The meeting between Pelicans and Nuggets last night was played in the absence of many major players. While the visitors traveled to NOLA without Nikola Jokic and Mike Malone, the locals once again had to do without three executives (Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray).
Brandon Ingram was present and perfectly met expectations to lead his team, after a bad series of six defeats in a row, to victory. Forced to increase his volume of shots this season due to absences – more than 19 per game, a career record – he undoubtedly signed his best game of the year.
By alternating between circle attack, mid-distance turnaround, most often from the baseline, and 3-point shooting, he logically focused the attention of the Nuggets defense on him.
« It’s huge for us. His contribution, night after night, is of an enormous level. He sees takes in twos, takes in threes. They take him on any terrain, they try to wear him out. He handles it all with grace », juge Willie Green.
« I have a feeling this has happened before », notes his player who, faced with this defensive doublet from the Nuggets, did not panic and released good balls towards his teammates. “ But I imagine that with the absentees, I clearly see more opposition going to the circle, coming out of the ‘pick-and-roll’. There’s a little more, yes », he confirms.
Stay positive despite everything
Which did not prevent him from signing one of his most accomplished matches of the season with 29 points (12/26 on shots including 3/9 from distance), 9 rebounds, 7 assists and +18 to the score when ‘He was at stake.’ It’s about analyzing the situation, looking at the space when I can attack. I look for openings in attack », summarizes the winger.
The latter thus brings happiness to his teammate Brandon Boston Jr. “ We have quite similar games. It’s easy to have another guy I can turn to on the court who can get a basket whenever he wants. It’s easy when he trusts me with the ball to make the right decisions », appreciates the author of 19 points last night.
On the other hand, experiencing such a complicated start to the season in terms of results due to the cascade of injuries, is less simple. Brandon Ingram, whose future with this team remains unclear, tries to set an example by remaining positive.
« I believe no one wants to be surrounded by negative energy. I have the feeling that every time we are on the pitch, we have a chance to win so I try to be encouraging », term-t-il.
| Brandon Ingram | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | To | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2016-17 | LAL | 79 | 29 | 40.2 | 29.4 | 62.1 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 9.4 |
| 2017-18 | LAL | 59 | 34 | 47.0 | 39.0 | 68.1 | 1.0 | 4.4 | 5.3 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 16.1 |
| 2018-19 | LAL | 52 | 34 | 49.7 | 33.0 | 67.5 | 0.8 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 18.3 |
| 2019-20 | NOP | 62 | 34 | 46.3 | 39.1 | 85.1 | 0.8 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 4.2 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 23.8 |
| 2020-21 | NOP | 61 | 34 | 46.6 | 38.1 | 87.8 | 0.6 | 4.3 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 23.8 |
| 2021-22 | NOP | 55 | 34 | 46.1 | 32.7 | 82.6 | 0.6 | 5.2 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 22.7 |
| 2022-23 | NOP | 45 | 34 | 48.4 | 39.0 | 88.2 | 0.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.8 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 24.7 |
| 2023-24 | NOP | 64 | 33 | 49.2 | 35.5 | 80.1 | 0.7 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 5.7 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 20.8 |
| 2024-25 | NOP | 13 | 33 | 46.9 | 35.2 | 90.0 | 1.1 | 5.1 | 6.2 | 5.2 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 23.0 |
| Total | 490 | 33 | 46.8 | 36.2 | 78.7 | 0.7 | 4.5 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 19.5 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
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