New Orleans Pelicans: Grades for 118-116 OT loss to the Pacers
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Indiana Pacers: Player Grades for the small forwards
Small Forwards
B. . Small Forward. New Orleans Pelicans. BRANDON INGRAM
Brandon Ingram had 31 points but it came on 31 shots and it looked like he was gassed down the stretch after carrying the team offensively.
Ingram is a special talent and turning into one of the best late-game closers in the NBA but he cannot be the only option in close games.
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After the Pelicans got a ten-point lead and looked like they were going to run away with it, they stopped running an offense and just went to Ingram isolations, which led to no ball movement and very difficult shots for Ingram.
He can make them and ultimately, this is his team right now, but the Pels can’t keep taking their foot off the gas late in games and going away from their offensive sets in favor of All-Ingram.
The Pels have Zion Williamson, a guy who can create high-percentage shots for himself. They have Lonzo Ball, who can get into the lane and find open shooters. They don’t have to play hero ball at the end of games and it cost them against the Pacers.