Lonzo Ball Talks 'Difficult Night' for Pelicans After Luka Doncic's Career High
Feb 13, 2021
New Orleans Pelicans' Lonzo Ball (2) defends as Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic (77) handles the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Doncic scored a career-high 46 points and Porzingis added 36 as the pair accounted for more than half the Mavs' total in their shootout victory.
"Luka and Porzingis, that's a tough guard," Ball said. "Either way, if you wanna blitz the ball, then Porzingis is gonna be on the pop. If you wanna play and drop, Luka's gonna get you on his back and do what he wants. If you wanna switch, it's a mismatch. You know, so it's just a difficult night."
The Pelicans had two standout performances of their own as Zion Williamson (36 points) and Brandon Ingram (30) tried to help them keep pace.
New Orleans head coach Stan Van Gundy lamented the team's poor defensive effort as Dallas shot 58 percent from the floor and knocked down 25 three-pointers.
"It's because we're playing abhorrent defense," Van Gundy told reporters. "Our defense is ridiculous. We tried everything tonight. Two games in a row like this is inexcusable for me as a coach, and for the players it's inexcusable."
Meanwhile, the Mavericks are starting to pick up some serious steam with four straight wins while averaging 130.5 points during the streak.
"We got rolling," Doncic said. "That's four in a row. We get paid to win the games, and that's what we're doing right now. We've just got to keep going like this."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QWgxsg9m3A
The Mavs improved to 13-14 with the victory, while the Pelicans dropped to 11-14.
Luka Doncic, Zion Williamson Drop Career Highs as Mavs Outlast Pelicans 143-130
Feb 12, 2021
New Orleans Pelicans' JJ Redick, left, and Josh Hart defend against Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic (77) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Luka Doncic scored a career-high 46 points and Kristaps Porzingis hit eight three-pointers to propel the Dallas Mavericks to a 143-130 home win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday at American Airlines Center.
Doncic added 12 assists and eight rebounds for his near triple-double, and Porzingis finished with 36 points. The Mavericks also combined to make 25 of 45 three-pointers.
Zion Williamson, who made all 10 of his first-half shots en route to 23 points by halftime, also registered a career-high scoring total with 36. Brandon Ingram complemented Williamson's effort with 30 points.
The Mavs led 69-65 at halftime after Porzingis made 7-of-11 three-pointers, including one at the halftime buzzer.
Dallas and New Orleans both crossed 100 points before the third quarter, with the Mavs leading 108-101. However, Dallas used a 15-4 run early in the fourth to help put the game away.
The 13-14 Mavericks won their fourth straight game. The 11-14 Pels dropped their second game in a row.
Notable Performances
Pelicans PF Zion Williamson: 36 points, 4 assists, 2 steals
Pelicans F Brandon Ingram: 30 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds
Mavericks PG Luka Doncic: 46 points, 12 assists, 8 rebounds
Mavericks C Kristaps Porzingis: 36 points, 7 rebounds
Mavericks G Jalen Brunson: 13 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds
Doncic and Porzingis Crush Pelicans
There was no stopping Doncic and Porzingis on Friday evening. It's hard enough to stop a 7'3" big man who can shoot three-pointers from halfcourt logos, but it's another to slow down one of the NBA's best players in Doncic, whose arsenal of moves makes him near-invincible on occasion.
Porzingis was almost unstoppable from deep, starting the Mavs' scoring with a three en route to making four of his first five three-pointers:
Mavs digital content manager Bobby Karalla also posted this mind-boggling stat on Doncic, who had set a career-high in scoring with 43 points just six nights ago:
Doncic and Williamson even managed to make history together:
According to @EliasSports Luka Doncic and Zion Williamson are the 2nd pair of opposing players, each 21 or younger, to both score at least 35 points in the same game in NBA history.
Kevin Durant (46 pts for Thunder) and Eric Gordon (41 pts for Clippers) did this on Jan. 23, 2009 pic.twitter.com/sDc0kobOS2
Williamson was fantastic in his own right, but the Mavs are finally hitting their stride after a slow start to the season hampered by numerous absences.
