CJ McCollum is unlocking Brandon Ingram’s game for the Pelicans

When CJ McCollum joined the New Orleans Pelicans, there were some concerns about how he would ultimately fit with Brandon Ingram.

Whatever worries there were are now gone, as Ingram has thrived since the addition of McCollum, averaging 22.4 points, 5.9 assists and 5.3 rebounds in those 10 games.

But that doesn’t really tell the whole story.

We knew it would take some time for the two to gel, as they didn’t have any practice time before McCollum was thrust into the starting lineup at the trade deadline.

Ingram deferred to McCollum early on, took fewer shots and acted more as a facilitator as he tried to get his new teammate acclimated, so he had a few quiet games when CJ first joined the team.

But the last five games have all been about Ingram, whose game has been unlocked by the presence of CJ McCollum.

New Orleans Pelicans: Brandon Ingram is taking off

In the last five games, Ingram has averaged 29.4 points, 7.6 assists and 5.6 rebounds, reminding everyone of the kind of talent he has and that he probably should have been chosen for the All-Star team.

We thought Ingram would be working with a dynamic scoring partner this season, we just thought it would be Zion Williamson, who took one step closer to returning in the most recent Pels’ injury news.

Instead it has been CJ McCollum, and his presence alone has opened up the court for Ingram, who thrives in the mid-range space created by McCollum’s threat from behind the arc.

Ingram can shoot over just about any defender in the mid-range, so defenses have to decide whether to commit another guy to him, which is tough to do when he and McCollum are in a two-man game.

The Pels can just get BI to his spot in the mid-range and if CJ’s man comes to double he passes out of it, and if he doesn’t, he shoots over his guy.

It’s simple but effective basketball, and when this team is at full strength they are going to be a nightmare for opposing defenses, who will have to choose their poison against multiple guys who will demand double teams.