Zion Williamson learns from mistakes as Play-In Tournament stage awaits
Zion Williamson, the star of the Pelicans, is hoping that his first postseason trip, which starts with a Play-In game on Tuesday, will be a long one.
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Zion Williamson did things in 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, what remains consistent and reliable in the NBA is the way opposition players and teams consistently 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, that In-Season Tournament matchup in December still echoes today. Many within the Pelicans organization see it as a pivotal moment in Williamson’s development.
He failed to conduct 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 his disappointing 26 minutes on the court, the 23-year-old player ended up with 13 points, two rebounds, three assists, and three turnovers. During his time on the court, Los Angeles outscored 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 up with a minus-21 and tied for the team-high with four turnovers, enabling the Lakers to score 27 points off New Orleans’ 19 total turnovers.
“After the loss, he admitted, “I believe I was overly passive, to be honest. I don’t feel like I was particularly aggressive throughout the 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 turn things around.
Williamson, commendably, is aware of his significance. He is cognizant of his value to the organization and realizes that its overall achievement depends on his availability, productivity, and wisdom both on and off the court. Therefore, following the defeat to the Lakers at the In-Season Tournament, Williamson embarked on a journey to discover how he could most effectively contribute to the team.
The profound impact of that experience on him was further deepened by the birth of his daughter in November.
Unsurprisingly, the journey led to serious self-examination. Williamson delved within himself to fully utilize every resource for greater consistency on the court. Recognizing his need for continual improvement, the two-time All-Star took to heart Pelicans coach Willie Green’s advice to “stack days” – working hard out of the spotlight to enhance his physical fitness.
He realized his method was no longer effective.
Williamson ultimately managed to shed over 25 pounds through a regimen that included additional conditioning and daily workouts with assistant coach Aaron Miles and player development coach Corey Brewer. Some inside the organization now believe that Williamson approaches practices with more aggression instead of merely tolerating them.
Previously known for being one of the last to arrive and the first to leave, Williamson has built up a strong reputation through hard work, which is now recognized by his teammates. Herbert Jones, the team’s defensive powerhouse, has also played a part in fostering this strong work ethic throughout the team.
Williamson grabbed the baton and took off running with it.
He explained that his daily routine involves focusing on the small but crucial aspects such as recovery, additional recovery and conditioning. He emphasized that while practicing, he maintains a high level of intensity to accustom his body to it.
Green also contributed to escalating the force.
In the club’s initial live practice session after the All-Star break, the coach allocated Williamson and Brandon Ingram, the second-highest scorer, to opposing teams. This session became one of the most competitive of the season thus far and maintained its intensity.
Williamson hasn’t stopped, either.
This is most noticeable on the defensive side of the court. Previously, Williamson adopted a more cautious defensive strategy, presumably to prevent injuries. Williamson has confidence in his physical condition because of the effort he has put into maintaining his 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 beginning 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 excited. However, not all of us were completely on board. But now, when you see us play, you can tell – both offensively and defensively – we’re all fully committed and trust each other. A key factor in any team winning a championship is having absolute trust in each other.
Pelicans’ big issue to solve
Place a big near the basket, put multiple defenders on Williamson during his drives, and observe as New Orleans falls apart.
Throughout a six-game homestand from late March to early April, opponents made use of different variations of the strategy, leading to a 1-5 finish for the Pelicans. They still haven’t discovered a reliably effective countermeasure. Keep in mind that Ingram, a talented scorer and facilitator, sat out all of 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’s not completely back on track yet.
Thus, removing Williamson has been crucial in thwarting the Pelicans. During that time, Green attempted to use smaller lineups with Williamson in the five position, but only saw temporary success.
When rivals positioned their centers in the lane, essentially leaving Jonas Valanciunas or Larry Nance Jr. unguarded, New Orleans attempted to move the ball to a big on the opposing wing. This player could then swiftly pass it to a shooter.
“Nance stated, “Teams are going to focus on Z. It’s common to concentrate on the best player. We’ll experience this in the playoffs, and in the upcoming games including tomorrow’s. We just need to keep creating space around him.”
Still, nothing has proven effective consistently.
“Zion needs to keep grappling with these ideas,” stated Green. “It’s fine to dispatch our fives since they can aid our wings and guards, making it challenging for the big to recover. A further change for us involves opting for a smaller formation and making them defend against us. Predominantly, their fives are departing and they’re pursuing Z.”
“So, it becomes challenging if we attack them now and then switch to someone else, as it would be difficult for them to return and challenge those shots. We just need to keep working on it.”
Pressure isn’t all on Williamson
Green emphasized that, amid the latest challenges in New Orleans, his team had a smaller room for mistakes without Ingram and Jose Alvarado on the court.
Alvarado was absent for five consecutive games between March 28 and April 5, but came back for the last five games of the regular season. On the other hand, Ingram came back to New Orleans for their defeat against the Lakers on Sunday, contributing 13 points by shooting 6-of-9 in a span of 23 minutes.
“Ingram stated, ‘The narrative has been pre-determined. Tonight’s events were inevitable. The key is how I react and handle it. My knee seemed to be in good condition tonight, quite robust. Thus, I’m set to proceed and carry on playing. We took a hard blow. However, I believe we have the resilience to bounce back, especially considering what we have to lose.'”
On Monday, New Orleans began the process at practice. The team had made numerous adjustments to account for Ingram’s absence and now needs to make further modifications to facilitate his return.
“Green stated, “He’s an integral part of our team’s operations. Currently, we’re discussing our rotations and working on getting B.I. back in action and up to date.”
New Orleans, nearing full health, heads into the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday. Ingram’s return to the starting lineup could allow New Orleans to fully utilize its young talent, something it hasn’t been able to do in some time.
We often overlook aspects like Jones’ suffocating defense, which could potentially earn him an All-NBA defender title, McCollum’s experienced leadership, or the significant impacts made by bench players such as 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 before their April 5 game against the Pelicans.
Popovich humorously instructed his team, “If he’s there, pass the ball to another player,” he said.
To be serious, New Orleans definitely requires more than just Williamson to succeed against the Lakers team, which has a 3-1 season record against the Pelicans. The size and physical strength of Los Angeles have been a challenge, with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Rui Hachimura causing trouble in the frontcourt.
On Sunday, in the first half alone, the Lakers scored 50-12 against New Orleans in the paint, eventually winning with a score of 68-42. Over three games, they have beaten the Pelicans by an average of 25.6 points.
Since joining the NBA in 2019, Williamson hasn’t yet experienced the postseason. This game is his chance for redemption. The last time he was in a situation of this magnitude, he endured a potentially career-altering setback.
“We all understand the layout of the Play-In Tournament, so there’s no need for me to explain it,” said Williamson. “Our job is to handle business, which is easier said than done, but that’s what we need to do. We’re appreciative of 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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