New Orleans Pelicans: 3 Concerns for A Potential Bubble in 2021

Lonzo Ball is the New Orleans Pelicans top concern after seeing his bubble performances in 2020

Concern #1- Lonzo Ball

If I’m running the New Orleans Pelicans, and I hear about a potential bubble for the 2021 season, I instantly get concerns about Lonzo Ball. After a breakout season in New Orleans, Ball’s game completely fell apart in the NBA bubble.

To put things in perspective, Lonzo Ball was on a tear before the season went on hiatus. The third-year point was averaging 20 points a game along with 8 rebounds and 8 assists per game on 51 percent shooting from three in the month before the season’s hiatus.

In the NBA bubble, Ball’s game began tailing off dramatically! The effects were specifically in his scoring and shooting approach. Lonzo Ball dropped down to a mere 5 points a game on a horrendous 19 percent shooting stroke from deep.

The drop was bad, but Lonzo Ball’s attitude was even worse. That’s why we recently awarded him as the Pelicans’ biggest disappointment in the bubble. Ball hated playing in the bubble according to all reports and that caused him to play passively.

If the Pelicans have to play the 2021 season in the bubble then they’re going to need to get Lonzo Ball onboard. I understand that a bubble atmosphere isn’t ideal for a player’s mental health but there needs to be a way for the Pelicans to support Lonzo Ball so he plays better.