With 2019 No. 1 pick Zion Williamson sidelined by a hamstring injury, the New Orleans Pelicans have been strained trying to overcome his absence. In 2023-24, Williamson averaged 22.9 points , 5.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. His production is certainly missed by New Orleans. The Pelicans are also unable to replicate his interior dominance. No player on their roster threatens the paint like he does at a listed 284 pounds. Consequently, they find themselves down 3-0 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the First Round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
Brandon Ingram Doesn’t Feel Like ‘Himself’ Ahead of Must-Win Game
However, although Williamson’s injury status has received the most attention, a late season knee injury sustained by Pelicans pillar Brandon Ingram has also held them back.
After posting 20.8 points per game on 49.2 percent shooting from the field in the 2023-24 regular season, Ingram has been limited to 16.3 points per game on 41.5 percent shooting from the field. He’s been lights out from 3, knocking down 40.0 percent of his long-range bombs. Nonetheless, his performances haven’t been nearly stellar enough to get the Pelicans past the hump.
The defensive tenacity of Lu Dort has affected Ingram, who is rarely able to get an uncontested shot off. That said, Ingram also just doesn’t feel quite like himself.
“I feel like I’ve had spurts where I feel good, but not completely…,” Ingram reveals, per The Athletic’s William Guillory, adding that he’s been unhappy with his performance thus far in the playoffs. “I don’t think I’m myself completely.”
“I’ll continue to push forward and try to find mine. But I can’t just worry about myself. I’ve got to worry about my teammates … making sure they’re in rhythm. If they’re in rhythm, they’ll find me in rhythm too.”
To Ingram’s point about playmaking, he’s only dished out seven total assists this series. Yet, in the regular season, he averaged 5.7 assists per game. With the Pelicans —who don’t start a traditional point guard —already missing a key facilitator in Williamson, Ingram’s ability to generate easy points for his teammates is that much more important. In those moments when Oklahoma City is trying to choke his air space, he should be looking for teammates.
“It’s tough, especially when you expect so much more out of yourself,” Ingram says.
“But OKC, they’ve been game planning, trying to take me off the basketball — trying to make me play off the basketball. Being physical, sending different bodies at me. I’ve just got to figure it out. I know it’s not going to be easy, but I’ll continue to keep going and try to figure out ways to be effective.”
He Gives Them Their Best Shot
Fan favorite Trey Murphy III more of a 3-point specialist than on-ball playmaker. Fellow starter Herb Jones is more of a defensive specialist than offensive threat. Larry Nance Jr. has played an auxiliary role throughout his career, more of a connector than takeover player. 31-year-old Jonas Valanciunas has been unable to keep up with the young Thunder. For the second consecutive season, CJ McCollum has shot below 40 percent from the field in the playoffs.
With that said, Ingram has as good of a chance as any player to save them from elimination. Indeed, he may have the best chance. To that point, despite his woeful field goal percentage, his shooting stroke is fine. Ingram just has to create more separation, more consistently.
If he can do that, the Pelicans may live to fight another day.
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