Doncic and Porzingis are primarily to thank for that resurgence, and now the Mavs will look to continue their hot streak as the end of the NBA's first half approaches.
Zion Perfect in 1st Half; Ingram Posts 30 Points
It wasn't meant to be for the Pels on Friday, but the Ingram-Wiliamson combination had a great day of their own, scoring 24 combined points in the first quarter:
As for Ingram, the ex-Los Angeles Laker slowed down a bit after a hot first quarter, but he still excelled overall. He got things going with a pair of threes early on:
The fourth quarter belonged to the Mavs, as the Pels' defense scuffled for the second straight game after allowing a combined 76 points to Zach LaVine and Coby White in a 129-116 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
But the future is still bright in New Orleans thanks to Williamson and Ingram, who form one of the game's most exciting and explosive young duos.
What's Next?
Dallas will stay home to host the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET. New Orleans will visit the Detroit Pistons on Sunday at 7 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena.
Zion Williamson, Lonzo Ball Lead Pelicans to Blowout Win vs. John Wall, Rockets
Feb 9, 2021
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) shoots a free throw against the Memphis Grizzlies in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Derick Hingle)
A day after the Houston Rockets were bodied by LaMelo Ball's 24-point performance, another member of the Ball family asserted his dominance when Lonzo Ball and the Pelicans defeated the Rockets, 130-101, in New Orleans on Tuesday.
For the Pelicans, seven different players scored in double digits, but 22 points from Brandon Ingram propelled New Orleans, which improved to 11-12 with the victory and is on a four-game winning streak.
For the Rockets, who have dropped four of their last five games, John Wall posted 25 points.
Notable Performers
John Wall, Rockets: 25 PTS, 6 AST, 4 REB
Eric Gordon, Rockets: 23 PTS, 3 AST
Josh Hart, Pelicans: 20 PTS, 17 REB
Brandon Ingram, Pelicans: 22 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST
Zion Williamson, Pelicans: 20 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST
Rockets Struggle Without Their Stars
Less than two weeks ago, the Rockets pummeled the Pelicans 126-112. But Houston entered Tuesday's battle against New Orleans without that night's two most productive players.
Back on Jan. 30, Christian Wood dropped 27 points and tallied nine rebounds, but he hasn't played since Feb. 4 and is week-to-week with a right ankle sprain. Victor Oladipo, who had 20 points in the January win, was resting Tuesday after netting 21 points with seven assists and six rebounds against Charlotte on Monday.
Eric Gordon and John Wall played after missing out on a dismal outing in Charlotte, where the Rockets were limited to seven points in the fourth quarter, and they were seemingly the only players on the court in the first half for the Rockets.
Wall posted 16 points and Gordon added 15, but Danuel House Jr. was the team's third-leading scorer with just seven points. Of the five other players who grabbed points for Houston heading into the half, four of them only had two points each.
Rockets keeping it tight, down 3 with Ball heading to line. But while Pels are 10 of 10 on FTs, Rockets 4 of 10. Have allowed 8 2nd-chance points midway through 2nd. Tough to win on the road without Wood, Oladipo if Rockets keep giving away points, allowing second shots.
After trailing at the break, the Rockets had a massive third quarter to move from a 20-point deficit to within eight points of the lead, but they couldn't pull it together to overtake the Pelicans.
Pelicans 92, Rockets 81 after 3. Rockets made a good run from down 20 to within eight but made 1 of last 5 3s, missing some great looks. Wall with 25p, 6a. Season high is 28. House provided a nice lift but just 1 of 5 on 3s.
While it was another miserable showing, the Rockets played without at least one of their top players for the second straight night.
The absence of Oladipo tonight, similarly to Gordon and Wall on Monday, was just an opportunity to get some rest, but with Wood sidelined, the Rockets will continue to have a minimally depleted roster. This stretch of games proves that it would be in their best interests to find more balanced depth to back up their stars, so close losses don't become blowouts.
