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<b>SteemSports Presenter:</b>@mateonav53
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<b>SteemSports Editor:</b>@scottybuckets
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Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans are coming to Staples Center on Friday in what is sure to be a speculation-laden affair. Speculation in the sense of the burgeoning Davis-to-LA trade rumors, but also speculation about what Julius Randle's true feelings for the Lakers are. Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka let the former Laker 2014 lottery pick walk in the off-season to make room for the big fish LeBron James. My basketball senses are telling me that Big Ju is due for a sweet revenge game against his old team, much like D'Angelo Russell with the Nets last Tuesday. 
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The bruising lefty still has the good graces of many Lakers fans who wish the franchise retained him - myself included. He was our fruit of the lottery bore to us from the first season of Laker irrelevance in quite a long time. Julius really found his stride last year as a commander in the paint and straight bull in transition. The potential was always there, but it really came together in 2017-18 when he finally improved his finishing by a substantial amount. I wish the best for Julius, but I low-key hope he doesn't become good enough where we regret letting him walk.
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Randle's departure was also the side effect of a new front office trying to make its mark. Julius wasn't drafted by Magic and Pelinka. Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak did that. It makes you wonder what other holdovers from the previous regime will soon depart. Maybe it'll be Brandon Ingram, Luke Walton, or both. All we can do is speculate, but it's something to keep in mind. 
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Despite what the future may hold, these two teams have a game to play on Friday night. The Lakers are coming off of a disappointing road trip that saw them go 1-3 when they should've at least gone 3-1. They should be getting teammates Rajon Rondo and Brandon Ingram back after they lost them for a big chunk of time due to injury. JaVale McGee, who has been sick the last couple of games, is also likely to suit back up. These returns will bring a much-needed boost on both ends of the floor, but I'm still wary of Ingram's offensive fit next to LeBron. 
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The Pelicans started off the year on a tear, but have since slipped considerably. New Orleans sits at a surprising 13th in the West given their mark of 15-17. If they played in the Eastern Conference they'd be neck-and-neck with the eighth seed with their current record. Despite having one of the top 5 talents in the league in Anthony Davis, the Pels will likely have to fight tooth and nail for the 8th seed come April.
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The Western Conference standings are primed to be decided by only a few games. Tonight is one of these games where both teams will be gutting for the win in a primetime broadcast. The Pels will fight in an effort to not slip down the mountain of the Western Conference - the Lakers so they can right the ship after two humiliating losses. LA should be favored given that they're superior on paper and playing at home, but I'm going to pick the Pelicans to shock the Lakers in a tightly contested battle thanks to the superb play of Julius Randle and  Anthony Davis. 
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Thank you for following @steemsports and you can find me @mateonav53
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