Pelica Debrief
Fansided

3 Christmas wishes to help fix New Orleans Pelicans issues

By Willie Lutz

METAIRIE, LA - DECEMBER 17: Lonzo Ball gifts his teammates an Xbox after New Orleans Pelicans shootaround on December 17, 2019 at 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 - DECEMBER 17: Lonzo Ball gifts his teammates an Xbox after New Orleans Pelicans shootaround on December 17, 2019 at 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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New Orleans Pelicans
PORTLAND, OR – DECEMBER 23: Lonzo Ball #2 of the New Orleans Pelicans shoots the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers on December 23, 2019 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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 Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Second Wish: Lonzo Ball gets more confident in attacking the rim

Demoted to a palpable bench role but drawing a start in place of J.J. Redick against the Trail Blazers, the New Orleans Pelicans need more out games like last night out of Lonzo Ball.

Ball is in the midst of an up-and-down season after coming over in the Anthony Davis-centered trade package from the Los Angeles Lakers in June, but has been slow to show great progress in his game after a March ankle injury forced his summer training to become a rehab program.

Last night against Portland, we started to see Ball really make a team pay with his attacks to the glass, both as a passer and as a scorer.


Posting a solid 7 points, 7 rebounds (3 OREBs), 4 assists, and 2 steals, contributing his +7 plus/minus performance in 18 minutes as the starting guard for New Orleans.

In the performance, it was incredibly encouraging to see Ball show no fear getting to the rim or creating from the post, as he charged into the lane allowing a whole lot more spacing in the Pelicans offense… even if last night it resulted in an epic dunk on his own teammate.


Lonzo needs to continue growing in this area for the New Orleans Pelicans, as too often his drives into the paint are taken off the table if Ball picks up an early offensive foul.

Taking a career-low 19.6% shots from within 3 feet, but shooting a career-best 66.7% rate on those same looks. In what’s been a season-long conundrum, Lonzo Ball is clearly getting better but doing less of the things he does best.

By the end of the season, it would be encouraging to see Ball shoot at least 25% of his shots from within three feet, as that’ll lead to a whole lot more offensive generation when Zion Williamson returns.

Getting better seemingly every week, but not without some rollercoaster moments, Lonzo Ball is slowly but surely becoming a huge impact player for this New Orleans Pelicans team. His continued attacks of the rim will only make him more crucial to the Pelicans’ future.

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