Balanced Attack Benefits Pelicans
Amid much of their recent success, the Pelicans have looked to Brandon Ingram.
The star had averaged 25.6 points in the Pelicans' eight games leading into Tuesday and collected at least 27 in five of those outings—including in New Orleans' last game, on Saturday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
That night, Ingram posted 27 points to go with 29 from Zion Williamson in the 118-109 victory.
But on Tuesday, everyone on the roster contributed to put the game all but out of reach for the Rockets at the break.
The Pelicans pulled out to a 63-50 lead at the break, using a 17-0 run in the final four minutes of the half to break away from a 44-43 score and take a 13-point lead into halftime.
At the break, Josh Hart was the leader with 12 points, five of which came on one possession as he was fouled on a layup, grabbed the rebound off his missed free throw and then made the free throw on the ensuing foul from his made shot.
Williamson played just seven minutes in the first half when he got into foul trouble, but in his limited time he tallied 10 points and four assists, ending the night with 20 points in 21 minutes.
Leading by 13 at halftime when Zion played 7 minutes is a pretty big win.
Hart ended the night with an impressive 20 points, while Ball tacked on 15. Even rookie Kira Lewis Jr. got in on the double-digit action, with 10 points in 20 minutes.
Currently with 16 rebounds, Josh Hart has set a franchise mark for rebounds in a game by a guard, surpassing the mark of 15, also by Hart, and Elfrid Payton. #WontBowDown
On a roster that typically can rely on a specific duo of stars, the entire squad showed up to dominate Houston.
What's Next?
The Pelicans are back in action Wednesday when they travel to Chicago for a 9 p.m. ET tipoff against the Bulls at United Center.
Houston returns home, with a day off before a Thursday matchup against the Miami Heat at 7:30 p.m.
Eric Bledsoe Compares Zion Williamson's Play in Restricted Area to Giannis
Feb 5, 2021
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) shoots over Phoenix Suns guard Langston Galloway (2) and forward Frank Kaminsky (8) in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Derick Hingle)
New Orleans Pelicans point guard Eric Bledsoe played with reigning two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on the Milwaukee Bucks for nearly three full seasons before being traded to the Pels.
On Friday, he compared the talents of Antetokounmpo and Zion Williamson, who is having a fantastic sophomore season for the Pelicans in part because of his work in the restricted area.
"I've played with one other player that has done that," Bledsoe said in reference to Williamson's efforts, per Christian Clark of NOLA.com. "That's Giannis."
In the past 9 games, Zion is averaging 25.9 ppg on 64.7% shooting. He's converting buckets at a 67% rate in the restricted area.
"I’ve played with one other player that has done that," Eric Bledsoe said. "That’s Giannis." pic.twitter.com/bAauNiKA04
Williamson is only 43 games into his NBA career, but he's averaged 23.0 points on 58.8 percent shooting, 6.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 30.0 minutes per game.
The ex-Duke star makes his home at the rim, where he's taken 204 of his 298 field-goal attempts this season while hitting 65.7 percent of those shots.
Antetokounmpo has a broader range at this stage of his career, with 52.3 percent of his shots occurring away from the rim. Like Williamson, though, Antetokounmpo is incredible down low, converting on an eye-popping 83.3 percent of his shots at the rim.
Antetokounmpo dominated the Pels in a matchup last Friday, posting 38 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. However, Zion's Pelicans got the last laugh with a 131-126 win thanks in part to a 21-point, nine-rebound, seven-assist effort from Williamson.
This is a weird NBA season. The turnaround between campaigns was shorter than usual. Players are essentially quarantined on road trips. They're required to wear masks on the bench...
Zion Williamson, Lonzo Ball Electric as Pelicans Cruise Past Devin Booker, Suns
Feb 3, 2021
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) dunks over Phoenix Suns forward Frank Kaminsky (8) in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Derick Hingle)
The New Orleans Pelicans finally got their second win against a Western Conference foe in 2021.
