Pelica Debrief
Fansided

10 takeaways halfway through the New Orleans Pelicans season

By Willie Lutz

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 16: Josh Gray #5 and Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans hi-five after a game against the Utah Jazz on January 16, 2020 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, 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 2020 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 16: Josh Gray #5 and Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans hi-five after a game against the Utah Jazz on January 16, 2020 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, 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 2020 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – JANUARY 13: Lonzo Ball #2 of the New Orleans Pelicans handles the ball during a game against the Detroit Pistons on January 13, 2020 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 2020 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – JANUARY 13: Lonzo Ball #2 of the New Orleans Pelicans handles the ball during a game against the Detroit Pistons on January 13, 2020 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 2020 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Lonzo  Ball is becoming a triple-double machine while getting much better from a scoring perspective

Coming into the season, Lonzo Ball was one of the biggest unknowns on this team; during his time with the Lakers, he’d underwhelmed in a lot of ways, especially considering there was a time when Magic Johnson thought Ball could be the next great LA talent.

Without a career triple-double on the ledger prior to joining the Pelicans, Ball has posted four such outings in the last ten games.

Seemingly cast in the wrong role as a member of the Lakers, Alvin Gentry has trusted Lonzo with the keys to the offense, which has worked with a whole lot of success over the last month-and-a-half.

Taking time to get comfortable at the beginning of the season, Lonzo has turned in a very impressive last 15 games.

Averaging 15 points, 7.4 assists, and 7.3 rebounds over that stretch, things have looked a whole lot easier for the point guard, who seems to finally have his legs under him following a nasty leg injury at that ended his previous season with the Lakers.

Related Story. Could Lonzo be Draymond for the Pelicans. light

What’s been one of the most exciting developments of the entire New Orleans Pelicans season, however, has been the refinement of Ball’s formerly clunky jump shot.

Taking the hitch out of his form, Ball is now shooting 35.6% from three on the season, but getting even better as the season progresses (just like he has in every other area of his game), shooting 38% from three over the last 15 games.

4. The New Orleans Pelicans are starting to see breaks in the schedule

Speaking of Zion Williamson, the New Orleans Pelicans really felt the burden of not having their star rookie on the floor early in the season, as the assumption of him being available gave ESPN and TNT-related interests the desire to front-load the team’s schedule for television purposes.

Through the All-Star gap, the Pelicans have the hardest-ranked schedule in the league. However, even feeling a break in the competition over the last few weeks, the team has owned the 26th-hardest schedule since the calendar flipped to 2020 (per Tankathon).

Among teams that could be battling for the Western Conference Playoffs’ final seed, the Pelicans have by far the easiest route to that seed, or at least based on their schedule.

Having a sense of a break in the schedule should be welcome news for this team, who’ve had to undergo some brutal tests on the road.

As the Pelicans have struggled with injuries all season long, the break-up in the level of competition can also allow them to rest players who are dealing with soreness, discomfort, or any other sort of ailment can catch a night off.

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