On paper, Lonzo Ball’s fit on the New Orleans Pelicans was nearly perfect. Alvin Gentry’s offense catered to Ball’s desire to push the pace. Jrue Holiday, meanwhile, was seen as a great complementary guard to play next to Ball on both ends of the court.
Much like the team itself this season, those pairings have been disappointing through the opening quarter of the season. An injury played a big role in Ball’s struggles this season. However, on Thursday, Ball flashed how great he could potentially be this season with a 20-point, 11-assists performance. After the game, Holiday talked about Ball’s big night.
Jrue Holiday on what he's seeing from Lonzo Ball (20 pts, 11 ast, 6 reb, 3 stl, 2 blk): "He's getting more comfortable. The way he pushes the pace, getting into the paint, making plays for other people. Even defensively, scrambling and making it hard on everybody."
— Jim Eichenhofer (@Jim_Eichenhofer) December 6, 2019
While Ball has had no trouble adjusting to the fast pace under Gentry, Ball and Holiday have not found success this season. In 252 minutes on-court together, Ball and Holiday have a net rating of -11.4. Brandon Ingram is the only teammate Ball has spent more time on the court with, though the duo also has a net rating of -9.0.
Interestingly, the only three Pelicans who have played at least 85 minutes alongside Ball to also have a positive net rating alongside the former UCLA product are Jaxson Hayes, Frank Jackson and Kenrich Williams. Hayes has a rating of +2.6 while Jackson has a rating of +4.2. Williams and Ball, meanwhile, have played 105 minutes together and have a net rating of +13.3.
But Ball still represents one of the best guards on the roster, especially once Zion WIlliamson returns. Ball’s low-usage playstyle means he fits nicely into any lineup, particularly one next to a ball-dominant player. In the preseason, Williamson and Ball had great chemistry, something that could play out once the former returns to the court this season.
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