New Orleans snapped a two-game losing streak with a 123-101 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Wednesday's showdown at Smoothie King Center. Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball led the way for the victors, who were just 1-8 against Western Conference teams since Dec. 31 until they improved to 8-12 on the season with this win.
A solid showing from Devin Booker was not enough for the Suns, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end as they fell to 11-9 on the campaign.
Zion Williamson Leads Balanced, Dominant Effort for Pelicans
There haven't been many positives for the Pelicans this season, but Williamson has been a bright spot.
The 2019 No. 1 overall pick is playing more minutes than he did as a rookie, and he looks like a franchise cornerstone in the making. His dominance was on full display out of the gates Wednesday, as he poured in 15 points in the first quarter and 19 points by halftime while battling for boards as well.
Phoenix had no answer for his explosiveness and physicality around the rim, and the Duke product overpowered his way to his spots and carried the Pelicans offense for extended stretches.
It was the Zion show early, but New Orleans seized control and extended its lead to double digits in the third quarter when everyone else got involved. Ingram unleashed his smooth mid-range shot and got to the line while attacking the basket, Ball started draining three-pointers, and Steven Adams battled for offensive boards to keep possessions alive.
Williamson mixed in a three-pointer and alley-oop slam for good measure as the Pelicans played with the type of balanced offense that they've lacked at times this season.
The pattern continued in the fourth with Josh Hart and JJ Redick providing a boost off the bench, hot shooting from the usual suspects and Williamson adding yet another highlight dunk off a lob.
On Wednesday, the Pelicans looked like a team that could climb back into the playoff picture. They have two go-to options in Williamson and Ingram and a supporting cast with veteran talent and young playmakers.
If their victory over the Suns was any indication, they will make some noise as the 2020-21 campaign continues.
Outside Shooting Goes Missing for Suns in Defeat
The Suns are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign, and playoff teams work through adversity. That is exactly what they did when Booker missed four games prior to his return Monday.
Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul combined for five double-doubles in Booker's absence, and they turned things up a notch when he returned for the win over the Dallas Mavericks. Paul just missed a triple-double with 34 points, nine assists and nine rebounds, while Ayton finished with 10 points and 17 rebounds.
Paul and Ayton underscored the offensive versatility of a Suns team that is not solely reliant on Booker, and Phoenix needed that versatility Wednesday when it shot an abysmal 4-of-21 from deep in the first half.
The bucket that passed Thunder Dan for 10th all-time in Suns career points #BeLegendary
Despite those shooting struggles, the Suns were down only two at halftime. Paul and the guards started to work the ball down low to Ayton, and the entire team locked in defensively to prevent the Pelicans from creating too much separation in the midst of their cold shooting.
Perhaps sensing the need for more offense, Booker started seeking out his shot in the third quarter with timely drives and jumpers in the lane even though his three-pointers weren't falling.
However, the defense that kept the Suns within striking distance in the first half went missing after the intermission. They allowed 40 points in the third quarter and fell behind by more than 20 in the opening minutes of the fourth.
Along with the abysmal outside shooting (8-of-35 from deep), that was a recipe for a blowout loss.
What's Next?
Both teams are in action Friday when the Suns host the Detroit Pistons and the Pelicans travel to face the Indiana Pacers.
Lonzo Ball, Zion Williamson Help Pelicans Hold off Bucks' Rally Led by Giannis
Jan 29, 2021
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) shoots over Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton (24) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
The Milwaukee Bucks suffered an upset loss against the New Orleans Pelicans 131-126 at Smoothie King Center on Friday.
The second leg of Milwaukee's three-game road trip saw the Bucks (11-7) miss out on their third three-game win streak this season despite a 38-pointeffort from reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. It just wasn't enough to overpower Zion Williamson and the Pelicans (7-10).
Lonzo Ball made his return to the Pels' lineup after exiting early in a win over the Washington Wizards with an ankle injury Wednesday. The point guard, who's been the subject of trade rumors lately, tested out his movement during warmups before the team made a determination on his status.
