New Orleans Pelicans: Grades for the loss to the Lakers, including SVG

New Orleans Pelicans vs. LA Lakers: Player Grades for the small forwards

Small Forwards

Brandon Ingram came out on fire against the Lakers and it looked like he was going to have a big night, but like most of the Pelicans, he disappeared in the second half.

Ingram has been in a tough position the last few games, as he is being asked to carry the scoring load with Lonzo Ball and Zion Williamson missing time.

Ingram forced a few shots out of isolation sets once again, something that SVG likes to go to when the Pelicans are short on offense.

It hasn’t been working lately, as teams are just doubling onto Ingram and daring anyone else to shoot the ball. Ingram tried to force it a few times and had some of the worst turnovers I’ve ever seen him have, throwing the ball to no one and ending the night with another four overall.

Ingram and Zion are left to carry an offense full of cold shooters who mostly stand around the 3-point line.

SVG needs to add some new wrinkles to this offense so that Ingram can get better looks and not have to take every shot with three guys hanging off of him.

SIDE NOTE: What does Ingram have to do to get a whistle? He was egregiously hacked all night and shot exactly ONE FREE THROW. On one play I counted four different Lakers that fouled Ingram on the way to the hoop.

I’m not blaming the refs for the loss, the Pels handled that on their own with 20 turnovers, but when one team shoots 26 free throws and one team shoots 8, something isn’t right, sorry.