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[Saba Sports News] The New Orleans Pelicans left some issues unresolved during the preseason, even experimenting with untested lineups in their final game against the Houston Rockets. As they prepare for the regular season opener against Lonzo Ball’s Chicago Bulls, head coach Willie Green is sticking with a similar approach.
Although Brandon Ingram made his preseason debut against the Rockets, Zion Williamson was rested, leaving the Pelicans without a single minute of Ingram, Williamson, and new acquisition Dejounte Murray on the court together during exhibition games.
Despite that, Green is encouraged by Williamson’s improved conditioning and Murray’s leadership as a playmaker. However, the pressure is on Ingram to maintain his focused training camp mentality into the regular season.
“We’re all excited. (Ingram) had a great camp,” Green said. “He’s playing with force, taking more threes, attacking the rim, and getting to the free-throw line. He looks sharp, and it’s reflective of his camp performance. It’s great to have him healthy and playing at a high level.”
Taking more threes is a key focus for Ingram and crucial for the success of New Orleans’ new Big Three. Green emphasized that this aspect of Ingram’s game is vital to unlocking other areas of his play.
While individual improvements matter, Murray highlighted the importance of Ingram fitting into the team dynamic. “He’s 6-foot-8 and can do everything. With his size and skill, we just need to put him in the right spots and let him work. He’s going to draw double teams, which will create open shots for the rest of us,” Murray said.
Despite Ingram shooting 7-of-13 in the preseason finale, his reluctance to take more threes was noticeable. After the 118-98 loss to the Rockets, Green was blunt about the team’s struggles.
“We need to do a better job driving and winning the paint battle,” Green admitted. “We’ll hit our shots, but right now, we’re giving up too much in the paint. Our practices before the season opener will be crucial for addressing these issues.”