Even with CJ McCollum, the Pelicans are lost without Brandon Ingram

The New Orleans Pelicans and Brandon Ingram can’t catch a break this season.

Every time it seems like the team is about to take off, they are hit with another injury, this one to Brandon Ingram, who has already missed 15 games this season with various ailments.

Ingram has stepped up in the absence of Zion Williamson, taking a bigger leadership role and putting up numbers that should have had him on the All-Star team.

When CJ McCollum arrived, things got a little easier for Ingram, who has thrived with McCollum to far.

The New Orleans Pelicans have somewhat been able to withstand the loss of Zion because of the play of Brandon Ingram, but one thing is for certain this season, they can’t overcome the loss of Ingram.

The New Orleans Pelicans without Brandon Ingram

The Pelicans were rolling before this current two-game road trip, which included a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Nuggets and last night’s drubbing at the hands of the Grizzlies.

CJ McCollum had 32 points and 11 assists, continuing his red-hot play since the trade deadline. But McCollum alone was not enough and the Pelicans were not able to overcome the loss of their leader.

This isn’t surprising, as they have been terrible without him this season.

New Orleans is just 2-13 this season in games without Brandon Ingram and 25-25 in games with him, showing just how valuable he is to the team.

They are a lottery team without him and a possible playoff team with him, so even though they have added CJ McCollum, the Pelicans’ season hinges on Brandon Ingram’s health more than anything.

Ingram is listed as day-to-day and they would love to get him back before they kick off a four-game home stand tonight against the Orlando Magic.