New Orleans Pelicans: Lonzo Ball Left His Swagger Outside the Bubble

The New Orleans Pelicans need the Lonzo Ball from March.

The New Orleans Pelicans were starting to roll before games were suspended in March, and a big part of that was the play of Lonzo Ball.

Ball has improved across the board this year, especially with his shooting, as he has evolved into an above-average three-point shooter after coming into the league with an ugly jumper.

Entering the bubble games, Lonzo Ball was getting just over 12 points, seven assists and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 37.7% from long-range.

This had ramped up even more in the last five games before the hiatus, as Lonzo was shooting over 50% from three-point range and was playing with swagger.

When Lonzo Ball is playing aggressively and confidently, the New Orleans Pelicans are a different team and it raises the ceiling of what this team can be.

Unfortunately, we have not seen that Lonzo Ball since things restarted in Orlando, and the New Orleans Pelicans have suffered.

New Orleans Pelicans: Lonzo Ball has struggled in the bubble.

Since the restart, Lonzo’s shooting has gone south and it has affected his entire game.

He has scored just 5.8 points per game in the bubble. His assists have dropped to 6.4 and his rebounds down to 4.8 per game.

But most importantly, Lonzo Ball is shooting just 26.4% from long-range and it has sapped his confidence.

Lonzo turned it over against the Wizards after hesitating to take an open shot and shuffling his feet. The Lonzo Ball from March would have launched that shot without hesitation and probably knocked it down.

He has to continue to be aggressive, as he has gotten to the rim more frequently, though he still struggles to finish. The New Orleans Pelicans feed off Lonzo’s energy and swagger, so if he is moping around, so are they.

Lonzo got pulled last night for Frank Jackson, who was showing more effort and intensity on the defensive end.

Lonzo cannot let himself get taken out of games when he is shooting poorly and has to continue to play with energy and effort even if shots aren’t falling.

Lonzo Ball is the engine that makes the New Orleans Pelicans go, and if they are going to have a chance, he has to play better, find his swagger and start playing with confidence.