NBA in Threes: Devin Booker drops 40; Lakers are red-hot
By Jade Johnson
New Orleans Pelicans
Teams that aren’t as bad as their records suggest seems to be something of a theme in this installment of NBA in Threes. Along with the New York Knicks, we have the New Orleans Pelicans whose 1-6 record alone doesn’t tell you how much compete this team has or how close they’ve been in the games they’ve lost.
In this matchup against the Brooklyn Nets, each time Brooklyn went on a run an appeared to be about to establish a dominant lead, the Pelicans managed to keep themselves close. With 1:43 to play in the game, Brooklyn’s lead was only five points. But for the Pelicans missing three field goals in a row and the Nets making a three and two free-throws, the ten-point deficit they ended the game with could have been a lot less.
Brandon Ingram had himself a night dropping 40 points on 17 for 24 shooting. That’s 70 percent shooting from the field. With five rebounds, five assists and two steals on the night, if you’re a Pelicans fan knowing that it’s only a matter of time before Zion Williamson is available to play, you have to like those numbers from Ingram.
J.J. Redick took a step toward the shooting number we expect from him after a slow start to the season. He shot 3-4 from long-range on his way to 12 points. His numbers across the board are still well below last season’s averages but it’s good to see him taking a step int he right direction for the Pelicans.
Jrue Holiday is such a problem defensively and against the Nets was no exception. The problem for the Pelicans is that right now, his offensive production is not matching that of the defensive. He shot only 7-17 from the field in this game. So far this season, he’s averaging 14.2 points per game compared to his average of 21.2 last season.
Both Redick and Holiday are going to have to dig deeper offensively if they Pelicans are going to have a record that could allow them to still make the playoffs by the time Williamson gets back.