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 – starting with a Play-In game on Tuesday – will last for a long time.
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Zion Williamson pursued his profession 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.
However, what is consistently proven in the NBA is the ability of opposing players and teams to adapt without fail.
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).
The In-Season Tournament matchup in December still holds significance today. Some members of the Pelicans organization view it as a pivotal moment in Williamson’s development.
He failed to conduct business his way on the national stage.
Now, the time had come to attempt something new.
“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 dismal 26 minutes on the court, the 23-year-old player ended the game with 13 points, two rebounds, three assists, and three turnovers. During his time in play, 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 with a minus-21 and tied for the most turnovers on his team with four, contributing to the Lakers scoring 27 points off of New Orleans’ 19 total turnovers.
“After the loss, he admitted, “I believe I was overly passive, to be honest. I don’t think 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, recognizes his significance. He comprehends his value to the organization, understanding that its overall triumph depends on his presence, output, and insight both on and off the court. Therefore, following the defeat to the Lakers at the In-Season Tournament, Williamson embarked on a journey to find how he could most effectively contribute to the team.
The profound impact of that experience, coupled with the birth of his daughter in November, significantly affected him.
Understandably, the journey prompted a crucial self-assessment. Williamson explored his inner resources to strive for improved consistency on the court. As a two-time All-Star, he realized the need to “stack days” as Willie Green, coach of the Pelicans, would say. This meant working hard behind the scenes to boost his physical fitness.
He realized his method was no longer effective.
Williamson reportedly lost 25 pounds or more through a routine that included additional conditioning sessions and several daily workouts with assistant coach Aaron Miles and player development coach Corey Brewer. Some insiders within the organization now believe that Williamson approaches practices with enthusiasm instead of just tolerating them.
Previously known for being one of the last to arrive and the first to leave, Williamson has now built a reputation of hard work that his teammates greatly respect. Herbert Jones, a defensive powerhouse, also played a significant part in instilling this strong work ethic throughout the whole team.
Williamson grabbed the baton and ran.
He said, “When it comes to managing my days, it’s all about focusing on the small details: recovery, additional recovery, and conditioning. During practice, I make sure to maintain a high level of intensity so that my body can adapt to it.”
Green also contributed to escalating the force.
In the club’s initial live practice after the All-Star break, Williamson and Brandon Ingram, the team’s second-highest scorer, were assigned to opposite teams by the coach. This session became one of the most competitive of the season so far and continued in that vein.
Williamson hasn’t stopped, either.
This is most noticeable on the defensive side of the game. Previously, Williamson adopted a more cautious strategy on defense, apparently to prevent injury. Williamson has confidence in his physical condition since he has made efforts to maintain 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 start of the season until now, Williamson responded, “Trust.”
This applies to both the players and coaches. At the start of the season, we were all excited. However, we weren’t completely committed. Now, when you see us play, the commitment is evident in both offense and defense. We’re all in, and we trust each other implicitly. For any team to win a championship, they must have absolute trust in each other.
Pelicans’ big issue to solve
Place a large figure near the basket, send several players to guard Williamson as he drives, and observe as New Orleans disintegrates.
Throughout a six-game homestand from late March to early April, opponents used different variations of the same tactic against the Pelicans, resulting in a 1-5 finish. The Pelicans are yet to find a consistently effective strategy to counter this. It’s important to note that Ingram, a talented scorer and facilitator, was absent from all these games due to a bone contusion in his left knee, part of a longer 12-game absence.
Ingram came back for the season finale against the Lakers, but he’s not completely up to speed yet.
Thus, removing Williamson has been crucial in hindering the Pelicans. During that period, Green attempted to use smaller lineups with Williamson in the five position, but only achieved short-lived success.
When opponents positioned their centers in the lane, effectively isolating Jonas Valanciunas or Larry Nance Jr., New Orleans attempted to pass the ball to a big on the opposite wing. This player could then swiftly pass it to a shooter.
“Nance said, “Teams are going to focus on Z. It’s common for teams to target your best player. We expect to see this strategy in the playoffs. It will likely happen in the next game, and the games that follow. Our task is to continue creating space around him.”
Still, nothing has proven effective consistently.
Green stated, “Zion needs to keep understanding these strategies. It’s alright if our number five players are spread out since they can create opportunities for our wings and guards. It’s challenging for the large players to recover. A further change for us involves adopting a smaller team and having them defend against us. Predominantly, their number five players are departing and they’re following Zion.”
“So, it becomes challenging when we strike first and then switch to someone else’s side, because it’s difficult for them to return and challenge those shots. We just need to keep improving on it.”
Pressure isn’t all on Williamson
Green emphasized that his team’s room for mistakes had dwindled in New Orleans’ latest challenges, due to the absence of Ingram and Jose Alvarado on the court.
Alvarado was benched for five consecutive games from March 28 to April 5, but he made a comeback for the last five games of the regular season. On the other hand, Ingram made his return to New Orleans for Sunday’s defeat to the Lakers, contributing 13 points with a 6-of-9 shooting record in 23 minutes.
“Ingram stated, “The narrative was pre-set. Tonight’s events were inevitable. It all depends on how I react and respond. My knee seemed quite robust tonight, it felt good. So, I’m prepared to proceed and keep playing. We took a hard hit. I believe we’ll be capable of bouncing back, given what’s on the line.”
New Orleans commenced the adjustment process at practice on Monday. The team, having made numerous changes to account for Ingram’s absence, is now required to fine-tune their strategies to facilitate his return.
“Green stated, “He’s a significant component of our operations. Currently, we’re discussing our rotational strategy, reintegrating B.I. into the game, and ensuring he’s up to speed.”
New Orleans is set to participate in the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday, almost at full strength. Ingram’s return to the starting lineup could mean that New Orleans might be able to fully utilize its young arsenal of players for the first time in quite some time.
We often overlook Jones’ suffocating defense, a probable All-NBA defender, the veteran 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 avoid Jones before their April 5 match against the Pelicans.
Popovich humorously instructed his team, “If he’s there, give the ball to someone else.”
To be serious, New Orleans definitely requires more than just Williamson to succeed against the Lakers team, which currently holds a 3-1 record this season against the Pelicans. The Lakers’ substantial size and physical presence have created difficulties, with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Rui Hachimura causing chaos in the frontcourt.
On Sunday, in just the first half, the Lakers surpassed New Orleans by scoring 50-12 in the paint, eventually winning that battle 68-42. Over three games, they have beaten the Pelicans by an average of 25.6 points.
Since joining the NBA in 2019, Williamson has yet to experience the postseason. This upcoming matchup offers a chance for redemption. The last time he found himself in such a significant scenario, Williamson endured a potentially career-altering setback.
Williamson stated, “There’s no need for me to explain. We all have a basic understanding of the Play-In Tournament’s structure. We simply need to take care of business. Although it’s easier said than done, we have to do it. 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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