Very Important Game: New Orleans Pelicans to finally battle Anthony Davis and Los Angeles Lakers after blockbuster trade

The New Orleans Pelicans dropped a couple of duds to the Utah Jazz and LA Clippers over the weekend, but in a few days no one will care because Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers will be in the Crescent City on Wednesday!

You know, the player who was supposed to lead the Pelicans franchise to glorious new heights in the Western Conference, yet instead helped compile a disappointing overall W/L record of 251-323 during his New Orleans tenure? Yep, that adds up to just one playoff series win in the last seven seasons. I’m sure that no one has also forgotten the power forward masquerading in a center’s body was the guy who issued the infamous trade request, flipped off a fan towards the end of the season and then thought it was cute to wear a “That’s All Folks!” t-shirt to the final game of the 2018-19 campaign — but failed to own up to it after the fact.

Anthony Davis never did follow through with his promise of dropping a heartwarming message on his Instagram page neither, but I think I can safely say on behalf of the entire city, we’re good.

That’s why Wednesday’s matchup is such a vitally important game on the schedule; loyal fans desperately want to see AD and the Lakers get thumped inside the Smoothie King Center. One has to believe that Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart are also very much looking forward to facing LeBron James and their old team. Even Davis seems to have circled this matchup long ago on his calendar when listening to him recently talk about it.

”So when I go back, I’m gonna have mixed emotions,” said Davis to the Athletic’s Shams Charania. “And it’s all because a great six and a half years, and then that last half, it was...you know, so, it was just like, I know the fans are gonna boo me. I got booed when I was still playing there. It’s gonna be fun for me, like man, it’s another game, I just wanna win a game. I don’t care ‘AD had 10 points, they shut him down.’ I want to win.”

Another thing to consider: Will the Pelicans give Davis a tribute video similar to the one Chris Paul received in his first trip back to New Orleans after being traded way back when to the Clippers? I honestly don’t know.

On the one hand, Davis embarrassed the organization more than once last season. Dell Demps unceremoniously lost his job. Alvin Gentry had to consistently answer uncomfortable questions related to AD this or AD that for months. Conversely, there’s no better way for Gayle Benson to echo the idea that the organization has happily moved on to a better place. A tribute video would represent some much needed closure, and as an extra benefit, the Pelicans would get lauded for taking the high road.

“It’s gonna be a fun game,” Davis said to Charania. “I think that’s a game of the year for me. Just because I’ve never been through it so it’s like, what’s going to happen? Am I going to play well? I know I’m gonna be nervous — I never get nervous before a game, but I’ll probably be nervous that game.”

Want to see those nerves up close? Or better yet, want to join what’s sure to be a raucous crowd booing and heckling Anthony Davis at every turn? Then pick yourself up some tickets from our sponsor StubHub right here!

Is it 8:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve yet? Either way, once the game gets underway, please don’t bow down, Pels!

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