New Orleans has now won three of its last six but remains in last place in the Southwest Division.
Notable Performers
Zion Williamson, PF, New Orleans Pelicans: 21 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists (career high)
One game after suffering an ankle injury—and two games after his name began popping up in trade rumors—Lonzo Ball gave the Pelicans all the justification they needed not to move the point guard.
After spending the day as a game-time decision, Ball put together a career performance and helped deliver New Orleans' biggest win of the year. Behind a lights-out shooting performance from Ball, the Pelicans built a 23-point halftime lead on the second-best team in the East.
According toESPN Stats & Info, Friday tied the largest halftime deficit the Bucks had faced under head coach Mike Budenholzer.
Adding to the sting was a hot start from former Bucks star Eric Bledsoe, who Milwaukee sent to New Orleans just before training camps opened up this year.
Bledsoe poured in 11 points early in the first quarter, nailing five three-pointers before halftime and tying his season-high in scoring before the third quarter even began.
On the rare occasion the Pels missed, Steven Adams was there to grab the rebound, finishing the night with an astounding 20 boards and four points.
The evening provided a glimpse of what New Orleans could look like when everyone is clicking. Consistent shooting from the backcourt stretched out Milwaukee's defense, leaving plenty of space for Williamson and Brandon Ingram (28 points) to operate on the wings while Adams stole a few extra possessions in the paint.
It may take head coach Stan Van Gundy awhile longer before nights like these become the norm, but there's no doubt the Pelicans are getting stronger in Year 2 of the Zion era.
The low point for Milwaukee came four minutes into the second half Friday.
After the Pels opened up the third quarter with back-to-back wide-open threes from Ball, Budenholzer had to use two timeouts in quick succession to ensure he could keep his club in the game. At that point, the Bucks were down 29 points.
But Budenholzer didn't pull the plug on trying to eke out a win. He instead walked over to Antetokoumpo, gave his star player a pep talk and watched as he took over the remainder of the game.
Antetokoumpo scored 12 points in the third quarter after netting just nine points in the first half. His change of pace while driving into the lane, along with a few pump fakes, kept getting defenders to overcommit and give up uncontested shots at the rim.
Soon, Antetokoumpo's teammates began getting extra space to create, leading the Greek Freak to get the rest of the lineup involved in a major way.
The 81 points scored by the Bucks in the second half were tied for the most by any team in a loss in the last 35 seasons, perESPN Stats & Info. On multiple occasions, Milwaukee was able to cut the lead to single digits, but the biggest impediment to the comeback quickly became the clock.
With a few more minutes in this one, maybe the Bucks end up pulling off the win. Instead, they leave New Orleans with a lesson that no lead is safe when the team buys in, especially if Antetokoumpo is the one doing the selling.
What's Next
Milwaukee wraps up its road trip against the Charlotte Hornets at 8 p.m ET on Saturday before returning home to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday at 8 p.m. ET. The Pelicans remain at home for another three games as the surging Houston Rockets visit New Orleans on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.
Now over a month into the season, we're still seeing plenty of upsets and parity as the short layoff and the league's health and safety protocols produce bizarre results on a nightly basis...
How the New Orleans Pelicans Became the NBA's Biggest Disappointment
Jan 27, 2021
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) sits on the bench during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Unprecedented circumstances both on and off the court have led to a number of disarming developments to start the 2020-21 NBA season. Letdowns, in particular, have become unsettlingly easy to identify.
And no team, to this point, has been a larger disappointment than the New Orleans Pelicans.
That much isn't up for debate even when weighing alternatives like the Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors. Even after trading Jrue Holiday to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Pelicans were billed as, at the bare minimum, a play-in candidate.
They still might be. Angling for a top-10 spot lends itself to a greater margin for error, and nobody in the middle of the Western Conference is running away with anything.
New Orleans is still whiffing by those standards. It has lost eight of nine games and currently sits 14th in the Western Conference with a defense that ranks 25th in points allowed per possession (outside garbage time) despite a strong beginning to the year.
