Zion Williamson learns from mistakes as Play-In Tournament stage awaits
Zion Williamson, the star of the Pelicans, is aspiring for his inaugural postseason journey — commencing with a Play-In game on Tuesday — to be an extended one.
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Zion Williamson conducted his trade in his own way.
It worked, too. Temporarily, at least.
In Year 1, he ranked first among rookies in points per game (22.5), second in rebounds per game (6.3) and became the first rookie since Michael Jordan to rack up 16 20-point performances within their first 20 outings. He earned NBA All-Rookie First Team recognition.
Williamson’s sophomore season brought about more with his first NBA All-Star nod.
It seemed almost too easy for the explosive wrecking ball top pick of the 2019 NBA Draft, who was always bigger, stronger and faster than the competition.
What is consistently proven in the NBA is the unerring ability of opposing players and teams to adjust.
Williamson learned this the hard way through a string of injuries, (one that forced him to miss all of 2021-22 and another last season that limited him to just 29 games), uneven performances and constant scrutiny regarding his weight and physical conditioning. It all came to a head on Dec. 7 after a 133-89 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the In-Season Tournament.
Coincidentally, the No. 7 New Orleans Pelicans host those eighth-seeded Lakers in the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament on Tuesday night (7:30 ET, TNT).
However, that In-Season Tournament game in December still has a lasting impact today. Some individuals within the Pelicans organization see it as a pivotal moment in Williamson’s development.
He was unsuccessful in conducting business his way on the national stage.
It was now time to attempt something different.
“I’ve got to be better,” Williamson said after that loss. “I think I was too laid-back tonight and I just can’t do that. Defensively, I’ve got to be better.”
During a disappointing 26 minutes, the 23-year-old ended with 13 points, two rebounds, three assists and three turnovers. While he was on the court, Los Angeles managed to outscore New Orleans by 33 points.
With a chance to avoid the Play-In Tournament altogether Sunday in the regular-season finale against those same Lakers, Williamson and the Pelicans fell again, 124-108.
Williamson ended with a minus-21 and tied for the most team turnovers with four, contributing to the Lakers scoring 27 points off the 19 giveaways committed by New Orleans.
“After the loss, he admitted, “To be honest, I think I was too passive. I don’t believe I was sufficiently aggressive throughout the game.”
Sound familiar?
Introspection leads to turning point
Since their Dec. 8 defeat to the Lakers in the In-Season Tournament, Zion Williamson and the Pelicans have managed to turn things around.
Williamson, to his merit, comprehends his significance. He is aware of his value to the organization and the fact that its overall success depends on his availability, output and wisdom both inside and outside the court. Hence, following the defeat to the Lakers at the In-Season Tournament, Williamson set out in search of ways he could better contribute to the team.
The profound impact of that experience, coupled with the birth of his daughter in November, greatly influenced him.
Of course, the journey resulted in crucial self-reflection. Williamson dived deep within himself to fully utilize every potential resource for improved consistency during games. The two-time All-Star recognized the need to “stack days”, in the words of Pelicans coach Willie Green. This meant working tirelessly behind the scenes to enhance his physical fitness.
He realized his method was no longer effective.
Through a process that included extra conditioning sessions and daily multiple workouts with assistant coach Aaron Miles and player development coach Corey Brewer, Williamson reportedly shed over 25 pounds. Some members of the organization are of the opinion that Williamson now approaches practices with a more aggressive attitude instead of just tolerating them.
Previously known for being one of the last to arrive and the first to leave, Williamson has now built up a reputation for hard work that resonates with his teammates. Herbert Jones, a defensive stalwart, contributed significantly to instilling this work ethic throughout the team.
Williamson grabbed the baton and started running with it.
“He said that in order to make the most of his days, he focuses on the small details such as recovery, additional recuperation, and conditioning. When they’re practicing, he ensures to bring a high level of intensity so his body can adapt to it.”
Green also contributed to escalating the force.
At the first live practice following the All-Star break, the coach split Williamson and the club’s second highest scorer, Brandon Ingram, into separate teams. This session became one of the season’s most competitive thus far and it continued to be so.
Williamson hasn’t stopped, either.
This is predominantly noticeable on the defensive side of the game. In earlier times, Williamson adopted a more cautious strategy on defense, apparently to evade injury. He has faith in his physical condition, as he has invested considerable effort to maintain good health and performance.
During the team’s 4-0 road trip out West near the end of the regular season, Williamson blocked a career-high five shots April 7 at Phoenix before notching a career-high six steals five nights later at Golden State.
When asked about the most significant area of growth for the team from the start of the season until now, Williamson responded, “Trust.”
