New Orleans Pelicans: Brandon Ingram can cap off superb season in style

Following an outstanding 2019-20 season, New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram has the chance to continue to prove his doubters wrong in Orlando.

With just a week to go until the New Orleans Pelicans resume their regular season campaign in Orlando, there are high hopes for this squad of players, as well as one massive lingering question mark. That is, of course, whether or not Zion Williamson will return to join the team.

Williamson has no current timetable for a return and that is problematic when you consider that the Pelicans have just eight games to turn around a 3.5 game difference between themselves and that all-important eighth spot in the Western Conference standings.

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With a deep roster and plenty of players who are capable of stepping up to the mark, even without Zion a turnaround is very possible. First-year All-Star and front-runner for the Most Improved Player Award Brandon Ingram is more than ready to continue to be the Pelicans’ first option – as he has been for the majority of the year – and he and the rest of the team showed that they’re in good shape with not many signs of rustiness Wednesday night, as they took to the court to play their first exhibition game in Orlando’s bubble.

The Pelicans dismantled a weak Brooklyn Nets team 99-68, as Ingram scored 12 points, shooting 3-of-5 from beyond the arc in just over 10 minutes. Ingram looks like he’s ready to pick up where he left off when the regular season came to a halt, and this will be perhaps the most important factor in the Pelicans’ race to make the playoffs this season.

If the return of Zion does not happen this season, Ingram is the player who knows what he has to do and that won’t be a problem as he and the Pelicans have shown that they can be competitive without Zion for the most part of this season. The 22-year-old wing is averaging 24.3 points per game on the year as well as 6.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per outing. He’s developed his shooting consistency incredibly well and has a true shooting percentage of 59.0 percent for the season, becoming one of the team’s most lethal threats on every level, whilst getting to the line more effectively.

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It’s not like without Zion that Ingram has to step up and do everything alone either. This Pelicans team is solid from the starting line-up all the way down to the end of the bench. The backcourt duo of Jrue Holiday and Lonzo Ball give this team additional scoring and excellent playmaking ability, whilst also giving it a solid basis for stopping the opposing perimeter offense.

Then there are players who have all the tools to step up and make a difference when it matters most down the stretch. Jaxson Hayes has proved to be a very nice player in just his first year and will be vital to this team inside. Josh Hart will also bring that grit and toughness off of the bench, while plenty of three-point scoring threats remain in the rotation as well.

The Pelicans aren’t expected to do anything ridiculous in Orlando, but this is a chance for this young group of players to make a name for themselves. Ingram particularly comes to mind here. Yes, he’s been an All-Star this season and has shown that he has the ability to become a perennial one. However, in Orlando, Brandon Ingram can show his progression on the bigger stage and show that he can be a true leader within this squad of players on and off the ball.

He’s going to be the main guy for the Pelicans and if he can deliver here then he’ll ultimately show that he’s worth that major extension and this season will go down as a very special one for him, as he continues to grow into an elite player in this league.