Zion Williamson learns from mistakes as Play-In Tournament stage awaits

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Zion Williamson did things his own way in his profession.

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.

However, one consistent factor in the NBA is the unwavering adaptability of opposing players and teams.

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 clash in December still echoes today. It signifies what some in the Pelicans organization perceive as a pivotal moment in Williamson’s development.

On the national stage, he failed to conduct business his way.

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 on the court, where Los Angeles outscored New Orleans by 33 points, the 23-year-old concluded with 13 points, two rebounds, three assists, and three turnovers.

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 had a team-high of four turnovers, contributing to the Lakers scoring 27 points off of New Orleans’ 19 total turnovers.

“After the loss, he admitted, “I believe I was too passive, to be honest. I don’t think I maintained an aggressive stance throughout the game.”

Sound familiar?

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Introspection leads to turning point

Williamson, to his credit, is fully aware of his importance. He comprehends his significance to the organization and realizes that its overall success is contingent upon his availability, performance, and wisdom both on and off the court. Thus, following the loss to the Lakers at the In-Season Tournament, Williamson initiated a journey of discovery to determine how he could contribute most effectively to the team.

Along with the birth of his daughter in November, that experience profoundly impacted him.

Of course, the journey resulted in thorough self-assessment. Williamson diligently tapped into his inner resources to enhance his on-court consistency. The double All-Star realized the need to “stack days”, as phrased by Pelicans coach Willie Green, committing to strenuous off-screen work to boost his physical fitness.

He realized his method was no longer effective.

Williamson reportedly lost 25 pounds or more after engaging in additional conditioning sessions and daily multiple workouts with assistant coach Aaron Miles and player development coach Corey Brewer. Some in the organization now believe that Williamson approaches practices with more vigor, instead of just getting through them.

Williamson, previously known for being the last to arrive and the first to leave, has now built up a reputation among his teammates for his hard work. This work ethic, which has had a significant impact on the whole team, was largely influenced by the defensive powerhouse, Herbert Jones.

Williamson grabbed the baton and took off running with it.

He said, “My daily routine involves focusing on all the minor details: recovery, additional recovery, and conditioning. During practice, I ensure to maintain a high level of intensity so my body becomes accustomed to it.”

Green also contributed to escalating the force.

During the first live practice after the All-Star break, the club’s coach split Williamson and Brandon Ingram, the second-highest scorer, into opposing teams. This session became one of the most competitive of the season so far and carried on.

Williamson hasn’t stopped, either.

This is most evident on the defensive side of the game. Previously, Williamson appeared to adopt a more cautious strategy on defense, presumably to evade injury. He has confidence in his physical capabilities as he has invested 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 growth area for the team from the start of the season to now, Williamson responded with ‘Trust’,”

This applies to both the players and the coaches. At the start of the season, we were all excited. However, not everyone was fully committed. Now, when you observe us play, you can see this commitment in both offense and defense. Everyone is completely on board, and we all have faith in each other. For any team to win a championship, absolute trust in each other is necessary.

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Pelicans’ big issue to solve

Place a large player near the basket, swarm Williamson with numerous players when he drives, and observe as New Orleans collapses.

Throughout a six-game homestand from the end of March to the start of April, various versions of the tactic were used by opponents against the Pelicans, who ended with a 1-5 record. They have yet to discover a consistently successful response. Keep in mind that Ingram, a highly skilled scorer and facilitator, was absent from all these games due to a contusion in his left knee, contributing to a total 12-game absence.

Ingram made a comeback for the season finale against the Lakers, but he’s not entirely back up to speed yet.

Thus, removing Williamson has been crucial in hindering the Pelicans. During that time, Green attempted to employ smaller lineups with Williamson in the five position, but only achieved temporary success.

When rivals positioned their centers in the lane, effectively isolating Jonas Valanciunas or Larry Nance Jr., New Orleans attempted to pass the ball to a tall player on the opposite wing who could rapidly distribute it to a shooter.

“Teams are going to focus on Z,” stated Nance. “They always target your top player. We’re going to see this in the playoffs. It will happen in tomorrow’s game, and the games that follow. We just need to keep creating space around him.”

Still, nothing has proven effective consistently.

Green stated, “Zion needs to keep understanding those strategies. It’s fine for our fives to be spread out as they can create opportunities for our wings and guards, making it challenging for the big to return. A further adaptation for us involves adopting a smaller lineup and letting them defend us. Predominantly, their fives are departing and they are keeping an eye on Z”.

“So, it’s challenging to target them now and then switch to someone else, as they might manage to recover and challenge those shots. The key is to keep improving our strategy.”

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Pressure isn’t all on Williamson

Green emphasized that his team’s room for mistakes was greatly reduced in their latest challenges in New Orleans, particularly without the presence of Ingram and Jose Alvarado on the court.

Alvarado was benched for five consecutive games from March 28 to April 5, but made a comeback for the last five games of the regular season. On the other hand, Ingram returned to New Orleans for their Sunday’s defeat against the Lakers, contributing 13 points through 6-of-9 shooting in a span of 23 minutes.

“Ingram stated, ‘The narrative had been pre-determined. This evening was meant to occur. It all depends on how I perceive it and react. My knee seemed to be in good shape tonight, quite robust. Hence, I’m prepared to let go and keep playing. We had a setback. But, I believe we can bounce back, considering what we stand to lose or gain.'”

New Orleans initiated the process on Monday during practice. The team, after making several adjustments to offset Ingram’s absence, now needs to make modifications to adapt to his return.

Green said, “He plays a significant role in our team. Currently, we are discussing our rotations and planning on getting B.I. back on the field to bring him up to speed.”

New Orleans is heading into the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday in near-perfect health. With Ingram back in the starting lineup, it may be possible for New Orleans to fully utilize its young, talented squad for the first time in some time.

Often, we overlook the smothering defense provided by Jones, who is likely to be an All-NBA defender, the seasoned leadership of CJ McCollum, and 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,” was how Spurs coach Gregg Popovich cautioned his team to avoid Jones before an April 5 matchup against the Pelicans.

Popovich humorously instructed his team, “Pass the ball to someone else if he’s there,”.

To be completely serious, New Orleans definitely requires more than just Williamson’s performance to succeed against the Lakers, who hold a 3-1 season lead against the Pelicans. The Lakers’ physicality and size, particularly the formidable frontcourt of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Rui Hachimura, 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 skirmish 68-42. Over three games, they have beaten the Pelicans by an average of 25.6 points.

Williamson has not experienced the postseason since he joined the NBA in 2019. This game offers an opportunity for redemption. The last time he was in a situation of this magnitude, he endured a moment that could have forever altered his career.

Williamson stated, “There is no need for me to explain it. We are all somewhat familiar with the Play-In Tournament and its layout. Our task is to handle the business. It’s easier said than done, but it’s our responsibility. We appreciate 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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