The New Orleans Pelicans Biggest Disappointment In the Bubble Goes To Lonzo Ball.
When looking for the New Orleans Pelicans‘ biggest disappointment you can make an argument for the whole team given how they performed. The Pelicans should be gearing up for the Western Conference play-in tournament rather than having their season come to an end.
With a roster so full of young talent it was looking like the Pelicans were going to go on a run. That was until the games started and most of the young New Orleans Pelicans looked passive and unmotivated.
As soured as he may be to hear this, the biggest disappointment out of all the New Orleans Pelicans players in Orlando was Lonzo Ball.
The reason why Lonzo Ball is the biggest disappointment has to do with him performing so poorly in the bubble after showing so many great strides during the season.
Why Lonzo Ball Disappointed
To understand why Lonzo Ball was disappointing in the bubble, we need to first understand how good he was during the regular season. During the regular season, Lonzo Ball looked like a young Jason Kidd.
Averaging 12 points six rebounds and seven assists per game in the regular season, Ball was finally flourishing as the do-it-all point guard he was projected to be when he was taken 2nd overall in 2017. The best part was, his three-point shooting was finally coming along too.
Throughout the regular season, Lonzo Ball’s shot went from one of the worst in the game to an extremely efficient one. After averaging subpar three-point shooting percentages in his first two seasons, Ball’s percentage jumped to 38% in his first season with the Pelicans.
This was a big development for Lonzo Ball’s game. Thanks to a change in shooting mechanics Ball added the one thing his game was missing to be great. Then the bubble happened.
In the bubble, Ball’s averages plummeted and that was one of the biggest reasons for the New Orleans Pelicans failures. Ball dropped from to a mere 6 points per game, cutting his scoring average in half. Part of that was caused by his hot three-point shooting collapsing from 38% to a horrid 19%.
Making the situation worse, Lonzo Ball didn’t seem to care about being in the bubble. The Athletic’s David Aldridge reported that “Lonzo Ball looked like he checked out the whole time the Pels were there”. This was disappointing especially when Ball looked like the team’s franchise point guard going forward.
What Does It Mean For The New Orleans Pelicans’ Future?
Make no mistake, Lonzo Ball being the New Orleans Pelicans’ biggest disappointment is a serious concern for the team going forward. His performance in the bubble can lead to all types of questions for the team’s future.
Is Lonzo Ball mature enough to be the Pelicans’ point guard? Do the Pelicans want Ball on the roster long-term? Those are just two questions that come to mind opening the flood gates for many more.
With other talented youngsters on the team, the New Orleans Pelicans are looking to become perennial contenders in the future. To do that in the modern NBA, the Pelicans are going to need a great lead guard running the show. We all thought Lonzo Ball would be that guard but what if he’s not?
This could be the start of a tidal wave of roster moves for the New Orleans Pelicans this offseason. Lonzo Ball’s failures in the bubble might mean the team will consider investing in another point guard. With the New Orleans Pelicans having such a bright future this is one of the last things Pelicans fans want to hear.
Let’s just hope that being in the uncomfortable bubble environment was the answer for Lonzo Ball’s poor play and that he’ll bounce back next season.