This applies to both the players and the coaches. At the start of the season, we were all very excited. However, we weren’t entirely committed. Now, if you observe us during a game, you see it in our offense and defense. We are all completely invested and trust one another. In any team that clinches a championship, there is an absolute trust amongst the members.
Pelicans’ big issue to solve
Position a big near the basket, put several players on Williamson when he drives and witness New Orleans fall apart.
Throughout a six-game homestand from late March to early April, the Pelicans’ opponents consistently used different versions of the tactic, resulting in a 1-5 finish for the Pelicans. They have yet to find an effective consistent countermeasure. It’s important to note that Ingram, known for his scoring and facilitation abilities, was absent from all these games due to a bone bruise in his left knee. This was part of a 12-game absence.
Ingram came back for the season finale against the Lakers, but he’s not completely up to speed yet.
Therefore, removing Williamson has been crucial in thwarting the Pelicans. Green attempted to use smaller formations during this time, with Williamson in the five position, but only saw temporary success.
When opponents positioned themselves in the center of the lane, leaving Jonas Valanciunas or Larry Nance Jr. virtually unguarded, New Orleans attempted to pass the ball to a tall player on the opposite wing, who could then swiftly pass it to a shooter.
“Teams will focus on Z,” said Nance. “They always concentrate on your star player. We’re set to witness this in the forthcoming playoffs. We’ll see it tomorrow, and in the following games. We just need to keep creating space around him.”
Still, nothing has proven effective consistently.
Green stated, “Zion needs to keep grasping these concepts. It’s fine to pass the ball to our five spread-out players, as they can make plays to our wings and guards, and it’s tough for the big player to recover. Another change we need to make is to play with a smaller lineup and force them to defend against us. Primarily, their big players are leaving and they’re focusing on Z.”
“So, it becomes challenging to go second side to someone if we attack them now, and for them to counter and contest those shots. We need to persistently work on it.”
Pressure isn’t all on Williamson
Green emphasized that his team’s room for mistakes was significantly reduced without Ingram and Jose Alvarado on the field, amid New Orleans’ latest challenges.
Alvarado was absent for five consecutive games from March 28 to April 5, but made a comeback for the last five regular season games. On the other hand, Ingram returned to New Orleans for the game against the Lakers on Sunday, where they suffered a loss. He managed to score 13 points through 6-out-of-9 shots in a span of 23 minutes.
“Ingram stated, ‘The narrative was pre-set. Tonight had to occur. It’s all about how I perceive it and react. My knee seemed in decent shape tonight, felt quite robust. So, I’m prepared to progress and keep playing. We took a hard hit. I believe we’ll be capable of rebounding, aware of what’s at risk.'”
On Monday, New Orleans began the process of incorporating Mark Ingram back into their practice routine. The team, having made numerous adjustments during Ingram’s absence, now needs to make further modifications to accommodate his return.
“Green stated, ‘He plays a significant role in our operations. Currently, we are discussing our rotations, reintroducing B.I. to the gameplay, and getting him up to speed.'”
New Orleans heads into the Play-In Tournament near peak health on Tuesday. With Ingram back in the starting lineup, this could be a chance for New Orleans to fully unleash its cadre of young talent for the first time in quite some time.
We often overlook Jones’ suffocating defense, who is a probable All-NBA defender, the experienced leadership of CJ McCollum, or the significant contributions from bench players like Alvarado, Trey Murphy III, and Dyson Daniels.
On getting a career-high 6 steals tonight, Zion credits his teammates for inspiring him #Pelicans pic.twitter.com/I4szO7aFYP
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) April 13, 2024
“Like the plague,” avoid Jones, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich cautioned his team before their April 5 matchup against the Pelicans.
Popovich humorously instructed his players, “If he’s there, pass the ball to someone else,” he said.
Truly, New Orleans requires more than just Williamson to stand a chance against the Lakers team that has a 3-1 season record against the Pelicans. The formidable size and strength of Los Angeles, with players like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Rui Hachimura causing chaos in the frontcourt, have posed significant challenges.
On Sunday, in the first half alone, the Lakers scored 50-12 against New Orleans in the paint, eventually winning that battle 68-42. Over three games, they have beaten the Pelicans by an average of 25.6 points.
Ever since joining the NBA in 2019, Williamson has yet to experience the postseason. This game gives him a chance to redeem himself. The last time he played on such a big stage, he endured a moment that could have forever altered his career.
Williamson stated, “There’s no need for me to explain it. We all essentially understand the layout of the Play-In Tournament. Our task is to manage the situation. Although it’s easier said than done, it’s what we must do. We’re thankful for this opportunity.”
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Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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