BY CHRISTIAN CLARK | Staff writer The first week of training camp concludes Saturday with an open practice at Smoothie King Center. I started covering the Pelicans in November 2019, which means I missed Nickeil Alexander-Walker's rendition of "A Thousand Miles" at New Orleans' last open practice at The Blender. Finally getting to attend the team's annual open practice in New Orleans make me think of two events that disrupted life here: the pandemic and Hurricane Ida. The Pelicans did not hold an open practice in 2021 for obvious reasons: We were still months away from vaccines being widely available. Last year, there was an open practice, but it was in Thibodaux. The Pelicans held it there to give Louisianans hardest hit by Ida free entertainment. I have lived in New Orleans for almost three years. Things finally feel normal here. Year four on the beat looks like it's going to be fun. Zion Williamson came back in excellent shape and, by all accounts, looks focused. Brandon Ingram seems comfortable in his role. CJ McCollum has planted his flag here for four years. The Pelicans have a real opportunity to be exciting this season. Thanks for following along. -- Christian |