willie Green. His deadly midrange shot is indefensible or nearly unstoppable for any defense.

Westbrook remains installed at the high level that the Clippers need, especially without Paul George, Praying the Los Angeles team so that nothing goes wrong with Kawhi Leonard, who broke down his 40 points into 15/28 shooting from the field and 4/8 on 3-pointers. those of Tyronn Lue They are sixth with 41-38, close on their heels by some Pelicans -seventh with 40-38-, which practically ensure the ‘play-in’.

At the moment, Willy does not enter the equation, who last year only played of the minutes between the qualifying match for the postseason -precisely against the Clippers-, and the 6 of the first round of the playoffs against the Mavericks, who won 4-2. He will have to continue to stay positive and take advantage of opportunities as he has always done with his infinite patience.

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