The Pelicans themselves appear to be acknowledging their precarious situation by contemplating change. Both Lonzo Ball and JJ Redick are considered gettable for other teams around the league, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. This does not amount to a full-tilt fire sale, but it does hint at a level of resignation, an admission that something's not right and the current core, to a T, isn't worth preserving.
Every single player not named Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson should be available.
The most obvious trade candidates are obviously Ball and Redick (and Bledsoe if he can be moved), but no one else has shown they’re long-term core pieces at this point. https://t.co/cEmGB3J0DK
Less certain than New Orleans' discouraging start is the root cause and whether it has the immediate ability to turn it around. The West's standings may be more forgiving during the play-in era, but the Pelicans' short-term position is fuzzy at best. More than that, their long-term trajectory is difficult to discern beyond "Well, Zion Williamson exists, and Brandon Ingram is averaging 23.3 points and 4.6 assists."
Fickle roster construction feels like the biggest catalyst for their onset trudge. It bleeds through on both paper and the court, an issue so obvious that failing to avoid it, let alone the decision to actively accentuate it, betrays conventional wisdom.
The Pelicans have essentially taken the most dangerous downhill threat in the league, Zion, and surrounded him with minimal shooting. He ranks second in field goals made inside three feet, behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo, and it still seems like he's not afforded enough runway.
Steven Adams is the natural point of emphasis. Zion has always profiled as a 5 on offense. New Orleans should have found a rim protector who spaces the floor rather than traded for—and then extended—someone who doesn't typically stretch the defense beyond floater range except when he's setting high screens.
Solid logic? Sure. But it's not exactly practical. Floor-spacing rim protectors are impossibly hard to find. A bunch of Myles Turners weren't up for grabs over the offseason. It is important to view Adams' addition through that scope of potential alternatives, of which there were few. (This isn't me getting holier-than-though atop a soapbox. I wasn't a fan of the Adams trade or extension.)
Quibble over the price point (two years, $35 million) if you must, but what else were the Pelicans supposed to do?
Bring back Derrick Favors? Go after Aron Baynes? Robin Lopez? Lean into Zion-at-the-5 lineups full-time and risk exposing (and exhausting) him on defense even more when he doesn't yet seem equipped to cover the ground to which he's already assigned? Commit to more of the super-young Jaxson Hayes when they already have one 20-year-old starting up front?
Pretty much every viable substitute scenario—remember: New Orleans is not a hot free-agency destination—would've still included playing Zion beside another non-shooter. Things might be worse next to someone else. The Pelicans are a decided net negative at both ends with Adams and Zion on the court, but no more so than they are overall. The team is also knocking down 37 percent of its threes during those reps.
Outside shooting isn't necessarily the standard at the center position anyway. Increasingly common and desirable is not akin to an established normal. Positions at which players are supposed to space the floor are burning the Pelicans more.
Zion doesn't really take threes, and nearly everyone else is failing to make an appropriate dent. New Orleans has one player who ranks better than the league average in both three-point-attempt frequency and efficiency.
And it's Eric Bledsoe.
This problem isn't going away. Certain players are shooting better in recent weeks. Josh Hart is at 45.5 percent from long range over his last seven appearances. Redick (30.0 percent on the season) will eventually drop in more of his triples.
But the Pelicans aren't flush with players working their way through ruts. Lonzo has always ridden wild swings. His 29.1 percent clip might stick. Nicolo Melli is a stretch big only in theory (and not exactly a rotation staple right now). Bledsoe might actually be due for regression.
New Orleans is not hiding any spot-up-shooting wings on its bench. It is not built to significantly improve upon its No. 25 placement in three-point frequency and No. 29 ranking in efficiency from beyond the rainbow.
Iffy spacing is only compounded by the guard rotation. Playing Bledsoe and Lonzo together is something more than awkward. Neither is an especially dangerous threat away from the ball, and both of their games are solvable in the half-court.
