By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
After being moved by the Los Angeles Lakers, Patrick Beverley has a simple goal in his mind for when he’ll be facing his former team with the Chicago Bulls.
“Knock them out of the playoffs,” Beverley said during the Pat Bev Pod when asked about what are his thoughts regarding his upcoming games against the Lakers. That will be on March 26 in Los Angeles and then four days later in Chicago.
“We got to get into the playoffs too so… ‘excuse us.’ Like a little scooch,” Beverley added. He’s not lying since the Bulls are currently in the 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings, at a 26-33 record. Every game is a “must-win” situation for the Bulls if they want to secure a spot at least for the Play-In tournament.
The Lakers are in a more or less similar situation. The 2020 NBA champions are 13th in the West (27-32) and will look to avoid missing the playoffs for a second straight season.
The Lakers traded Beverley to the Orlando Magic on February 9 as a part of a four-team trade that also involved the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers. The veteran guard and the Magic agreed on a buyout and then he signed with the Chicago Bulls as a free agent.
Beverley averaged 6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 26.9 minutes over 45 games with the Lakers.