New Orleans Pelicans: Game vs. Hawks will answer a lot of questions

New Orleans Pelicans: Who is going to step up for the Pelicans?

One positive thing about injuries is that teams get to see guys who normally wouldn’t play. Every player in the NBA was once the star of the team, so this is a chance for one of them to step up in an expanded role.

So far, that player has been Nickeil Alexander-Walker who has notched 16.3 points and 4.7 rebounds over the last ten games for the Pelicans, most of which were as a replacement for the injured Lonzo Ball.

Now that Lonzo is back and already playing well, NAW needs to show that he can keep this kind of production up in a bench role, as most of his damage this season has come as a starter.

Stan Van Gundy has shown no willingness to bring Eric Bledsoe off the bench, so for now, NAW is going to be the sixth man but he still needs to step up.

Jaxson Hayes has played much better since returning from his benching and he is another guy the Pels desperately need in this game.

Role players like Willy Hernangomez and Naji Marshall have showed some signs in the last game and newcomers James Johnson and Wesley Iwundu have also been good in spurts.

It’s probably going to take a good night from all of them for the New Orleans Pelicans to get a road win, so fans will be keeping an eye on who can seize the moment.