Zion Williamson learns from mistakes as Play-In Tournament stage awaits
Zion Williamson, a star from the Pelicans, is hoping for a long journey in his first postseason trip, which kicks off with a Play-In game on Tuesday.
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Zion Williamson pursued his career 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 remains consistent and proven in the NBA is the unerring ability of rival players and teams to adapt.
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, the In-Season Tournament game in December continues to make an impact to this day. It symbolizes what some members of the Pelicans organization perceive 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.”
The 23-year-old ended the game with 13 points, two rebounds, three assists, and three turnovers in a disappointing 26-minute stretch. During this time, Los Angeles outscored New Orleans by 33 points while he was playing.
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 team-high with four turnovers, contributing to the Lakers scoring 27 points off New Orleans’ 19 total turnovers.
“After the loss, he confessed, “I believe I was overly passive, to tell the truth. I wasn’t incredibly aggressive throughout the entire game.”
Sound familiar?
Introspection leads to turning point
Since their Dec. 8 In-Season Tournament loss to the Lakers, Zion Williamson and the Pelicans have managed to reverse their fortunes.
Creditably, Williamson comprehends his significance. He realizes his importance to the organization and how its comprehensive success is contingent on his availability, productivity, and sagacity both on and off the court. Thus, following the defeat to the Lakers at the In-Season Tournament, Williamson set out on a quest to discern how he could contribute most effectively to the team.
That experience had a profound impact on him, as did the birth of his daughter in November.
Naturally, this journey prompted a deep self-analysis. Williamson dug deep within himself to utilize every available resource for improved consistency in his game. Recognizing that he needed to “stack days”, as phrased by Pelicans coach Willie Green, the two-time All-Star embarked on tireless behind-the-scenes work to enhance his physical fitness.
He realized his method was no longer effective.
Williamson ultimately shed a reported 25 pounds or more through a process incorporating additional conditioning sessions and daily multiple workouts with assistant coach Aaron Miles and player development coach Corey Brewer. Some individuals within the team think that Williamson now engages proactively in practices instead of merely tolerating them.
Williamson, previously known for being one of the last to arrive and the first to leave, has now built up a reputation for hard work that resonates with his teammates. The defensive powerhouse, Herbert Jones, played a significant role in fostering this strong work ethic within the entire team.
Williamson grabbed the baton and took off running with it.
“When it comes to structuring my days, I focus on all the minor details – recovery, additional recovery, conditioning,” he stated. “During practice, I ensure to maintain a high level of intensity so my body can adapt to it.”
Green also contributed to escalating the force.
At the club’s initial live practice following the All-Star break, the coach positioned Williamson and Brandon Ingram, the team’s second-highest scorer, on rival teams. This session evolved into one of the most competitive of the season up to that point and it persisted.
Williamson hasn’t stopped, either.
This is most noticeable on the defensive side of the court. Previously, Williamson was more cautious in his defensive approach, seemingly to prevent injury. However, he has faith in his physical condition due to his consistent efforts 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 team’s most significant improvement from the start of the season till now, Williamson responded with ‘Trust’,”
This applies to both the players and the coaches. At the season’s commencement, we were all enthusiastic. However, our commitment wasn’t absolute. Now, when you observe our performance, you can witness it on both offense and defense. We are entirely committed and trust each other implicitly. Every team that secures a championship shares this deep-seated mutual trust.
Pelicans’ big issue to solve
Place a large player near the basket, have multiple players guard Williamson when he drives, and observe as New Orleans collapses.
During a six-game homestand from late March to early April, various versions of the tactic were utilized by opponents, resulting in a 1-5 finish for the Pelicans. They have yet to find a consistently effective countermeasure. It’s important to note that Ingram, known for his exceptional scoring and facilitating abilities, was absent from all these matches due to a bone contusion in his left knee, which was part of a 12-game absence.
Ingram came back for the season finale against the Lakers, but he has not yet fully regained his speed.
Therefore, removing Williamson has been crucial in thwarting the Pelicans. During that period, Green attempted to use smaller lineups with Williamson in the five position, but this strategy only achieved temporary success.
When rivals positioned themselves in the centers of the lane, essentially isolating Jonas Valanciunas or Larry Nance Jr., New Orleans attempted to pass the ball to a big player on the opposite wing, who could then swiftly pass it to a shooter.
“Nance stated, “Teams will concentrate their defenses on Z. It’s typical for teams to focus on your top player. We’ll witness this in the playoffs, and in all upcoming games – tomorrow, the next game, and all the games after that. Our task is to consistently create space for him to maneuver.”
Still, nothing has proven effective consistently.
“Zion still has to master those concepts,” Green stated. “It’s fine for our number fives to spread out since they can create opportunities for our wings and guards, and it’s challenging for the big to return. Another strategy we have to adapt is to play small and force them to defend against us. Mostly, their number fives are breaking away and they’re zeroing in on Z.”
“So, it’s challenging to strike them first and then switch to someone else. It’s difficult for them to recover and challenge those shots. We just need to keep working on it.”
Pressure isn’t all on Williamson
Green emphasized that without Ingram and Jose Alvarado on the field, his team’s room for mistakes significantly decreased during New Orleans’ latest challenges.
From March 28 to April 5, Alvarado was absent from five consecutive games, but he came back for the last five regular-season games. On the other hand, Ingram returned to New Orleans for the Lakers’ defeat on Sunday, where he scored 13 points from 6-of-9 shooting in 23 minutes.
“Ingram stated, “The narrative was predetermined. This evening was meant to occur. It all depends on my reaction and response. My knee seemed to be in good condition tonight, felt quite sturdy. Therefore, I am prepared to progress and keep playing. We took a hard blow. I believe we can bounce back, understanding the consequences at hand.”
New Orleans began the adjustment process on Monday during practice. The team, having made numerous changes to fill the void left by Ingram’s absence, now needs to modify things to facilitate his return.
“Green stated that he plays a significant role in our operations. We are currently discussing our rotation strategies, reintegrating B.I. into the team, and getting him back up to speed,” he explained.
New Orleans heads into Tuesday’s Play-In Tournament almost entirely healthy. With Ingram rejoining the starting lineup, it’s possible that New Orleans will be able to fully leverage its young talent for the first time in quite some time.
We often overlook Jones’s suffocating defense, who is a probable All-NBA defender, the seasoned 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”, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich warned his team to steer clear of Jones prior to the April 5 match against the Pelicans.
Popovich humorously instructed his team, “If he’s there, pass the ball to another player.”
To be serious, more than just Williamson’s efforts are needed for New Orleans to overcome the Los Angeles Lakers, who have a 3-1 record against the Pelicans this season. The Lakers’ physical stature and strength, especially with the likes of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Rui Hachimura, have been a challenge for New Orleans, causing disruption in the frontcourt.
On Sunday, the Lakers dominated New Orleans by scoring 50-12 in the paint in just the first half, eventually winning the battle 68-42. Over three games, they have beaten the Pelicans by an average of 25.6 points.
Since his NBA debut in 2019, Williamson has yet to experience the postseason. This upcoming game symbolizes his chance at salvation. The last time he was in a situation this significant, he endured a potentially career-altering incident.
Williamson stated, “There’s no need for me to explain. We’re all familiar with the Play-In Tournament and its layout. Our task now is to handle our business. It’s easier said than done, but it’s what we have to do. We’re thankful for the 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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