New Orleans Pelicans: Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson are the key to future

The New Orleans Pelicans are young and they have to learn to play together. The two main pieces of Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson have to work together.

Team chemistry is fragile. For the New Orleans Pelicans chemistry means everything for a young team striving for a playoff berth. The 2019-20 NBA season was a learning experience for the Pelicans. This team is young so every time on the court together is precious.

They got the opportunity to play in Orlando and that may pay off dividends for next year. While their time there wasn’t the best this team needs to play together. The New Orleans Pelicans do have important pieces. There’s Jrue Holiday and Lonzo Ball. Then there’s J.J. Redick and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

The two treasures are Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. Both these players are the players that will take this team to another level. Ingram can take over games with his shot-creating ability. His ability to dominate one-on-one demoralized teams. He averaged 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists in a Most Improved Player award bid. He was also efficient from the field, shooting 39.1 percent from three and 46.3 percent from the field.

Williamson has the ability to get a bucket with force. He can overpower defenses and his high flying ability impacts games drastically. Zion averaged 22.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last year. Without a reliable jump shot, he was able to dominate in his rookie year.

The future is bright for both stars. Ingram made an All-Star team last year and Williamson showed he will dominate the NBA landscape for years to come.

How Ingram and Zion can dominate for the New Orleans Pelicans

Playing together is key. Both players are forwards and their playing style is different. When you try and see how these players will play together you have to think about their strengths. Ingram can shoot. Williamson can dominate around the rim.

They need Ingram to shoot on the perimeter and Williamson to grab the boards. An inside-outside game is ideal for New Orleans. Williamson is not a seven-footer but he still dominates games with his physical style. A traditional big man-win player two-man game won’t work.

Ingram needs to be on one wing and Williamson on another. Ingram has the freedom to create and Williamson can crash boards and drive. Both players are young and talented. If they learn how to play together then New Orleans will be able to finally make it to the playoffs.

The 2020-21 NBA season is being overshadowed by the epidemic that we are currently under. Teams like the Pelicans that need to develop young stars will not have the ability to do so as they normally would.

The name of the game for the coming season will a matter of trying to get crucial pieces to play well and win as much as possible. The Orlando bubble was great for the team to be able to get some games in before next season starts.

Williamson was hurt for most of last season and Ingram changed his career with incredible development steps. This season both players have to coexist. The Pelicans have to make sure they create space on the floor for the two players. They should be able to average 20 points per game each because their games don’t conflict.

The Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram pair is destined for greatness. In an era of duos, this tandem is the one to watch out for in terms of the rising stars. Look out for New Orleans.