Pelica Debrief
Fansided

The New Orleans Pelicans have their wings and they’re about to fly

By Harry Ramage

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 18: Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans drives against Rodney McGruder #19 of the LA Clippers during a game at the Smoothie King Center on January 18, 2020 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 18: Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans drives against Rodney McGruder #19 of the LA Clippers during a game at the Smoothie King Center on January 18, 2020 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Sometimes in sport when you lose you win and by the time April comes around this will all make sense. A 133-130 loss to the Clippers by the rising New Orleans Pelicans and while losing their 27th game on the season was not the desired result, the product on the court might yield a big harvest down the stretch.

The offensive production, the enthusiastic bench, the All-Star caliber play on the wing and the rising confidence suggests an upward swing is on the doorstep. The win by the New Orleans Pelicans on MLK day over the rising Memphis Grizzlies also showed their ascension is real and now the Zion era can officially begin.

The calls for coach Alvin Gentry to be fired during the 13-game losing streak were as loud as the day is long, so when the team wins 11 of their following 16 games he deserves to be praised. Gentry never panicked and maintained the team hadn’t lost its spirit and the last 16 games have shown he was right.

Losing to a Kawhi Leonard masterclass and being taken to the closing school of Lou Williams is nothing to be ashamed of for the New Orleans Pelicans

If you consider the return of the NBA’s most hyped rookie since LeBron James, a manageable 39 games, the All-Star play of Brandon Ingram, Jrue Holiday’s impending return, the veteran presence of J.J. Redick, Derrick Favors and E’Twaun Moore, the absurd offensive potential, the exciting rookies and the improved play of Lonzo Ball… This team is about to go on a run to the 8th seed.

Brandon Ingram picks up All-Star nod from Durant. light. Hot

With the narrative of the season on the surface changing its important to look at what the change has been. Having consistent minutes from Derrick Favors in the frontcourt has helped organize the defense and made everyone’s job a lot easier.

Favors has also allowed less pressure on exciting rookie Jaxson Hayes who is still too green to protect the rim at a high level in the NBA. Gentry said during the losing streak the team is too quiet and even the most casual fan can see the importance of Favors’ communication.

Brandon Ingram was having a stellar season even when the team was at its lowest depth but during their turnaround, he has given voters no choice but to include him in the All-Star team. His Christmas Day performance against the Denver Nuggets and his 49-point explosion against Utah made the rest of the league pay attention to the North Carolina native.

Do you want to know how good Ingram has been in 2020? His current stat line of almost 28 points a game to go with six rebounds and six assists a game has put him into the NBA’s elite category. He is without a doubt the NBA’s most improved player. He has moved to 10th in the league in scoring and is the only player in the top 22 scorers to be shooting 40% on his triples.

And Lonzo Ball might actually be scratching the surface of his NBA ceiling! Since his re-introduction to the starting lineup he has looked more and more like the do-it-all point guard who promised so much coming out of UCLA.

While his three-point shot is still inconsistent on a night-to-night basis his improved play in the pick-and-roll and willingness to get to the rim for either himself or to create chances for his teammates has seen the offense start to reach the potential many experts predicted in the offseason.

He is currently averaging 15.8 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds in the month of January which is by far his most productive month in his short NBA career.

The bench production of the ever-improving Nickeil Alexander-Walker to go along with the defensive enthusiasm of Frank Jackson has also provided a boost to the Pels improvement.

NAW’s pick-and-roll play with Hayes has given the league a glimpse of the future headaches they will cause on opposition defenses. Just think how effective it will all be when Zion is firing on all cylinders for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Next. 5 reasons to get excited for Zion. dark

The expectations of this team have wildly fluctuated on a week-to-week basis but its time to lock in for the New Orleans Pelicans.  Unfortunately, the Saints won’t be in the SuperBowl but the city of New Orleans is about to be taken on a wild ride.

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