Why does Patrick Beverley want to knock the Lakers out the playoffs?

The former Lakers player has seemingly dedicated his energy to one specific objective and that’s to see that the Los Angeles Lakers don’t make the playoffs. Now with his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, via a buyout with the Orlando Magic to whom he was traded, Patrick Beverley means business.

Patrick Beverley has no love for the Lakers

According to the comments he made during a recent episode of “The Pat Bev Podcast,” new Chicago Bulls player, Patrick Beverley, is already relishing the notion of playing against his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers. With two games against the Lakers remaining on the Bulls’ schedule, Beverley admitted that he’s only got one thing in mind when he was asked how he would approach the first of those games in March. “Knock them out the playoffs,” Beverley said. “We gotta get in the playoffs, so excuse us, like a little elbow scooch.” To be fair, if you take a look at the Lakers chances of seeing the post season, Beverley might not have to bother.

Of course, if you know anything about Beverley, you will know that when it comes to his opinion, he’s very happy to share it, something which isn’t always well-received but we imagine he’s A-OK with that. Consider for a moment, what he had to say about the Clippers when he was playing for the Timberwolves last season, the Clippers being a team with which he played for four seasons and ultimately defeated with the Wolves to clinch a playoff spot. “It’s deeper than that for me, I gave my blood, sweat and tears to that organization,” Beverley said about the Clippers at the time. “To just be written off like that, ‘oh he’s injury prone, he’s old,’ to be able to come here, play them in a play-in and beat they ass, no other feeling [like it].”

Is Patrick Beverley’s notorious attitude part of the ‘game?’

Though you might be tempted to think, that Beverley is just another trash talking veteran, who is bitter about the inevitable effect of time and age on his career, you would be mistaken. A three-time NBA All-Defensive player who is as intense in defense as he’s ever been, there is likely nobody in the league who enjoys being guarded by the 34-year-old. Indeed, that’s probably the very reason why the Bulls have signed him, as they currently sit at 11th in the Eastern Conference, but do still have a chance to make the playoffs - though it won’t be easy.

“It’s hard to judge me from all the outside stuff,” Beverley said. “A lot of people think what I do is put on a lot of antics and all that extra s---. When in reality when I’m on your team and I’m your teammate, I’m a player and you’re my coach, you get a different vibe: ‘He’ll do anything for the team.’ You’re gonna get that, you know me I’m gonna be on Zach LaVine’s ass, I’m gonna give him all the energy he needs. Destroy people. Me and DeMar DeRozan we good. I got a [pick-and-pop] 5 in [Nikola] Vucevic. I’m excited.” Of course, as Beverley well knows, talk is cheap. The Bulls will be on the road when they face the Lakers at the Crypto.com Arena on March 26th, before they host them just three days later in Chicago on the 29th. We’re guessing his comments are about to make those two games extremely interesting. Don’t miss out.