Lonzo is an especially polarizing ingredient as a playmaker not ideally wired to initiate offense against set defenses.
The Pelicans' half-court efficiency rises with him in the game, but he lacks the bandwidth to consistently break things down without a head of steam and injects predictability into his possessions by not hunting his own shot. Only a third of his drives have ended in a field-goal attempt. He's shooting 33.3 percent in those situations—a bottom-12 mark among 156 players with at least 20 such looks.
The Pelicans aren't doing Lonzo any favors. Not only does he overlap with Bledsoe and need to navigate shoddy spacing, but the team also appears intent on funneling its offense through Ingram. He runs more pick-and-rolls than anyone else by a mile. Lonzo ranks fourth, also trailing Bledsoe and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
More shots than points update:
Dillon Brooks: 206-197 Anthony Edwards: 182-163 Cole Anthony: 170-163 Darius Bazeley: 145-145 Lonzo Ball: 134-133 Tyus Jones: 112-109 Aaron Holiday: 106-95 Robert Covington: 102-93
Spending so much time in the half-court at all only complicates matters for Lonzo. The Pelicans are 23rd in average possession time after ranking third last year, according to Impredictable. They log less time in transition with Lonzo on the court.
Criticism works both ways. Lonzo doesn't project as the best point guard for this roster. The Pelicans need someone who can put more pressure on set defenses. Maybe that's Alexander-Walker. Or Kira Lewis Jr. It isn't Lonzo.
At the same time, they're not doing nearly enough to optimize him. They've cannonballed into more of Ingram—his average time of possession has spiked since last season—and methodical possessions at the expense of Lonzo.
Moving him won't solve everything. It may not resolve anything other than the big-picture cap sheet. His trade value won't be high as a soon-to-be restricted free agent slogging through a down offensive season, and it's not like the Pelicans are much better without him. They're getting blasted at both ends when he sits. His absence would only compromise a defense that's 29th in points allowed per possession during this eight-losses-in-nine-games skid.
Blame for the Pelicans' current position cannot be ascribed to any one player. It doesn't even fall solely with head coach Stan Van Gundy or executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin.
Could Van Gundy have his team play faster? Try to allow fewer threes? Sure. Could Griffin have prioritized better fits around Zion and Ingram over the offseason? Fleshed out a bench so it wouldn't allow opponents to shoot 71.8 percent at the rim when Adams is catching a breather? Absolutely.
Mostly, it feels like the Pelicans are navigating what was unavoidable and missing on expectations that never should've existed in the first place.
For all the talent on this roster, they are still closer to rebuilding than not. They just shipped out Holiday, their best player. Zion has yet to play 40 career games and is learning the self-creation ropes. This year, 41.1 percent of his made baskets are going unassisted, up from 23.8 percent as a rookie. Alexander-Walker is 22 and just starting to get regular run.
Ingram is only 23 himself, and this is just his second season being treated as the guy on offense. Lonzo is also 23 and was a roller-coaster ride before he arrived. Hayes is 20. Lewis is 19. New Orleans doesn't have any wing prospects. Ingram and Hart (25) have aged out of that designation, and they aren't enough on their own. The awkward fit between so many key players adds to the combustibility.
Somehow, though, the Pelicans' timeline has been implicitly accelerated. It isn't anyone's fault, at least not directly. Zion is already a dominant offensive player. The Pelicans have already maxed out Ingram. They've paid Adams. Lonzo and Hart (restricted) are nearing free agency.
Name recognition and investments, both upcoming and incumbent, have fueled urgency—exigency the Pelicans aren't yet polished enough to handle. They know it, too. The rumor mill isn't starting to churn at this stage, almost a quarter of the way through the season, by accident.
There is inherent danger in making any drastic decisions now. This season is nothing if not the enemy of information.
Games are being postponed. Players are exiting and entering the NBA's health and safety protocols amid the coronavirus pandemic and missing time. Training camps were almost nonexistent. The Pelicans have a different head coach. This year is basically an extension of Zion's rookie season after he played in just 24 games during the 2019-20 campaign.
