Having a sensational rookie like Zion Williamson is not a sure ticket to the NBA playoffs and the New Orleans Pelicans proved this as true. The team exited from the Orlando bubble early although the dismal showing was partly his fault, as admitted by Lonzo Ball.
Following the Pelicans' elimination, Ball spoke with the media owned up to the far from impressive basketball he brought with him in the bubble city. The playmaker said his team disappointed and it's only fair to point to him a part of the blame.
"I feel like I let the team down ... I know I'm a big part of it. Usually, when I play well, we win. Obviously, I didn't play well this trip. We're going home early, and I have to live with that," Fadeaway World reported the 22-year-old as saying.
His admission appeared to sync with the observation that Ball was not totally with his team's trip to Florida. The player was physically present but the mindset is a scattershot at best.
The reports from the ground indicated that Ball was a flop. His perimeter shooting was atrocious and it's the same thing for his free throws, sinking just over half of the attempts he made from the line.
The starting guard was just unreliable in the bubble and NBC Sports reported that Ball could be in danger getting the ax. His overall performance in Orlando was thought to be out of character.
"People down in Orlando tell me Lonzo Ball looked like he'd checked out the whole time the Pels were there, and that they expect some significant roster adjustments in New Orleans before next season," the report quoted David Aldridge of The Athletic as saying.
Now it is understandable for the Pelicans to make changes in the offseason for better luck in the upcoming campaigns. And if Ball would be among those who will be moved out, his missteps in the season were to be the bases for New Orleans' next move.
However, Clutch Points said trading Ball in the offseason would be "a grave mistake." One thing that pulls down the player is the false expectation that Ball should be making the jumpers in tons. But really, Ball's strength on the floor is his intelligence play, his propensity to spot the open man and make the pass instead of bringing the ball to the basket, the report added.
Ball is more of a floor operator that creates a situation for his teammates. And he can take care of the defense too, which should tell that his usefulness manifests on both ends of the court.
For the Pelicans, Ball is an asset mainly because he makes things happen for Williamson and Brandon Ingram. He is a point guard and his big size alone gives him an advantage for optimal and effective maneuvering. These qualities, the report, should convince the Pelicans that Ball is far from being a liability.
