Pelica Debrief
Fansided

Matching New Orleans Pelicans players with their Saints parallels

By Willie Lutz

METAIRIE, LA - JULY 29: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans passes the football with quarterback Drew Brees #9 during the New Orleans Saints Quarterback Competition at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
METAIRIE, LA - JULY 29: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans passes the football with quarterback Drew Brees #9 during the New Orleans Saints Quarterback Competition at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) /
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METAIRIE, LA – SEPTEMBER 8: Lonzo Ball of the New Orleans Pelicans coaches kids at the Team Gleason Camp in Metairie, Louisiana at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on September 8, 2019. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
METAIRIE, LA – SEPTEMBER 8: Lonzo Ball of the New Orleans Pelicans coaches kids at the Team Gleason Camp in Metairie, Louisiana at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on September 8, 2019. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) /

Lonzo Ball as Taysom Hill

While Ball is certainly more of a household name, they’ve both had a share of exciting moments as playmakers. Last year, Sean Payton trusted Hill to run special plays in the offense, pulling the Hall of Famer, Drew Brees, out of the quarterback role to create some very exciting plays. However, for Ball, LeBron James pretended to let him run the offense a few times last season with much less excitement from the crowd.

Both players have something to prove in their city; they’re not in the lead role at their position, but as younger players, have time to refine themselves into longterm options at their spots.

Lonzo will play the role of the second ballhandler behind Jru Holiday, while Hill currently plays second-string quarterback behind Teddy Bridgewater. Ball is probably going to make a lot more money than Hill in his career, which is just the nature of the sport, and will almost certainly be called on to lead a team before the Saints’ skilled second-stringer.

Inserting either into a game can cause matchup nightmares. Hill is a dangerous runner with a plus arm, while Lonzo is a devastating downhill passer, navigating defenses as he sprints down the court. Their ability to utilize their speed as a weapon is something that helps draw parallel lines between these two players.

There are no controversial parents on the Saints as far as I know, so that’s something unique to Lonzo and maybe ideal for Hill. Either way, both have the ability to make jaw-dropping plays when they’re at their best.

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