So much is new—and broken. It makes drawing profound conclusions hard.
But the Pelicans have seen enough to know that what's currently in place won't work and that they have little business treating the stakes of this season as their top priority—assuming they ever were.
Dan Favale covers theNBAfor Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter (@danfavale), and listen to hisHardwood Knockspodcast, co-hosted by B/R's Adam Fromal.
Donovan Mitchell Shines with 36 Points as Jazz Down Zion Williamson, Pelicans
Jan 22, 2021
New Orleans Pelicans center Steven Adams (12) defends against Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The New Orleans Pelicans were no match for the red-hot Utah Jazz this week.
Utah defeated the Pelicans 129-118 in Thursday's rematch at Vivint Smart Home Arena a mere two days after it won the same matchup by 16 points. Donovan Mitchell led the way in the latest effort with a brilliant performance, helping the Jazz improve to 11-4 on the season with their seventh consecutive win.
New Orleans is free-falling and dropped to 5-9 overall and 1-7 in its last eight games despite a solid showing from Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
It's been the Mitchell show for the Jazz during their recent stretch of success.
He scored 26 or more points in five of his previous six games, including the 28 he scored in Tuesday's win against the Pelicans. It was more of the same out of the gates Thursday, as the Louisville product put up 13 points in the first quarter while connecting on three triples and breaking Nickeil Alexander-Walker's ankles on an assist.
It wasn't all Mitchell, as Jordan Clarkson and Georges Niang provided a spark off the bench while Bojan Bogdanovic got to the line by aggressively attacking the lane as Utah overcame an early double-digit deficit with impressive offensive efficiency.
Mitchell got into the act again right before halftime with an and-1 and three-pointer on back-to-back plays, and Utah took the lead into the half.
Halftime did nothing to cool him off, as he unleashed runners in the lane, drilled multiple triples and then whipped a perfect crosscourt one-handed pass to Royce O'Neale for a three when the defense collapsed on his ball-handling.
It was an offensive clinic that clearly frustrated the other side, and Pelicans head coach Stan Van Gundy was ejected in that third quarter for picking up a second technical foul. Throw in Jordan Clarkson carrying the offense for stretches when Mitchell was on the bench, and it seemed as if the Jazz couldn't be stopped.
Utah ended up with fiveplayers in double figures, as Mike Conley mixed in some floaters while setting up teammates, and Rudy Gobert completed a double-double by patrolling the paint. If the supporting cast continues to play well and Mitchell's hot streak is a sign of things to come, the Jazz could be legitimate threats in the Western Conference.
Brandon Ingram's Start, Zion's Performance Not Enough for Pelicans
The Pelicans were abysmal beyond the arc in Tuesday's loss at 6-of-26, which is a major reason they lost even with Williamson pouring in 32 points in a dominant offensive performance.
Ingram was clearly in no mood for a repeat performance from his team and went 4-of-4 from deep while pouring in 16 points in the first quarter alone. New Orleans made eight triples during that opening quarter, setting the tone with an offensive blitz that was missing in the previous loss.
The shooting was also key because it prevented the Jazz from sagging too many defenders into the lane when Williamson had the ball.
For as encouraging as the start was on the offensive side, the defense was nowhere to be found. That allowed the Jazz to overcome Ingram's blistering start and take the lead into intermission, which was surely discouraging for the Pelicans after playing at such a higher level on one end of the floor.
That defense had no answer for Mitchell, and New Orleans fell behind by double digits when Ingram was unable to maintain his initial pace throughout the middle portion of the game.
Williamson kept the visitors within striking distance by overpowering most of the defenders Utah threw at him, but they needed more firepower to counter their own defensive shortcomings and even the secondary scorers around Mitchell.
It was missing after the opening quarter, and the Pelicans' descent down the standings continued.
What's Next?
Both teams are in action Saturday when the Jazz host the Golden State Warriors and the Pelicans travel to face the Minnesota Timberwolves.
