Ingram’s return doesn’t change the Pelicans’ bad dynamic

Short of Zion Williamson, well it’s a Brandon Ingram. That’s what the Pelicans would think before this meeting with the Timberwolves. The two main players were out until today, when the fine forward with a past in the Lakers returned to the courts after missing almost thirty games with a toe injury on his left foot. It was a good time to shake up the situation they’ve gotten themselves into in recent weeks and get a home win to celebrate the return of the aforementioned member of the squad, but nothing could be further from the truth.. The Timberwolves appeared in the city with their gallantry, despite the problems of consistency and schematization that they have left in everyone’s eyes and not being able to count on their star Karl-Anthony Towns either, and they left with a smile on their faces. The locals had another gesture. It is the sixth consecutive loss for the Pels. The returned Ingram, moreover, absorbed too much for what he could contribute: he made just 4 of his 18 shots from the field.

On the negative side of the Pelicans, we must also situate how they let themselves be overcome just after the end of the break, with a 21-39 run that was the main ingredient of the 102-111 defeat. McCollum was the top scorer for the locals with 25, but faced strong competition from Edwards with 37. Green opted this time for Willy Hernangómez as Jonas Valanciunas’ substitute center, leaving Hayes without playing, and the Spaniard responded with eight points and three rebounds in fifteen minutes. There are no drastic changes in that fight either, but the options for the man from Las Rozas remain both inside and outside the team. Be that as it may in the future, in this clash the Timberwolves kept their possessions much better and relied on their initial lineup, where the accuracy was 50%, to defeat the opponent and put themselves, together and speaking in qualifying terms, with a balance of 50% wins in the West. The numbers favored them, yes, but also more pause and better ideas when playing.

The situation of Willy Hernangómez

The transfer market ends on February 9 and in Louisiana the one with the most options to leave is Willy Hernangómez. The EuroBasket 2022 MVP with Spain is watched by several NBA teams due to his situation (he has a contract expiringthat is, it does not go beyond the next summer). EFE aim this week at, specifically, two: Boston and Miami.

“Willy is one of the usual names in the market rumors, but recently there are two teams that sound strong: the last two finalists of the Eastern Conference. The Boston Celtics are looking for a center to help rest both Al Horford and Robert Williams, a role that would fit his player profile perfectly. But for which the Austrian Jakob Pöltl also aspires. Miami Heat, for their part, with Dewayne Dedmon out of Spoelstra’s plans, is giving young Orlando Robinson a lot of confidence as a substitute for Edrice Adebayo, but it is a role in which the Spaniard would add more experience and forcefulness ”

7.1 points and 4.7 rebounds in just 12.3 minutes on average, so in this game with the Wolves he was -in scoring- above, is the data provided by Hernangómez as a summary of the season.

The agency also highlighted some words from Larry Nance, Willy’s teammate and position rival in these Pelicans, who speak of the knowledge they have internally of the situation the player is in: “In this league there are many eyes on you, whether they are from your team or from others. We are not the only team that saw him win the gold medal. We are not the only team that knows his abilities.”.